SwissDrones is a leading developer and manufacturer of VTOL UAV helicopters that provide superior endurance for long-range inspections, surveillance, and search & rescue missions.
SDO 50 Helicopter UAV
The SDO 50 is a state-of-the-art unmanned helicopter with a flight endurance of over 3 hours and the ability to operate day or night in adverse weather conditions, such as rain, snow and wind speeds of up to 21 knots.
Based around a proprietary Flettner intermeshing double rotor design, the SDO 50 offers enhanced payload capacity and flight stability.
The VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) system is highly cost-effective compared to manned aerial solutions, and requires less training to operate confidently. The rapidly deployable aircraft is transportable by van and can be prepared for flight by a team of two in just 15 minutes.
The SDO 50 UAV is equipped with an advanced autopilot and high-performance GPS receiver and magnetometer, with optional redundant systems. The aircraft’s datalink consists of a primary S-band link and a secondary UHF-band link, with additional LTE/4G capabilities available upon request.
The standard data link range can be customized based on the mission and regulatory requirements of the SDO 50 can be further extended upon demand for longer-range missions.
The SDO 50 helicopter UAV is controlled via a portable GCS (Ground Control Staton) set-up, consisting of a ruggedized, enclosed Control Station, UPS, Pilot PC and compact joystick unit.
The SDO 50 has been successfully tested at maximum conditions of 9,800 ft AMSL (density altitude), at temperatures ranging from -20°C to +50°C, and under strong wind conditions. During the tests the aircraft has demonstrated its feasibility for flight missions in challenging environments.
Versatile UAV for multiple (exchangeable) payloads
A variety of high-end sensors have been integrated with the SDO 50. With a useful payload of more than 20 kg, several payloads can be integrated at the same time.
- Electro-Optical / Infrared (EO/IR) gyrostabilized camera gimbal provides high-resolution optical and thermal video imagery for wide area surveillance.
- RGB (Red Green Blue) cameras for inspection mission, such as powerlines or pipelines inspection, high resolution camera with more than 100 MPixel are used to collect detailed pictures of the infrastructures.
- LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology that uses laser pulses to measure distances and generate accurate 3D models of terrain and infrastructure.
- Laser Methane Detection sensor helps Oil & Gas pipeline companies and operators to find leaks throughout their networks to avoid other type of problem.
- For maritime Surveillance and SAR missions, the use of an AI based sensors can streamline their efficiency.
- Radiation particle detection and spectrometry detection are techniques used to measure and analyze ionizing radiation.
- Multispectral and hyperspectral imaging systems are powerful tools used for environmental monitoring, agriculture, and disaster response.
- Sensor for Wildfire Fighting can be used for applications such as fire mapping and change detection.
- Mobile phone detection, location, and communication systems enhance search and rescue, disaster response and security operations by detecting and geolocating mobile devices, even in areas without network coverage.
- Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems provide high-resolution imaging for search and rescue (SAR), surveillance, and environmental monitoring in challenging conditions, such as poor weather, darkness, or dense foliage.
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Applications
Inspection & Monitoring
The SDO 50 is ideal for a wide range of UAV inspection and monitoring applications, with reliable and efficient aerial data gathering capabilities that can address customer-specific needs for critical infrastructure, environmental monitoring, oil and gas, wildlife monitoring and more. Learn more >
Search & Rescue
The SDO 50 offers agile support of SAR missions using specific camera systems and sensors to locate missing people in inaccessible or hazardous areas (land or water), also in adverse weather conditions and at night. Once target persons are located, emergency gear such as survival kits, medical devices, food, rafts can be airlifted and dropped to support their recovery and rescue. Learn more >
Aerial Surveillance
The SDO 50 provides unparalleled flexibility and efficiency, allowing for individual payload configurations including stabilized IR/optical cameras and missions under difficult or dangerous circumstances (e.g. bad weather, darkness, flying over hostile or otherwise unsafe areas) when manned operations are not feasible. Learn more >
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