French drone builder Parrot has launched a new drone that can be controlled via a mobile 4G data connection: the ANAFI Ai. This allows the device to be operated far beyond the sight of the pilot, also behind buildings and other obstacles. The ANAFI Ai was developed in particular for the creation of 3D models based on photogrammetry. The maximum flight time is just over half an hour.

4G connectivity

According to Parrot, the ANAFI Ai is the first drone to feature 4G connectivity as standard. This means that the drone can be deployed at an unlimited distance from the pilot (beyond visual line of sight, BVLOS), as long as there is mobile range. Parrot emphasizes the data security of the connection between the drone and the new Skycontroller 4

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the bitrate and resolution of the video connection are automatically tuned to the available bandwidth of the mobile data connection. In ideal conditions, the video resolution is 1080p HD, at a latency of 300 ms. No special subscription is required to use 4G connectivity: the user can simply put a standard SIM card into the drone and use a regular data bundle.

48 mp camera

The drone is equipped with a 48 megapixel camera with a sensor diameter of 1/2”. Thanks to its unique gimbal design, the camera can rotate 90º up as well as 90º down. By means of the 6x digital zoom, according to Parrot, it is possible to observe details of the size of 1 cm at a distance of 75 meters.

The ANAFI Ai is mainly intended for the collection of data for the benefit. of photogrammetry. This is expressed in the far-reaching integration with the Pix4D software package. Already during the flight, images can be forwarded to the software for further processing. To prevent the drone from coming into contact with obstacles, the ANAFI Ai is further equipped with obstacle detection in the direction of view of the camera. In developing this, Parrot says that it was inspired by nature.

Artificial intelligence

The designation Ai is not entirely surprising for artificial intelligence (AI). Parrot states that thanks to AI, users can generate a flight plan optimized for photogrammetry at the touch of a button. In addition, the flight plan is tailored to existing buildings, thanks to the integration of OpenStreetMap. While carrying out a mission, the flight plan is continuously updated based on the sensor information.

To make the drone even more versatile, Parrot makes an SDK available so that programmers can develop specific applications that can be run directly on the drone. The SDK provides access to all hardware, including sensors and 4G data link. The ANAFI Ai also supports open protocols such as MavLink.

Availability

The ANAFI Ai will be available in the second half of 2021 through Parrot Drone Enterprise Partners and the Enterprise Drone Reseller Network. The drone doesn’t have a Cx label yet. This means that the drone with its weight of 900 grams until the end of 2022 can be used in Open subcategory A2, then only in A3, or in the Specific category.