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Best drones for power line inspections

Posted by Dronerator

Drones have completely changed how power line inspections are done, making the process much safer, faster, and cheaper. Instead of sending people up poles or using expensive helicopters, drones let inspectors stay safely on the ground while capturing clear, detailed images and spotting issues early.

The ultimate guide for using drones for power line inspections

Using drones for power line inspections: not just any drone will do

Using drones for power line inspections might not have the glamor of professional photography, but it’s where some serious money can be made. If you’re aiming for high-paying drone gigs, this is a great option—but purchasing a DJI Mavic Air won’t cut it.

Why? While the Mavic Air has a great camera, power line inspections need much more. You’ll need drones with longer flight times, zoom lenses, thermal imaging, and durability to handle tough conditions. It’s like showing up at a construction site with a selfie stick—not gonna work!

How we made our picks

For power line inspection, we prioritized drones that can carry the right equipment, like high-resolution cameras and thermal sensors. We looked for long flight times to cover more ground without frequent recharging. Strong signal strength was key to avoid interference from power lines, and zoom capabilities were a must for detailed, close-up shots from a safe distance. We also made sure the drones had features to prevent interference and capture clear, stable images in challenging environments.

If you’re in the market for a drone to inspect power lines, we found some of the best drones for power line inspections. Here is a quick breakdown of specs, but we will go in-depth into all of our top picks. 

Drone Price  Flight Time  Camera Options Range  Best For 
Matrice 350 RTK $12,000+ 55 minutes Zenmuse H20T, L1, P1 20 km All-around inspections
Matrice 30T $9,000+ 41 minutes Thermal and zoom built-in 15 km Thermal imaging inspections
Autel EVO 4T $8,999 42 minutes Thermal, wide-angle, laser rangefinder 12 km Non-DJI, geofencing-free option

Matrice 350 RTK: best overall drone for power line inspections

DJI Matrice 350 RTK
The DJI Matrice 350 RTK

For all-around power line inspection work, the DJI Matrice 350 RTK, or M350 RTK for short, is hard to beat. It’s built for industrial use, offering long flight times of up to 55 minutes, and it’s loaded with advanced features like RTK positioning, which provides centimeter-level accuracy—crucial for precise inspections. The O3 Enterprise Transmission gives you a 20 km range. That’s critical in covering long stretches of power lines in a single flight. 

This is our top recommendation because it supports various mission types and, when paired with DJI Terra, enables efficient high-precision mapping with 2D and 3D digital results. For automated inspections, features like Live Mission Recording and AI Spot-Check streamline repetitive tasks and improve accuracy in repeated shooting.

Its IP rating is IP54 and can operate in temperatures between -20° and 50℃. The ability to handle tough weather conditions makes it a big plus for power line inspections in unpredictable environments.

This is our go-to recommendation if you want a versatile, high-performing drone for large-scale inspections.

The DJI M350 RTK is available for purchase, but pricing is only accessible through approved DJI Enterprise Dealers. TheDroneGirl recommends B&H Photo in the U.S. for its reliable customer service and Aerial Tech in Canada for fast shipping, free demos, and repairs.

Price: $12,000+  

Flight time: Up to 55 minutes  

Camera options: Zenmuse H20T, L1, P1  

Range: 20 km  

Matrice 30T: best for thermal imaging

If you need thermal imaging in your inspections, the DJI Matrice 30T is the perfect fit.  It offers built-in thermal and zoom cameras, giving you the ability to detect heat anomalies in power lines, which could indicate potential issues like overheating. The thermal camera on the 30T captures detailed heat maps, which are crucial for preventative maintenance.

Compared to the DJI Matrice 350 RTK paired with the Zenmuse H20T, the Matrice 30T is more compact and easier to transport, while still offering advanced features like six-way obstacle sensing and a 41-minute flight time. From a price standpoint, the Matrice 30T is also more affordable for most users, typically costing around $9,000. The Matrice 350 RTK with the Zenmuse H20T costs significantly more when you factor in the added thermal imaging setup, making the 30T a better value for those who need a balance of performance and cost.

For power line inspections where thermal imaging is key, I’d personally recommend the Matrice 30T for its balance of performance and portability.

Similar to the M350 RTK, purchasing a DJI Matrice 30 requires going through a specific DJI Enterprise Dealer like Aerial Tech, Adorama, or B&H Photo. Prices vary by dealer, with added services such as maintenance or training, but you can expect to pay around $9,000 for the Matrice 30.

Price: $8,000+  

Thermal resolution: 640×512  

Range: 15 km  

Autel Evo Max 4T: best non-DJI drone for power line inspections

For those looking to avoid DJI or prefer a non-Chinese drone, the Autel EVO Max 4T is a strong alternative. It comes with a triple camera system featuring thermal imaging, a wide-angle lens, and a laser rangefinder. This makes it ideal for power line inspections that require detailed imagery and heat detection. 

One standout feature of the EVO Max 4T is its no geofencing, meaning you won’t have to deal with restricted areas that are common with DJI drones. (This means it can be used in no-fly zones). 

The EVO Max 4T is ideal for search and rescue, firefighting, mapping, and inspections. It’s designed to counter GPS jammers and other tech that interferes with drones. Privacy is a key feature, with all user and flight data stored locally, not in the cloud. It also supports AES-256 encryption for added security on photos, videos, and flight logs.

It’s also slightly more affordable than DJI’s higher-end models, which makes it an appealing option if you’re looking for solid performance at a lower price point. You can purchase the EVO Max 4T directly from Autel’s website.

Price: $8,999

Flight time: Up to 42 minutes  

Camera options: Thermal, wide-angle, laser rangefinder  

Range: 12 km  

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UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía Develops Heads-Up Display for Enhanced First-Person Flight Visualization

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– UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía, the company that is an expert in guidance, navigation and control solutions for UAS, has announced the development of advanced On-Screen Display (OSD) technology which improves the Primary Flight Display (PFD) of the flight control system to show first-person visualization to NATO CAT I & II UAS operators. This advancement has […]

Teledyne FLIR Defense Unveils Cerberus XL C-UAS Mobile Counter-Drone System at AUSA 2024

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– Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, is introducing its Cerberus XL C-UAS air domain monitoring and counter-drone platform at this week’s Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) conference in Washington D.C. Cerberus XL C-UAS is a rugged, state-of-the-art integrated system equipped with high performance long-range sensors and Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) […]

GA-ASI’s Gray Eagle Extended Range UAS Supports Army Vanguard Demos

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As part of the U.S. Army’s Vanguard demonstrations that took place in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, on Sept. 17–18, 2024, a Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) Unmanned Aircraft System provided by the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) showcased several new capabilities, including the integration of an Expeditionary Cyber Chassis (ECC) for Command, Control, Communications, […]

The Future of Drone Navigation

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In the modern battlefield, GPS cannot be relied upon. This was starkly demonstrated when, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, “Ukrainian officials have found U.S.-made drones fragile and unable to overcome Russian jamming and GPS blackout technology.” GPS signals are susceptible to jamming, spoofing, or complete denial in certain combat scenarios, making them unreliable. […]

DJI Air 3S: a dual-camera drone for higher-end travel photography

Posted by Dronerator

DJI is on a hot streak of new drone launches lately. Just weeks after announcing its beginner-friendly camera drone, the DJI Neo, DJI on October 15 gave us a new product: The DJI Air 3S.

Released on October 15, 2024, this latest DJI camera drone was designed specifically for travelers and photographers seeking top-tier aerial photography and videography capabilities. Packed with advanced features like a dual-camera system, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, and enhanced night-time performance, this drone is especially well-made for travelers who want high-end photos and videos of their trips given its small size.

It takes on the iconic form seen in past Air models as well as the DJI Mavic line where the arms fold in, turning this drone into roughly the shape of a water bottle.

DJI Air 3S
(Photo courtesy of DJI)

It starts at $1,099, coming in at a price point that packs in enough new technology while still remaining relatively affordable for people who know they’re passionate about the hobby. And it’s already available for shipping.

Here’s everything you need to know about the DJI Air 3S, which is the next in the fleet of DJI Air drones. It follows the DJI Air 3, which debuted in July 2023:

The ultimate guide to the DJI Air 3S

DJI Air 3S: key features

Professional quality, dual-camera system

With the DJI Air 3S, you’re getting not one but two cameras. That main camera is capable of 4K/120fps video recording and 10-bit D-Log M color mode. Both cameras offer up to 14 stops of dynamic range.

Here are some key specs of each:

Primary camera Secondary camera
50MP 1-inch CMOS sensor 48MP 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor
24mm lens 70mm medium tele camera with 3x optical zoom
Great for low-light environments such as sunsets and night-time shots Great for portraits and other shots where you need a cinematic look with a compressed depth of field

Now I haven’t had a chance to fly the DJI Air 3S myself, but DJI did share some sample photos taken by the drone. Keep in mind, they employ professionals to take these photos, so they’ll naturally be more aesthetically pleasing than what a novice might take. But, here’s an example of the image quality you can expect to see from the DJI Air 3S:

Image shot on a DJI Air 3S courtesy of DJI.

LiDAR improves nighttime photography

With nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing, the DJI Air 3S is set to level-up the world of night photography due to one critical piece of tech that you wouldn’t necessarily expect from a camera drone: LiDAR.

LiDAR is a common and critical tool for many sorts of industrial drones, particularly those with use cases such as mapping. LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging, and some consider it more accurate than other mapping methods like photogrammetry. The remote sensing method uses a pulsed laser to measure light distances. That data then creates high-resolution digital surfaces, terrain and elevation models. It’s popular on drones, as pilots can fly over areas like forests and still be able to see the conditions on the ground, even through the overgrowth.

Now you’re likely not using the DJI Air 3S for mapping (there are plenty of better drones for mapping). But DJI has maximized the technology to make it valuable for other reasons: namely safer navigation.

Through a combination of this advanced LiDAR, as well as infrared, and vision sensors, the DJI Air 3S can better detect obstacles and navigate safely, even in low-light conditions. That’s critical for safety as photographers seek to capture nighttime landscapes or even just low-light areas like buildings and tunnels in urban settings.

Free Panorama mode

It’s rare that we get an all-new shooting mode with a camera drone, as it’s always felt like the options had been exhausted. But that feeling turns out to be not true.

With the DJI Air 3S, the company pioneered what they call Free Panorama mode. It’s exactly what it sounds like: an automatic flight mode that makes it easier to take panoramas. And it’s made possible thanks to the dual cameras.

Free Panorama mode works by using both cameras to stitch together multiple images, offering stunning wide-angle views or focused telephoto panoramas. This is ideal for capturing vast landscapes or intricate architectural details.

How does the DJI Air 3S fly (and is it a good follow-me drone)?

DJI Air 3S

Flight times on this drone are long, with one battery netting up to 45 minutes of drone flying time.

It’s set to be one of the best follow-me drones on the market. Besides the aforementioned LiDAR tech that’ll allow this drone to perform better in low light, it also includes the ActiveTrack 360° tech seen in other recent DJI drones. ActiveTrack 360° allows you to set a “subject” like you, a car or a friend. From there, the drone’s camera automatically keeps that subject in focus, no matter where it moves. To do that, it’s able to intelligently track and adjusts its flight path, even when obstacles like bushes or bridges obscure part of the subject.

DJI Air 3S

And whether or not you’re actually using the ActiveTrack for follow-me functionality, the Smart RTH is a key safety feature. Short for Return-to-Home, it uses advanced sensors to map the environment and safely return the drone to its takeoff point, even if satellite signals are weak.

Speaking of signals, the TDJI Air 3S uses DJI’s O4 HD transmission technology. That’s ideal for long distance control. By sending 10-bit video at 1080p/60fps over distances of up to 20 kilometers aAbout 12 miles), you can still see the drone’s video feed in real-time (and thus control the drone) from that far away.

And what about after you’re flying?

DJI has continuously sought to cut back on the friction that often comes with not flying, but the aftermath of getting footage from the drone into a video. That’s clear here.

For starters, you likely don’t even need a memory card, as the Air 3S comes with 42GB of internal storage. That’s definitely sufficient for likely the day of drone flying, especially because DJI Air 3S employs a more advanced video encoding compression algorithm that reduces video file sizes by more 30% (which just saves storage space).

As far as getting footage from the drone to your computer or smartphone where you might edit it, there’s QuickTransfer. When the drone is powered on, you can view the files on your DJI smartphone app. From there, it’s easy to tap into the app on your smartphone or tablet to transfer your drone footage quickly.

As you do edit footage, you can take advantage of the drone’s various color modes, including 10-bit D-Log M and HLG. These modes provide greater flexibility during post-production, allowing photographers and videographers to fine-tune colors and details in the editing stage. For what it’s worth, even in normal color mode, Air 3S dual cameras can record 10-bit video using H.265 encoding.

What about drone data privacy?

As drone data privacy has become an especially-hot topic (especially in the wake of calls to ban DJI drones by some American politicians), DJI is seeking to offer its own solution that doesn’t necessitate regulation. It’s called Local Data Mode.

Local Data Mode is basically just like “airplane mode” on your phone. When turned on it, completely disconnects your drone DJI Air 3S from the internet, ensuring your flight data stays only in the drone.

How to get your hands on the DJI Air 3S

The DJI Air 3S is available now in a couple configurations, depending on the accessories (and your willingness to pay extra). Those are:

  • DJI Air 3S with DJI RC-N3 ($1,099): The base model includes the DJI RC-N3, which is the type of controller with no built-in screen. You’ll have to use your smartphone or tablet in tandem with DJI’s app to view the live feed, adjust settings and see your flight status.
  • DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo with DJI RC-N3 ($1,399): For $300 more, you’ll end up with the same controller as described above, but some extra accessories. That includes an ND filter set, two additional batteries, a battery charging hub and a shoulder bag.
  • DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo with DJI RC 2 ($1,599): If you want the best of the best, go for this version, which gives you the DJI RC 2 remote controller instead of the DJI RC-N3. This controller offers a far superior flying experience given its 5.5-inch 1080p 700-nit high-bright screen. IT also includes the other accessories described in the aforementioned Fly More Combo, such as that ND filter set, two additional batteries, battery charging hub and shoulder bag.

Here’s a look at everything included in the DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo with DJI RC-N3:

DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo
(Photo courtesy of DJI)

DJI Care Refresh, which is DJI’s extended warranty plan, is also available for purchase with this drone.

The $1,099 price point is particularly compelling give that’s how much DJI initially sold the DJI Air 3 when it first launched in July 2023. But this, newer model costs the same, despite the increased bells and whistles. Plus, when you take inflation into account, it’s (by some “girl math” metrics) even cheaper than the DJI Air 3 was upon its 2023 launch.

Who is the DJI Air 3S best for?

Starting at $1,099, the DJI Air 3S is certainly not DJI’s cheapest drone. If you’re penny-pinching (or just new to the hobby, and not sure you want to go all-in on an $1,000 drone yet), skip this one. You’re better off with either the DJI Mini 3 (which is less than half the price of the DJI Air 3S) or perhaps the even-more affordable DJI Mini 4K. A super-beginner shouldn’t overlook the DJI Neo, either (that’s DJI’s latest drone launch prior to the DJI Air 3S).

Instead, this is for a committed photographer or drone enthusiast who wants a top-tier drone without the super expensive specs of the DJI Mavic 3 (nor the larger size). Then again, many are expecting a Mavic 4 drop sometime this year, so the Mavic 3 might also see a price drop.

Either way, the DJI Air 3S hits the middle, sweet spot between a Mini and a Mavic — all with the latest specs. It’s something of an all-rounder drone for travel photographers and videographers, especially given its small size (it weighs 724 grams). Standing out for its dual-camera system, night-time obstacle sensing and professional-grade video capabilities, it should be well-received by the drone community seeking something new.

I haven’t gotten my hands on one yet (it just started shipping today!) but stay tuned for a review, coming soon.

The post DJI Air 3S: a dual-camera drone for higher-end travel photography appeared first on The Drone Girl.

SPH Engineering Unveils Circlegrammetry: A New Approach to Drone Photogrammetry

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New tool promises faster, more accurate 3D models with shorter flight times SPH Engineering has introduced Circlegrammetry, a new photogrammetry tool that could change how drone operators capture data for 3D modeling and mapping. Designed in response to challenges faced by drone pilots, Circlegrammetry aims to improve the accuracy, speed, and efficiency of aerial mapping […]

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WarrenUAS Advances Robotics and Precision Agriculture with Federal Funding Support

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Congressman Kean Advocates for Federal Funding to Boost WCCC’s Innovative Programs Warren County Community College (WCCC) hopes to receive nearly $980,000 in federal funds to support advanced training in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) for agricultural and food processing industries. Congressman Tom Kean Jr. is advocating for the funding, which will help further develop the […]

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FPV, Drone Shows & AI in Disaster Relief in this episode of Weekly Wings!

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In this week’s episode of Weekly Wings, hosts Paul Rossi, Samuel Stansberry, and Terry Neff dive into exciting drone-related innovations and their impact across various industries. This episode of the Weekly Wings drone podcast begins with an exploration of FPV Logic, an FPV simulator available on Steam. Samuel shares his firsthand experience using it as […]

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