Hand-deployable Coaxial Nano Drone Flies in at Under 250 Grams

With the looming threat of a potential ban on Chinese drones from DJI in the United States, aviation enthusiasts are likely to look for alternatives. The American company Ascent Aerosystems may have a solution with its unique Helius model.

The Helius is the latest addition to Ascent’s line of coaxial drones, which dates back over a decade with the thermos-sized Sprite model. Visually, the Helius is closer to the 2021 Spirit model, with its body sections separated by two counter-rotating rotors mounted one above the other.

Compact, Rugged, and Powerful: A Drone for Critical Operations

This new model is described as a “rugged, all-weather, NDAA-compliant option for law enforcement, emergency response, and industrial enterprise operators.” Weighing in at 249 g, the drone features a 12.3-megapixel ultra-low-light camera capable of recording 4K footage at 60 frames per second or Full HD at 240 fps. Unlike other camera drones, it only offers a digital gimbal for pan, tilt, and zoom movements.

The nano UAV measures 275 x 75 x 53 mm, and its electric propulsion system allows it to reach a top speed of 72 km/h. Its swappable battery offers over 30 minutes of operational time per charge. The drone can be ready to fly in under 30 seconds, is hand-deployable, and features 4G/LTE connectivity for remote control and monitoring via mobile devices.

Ascent has incorporated AI-enabled obstacle avoidance and object tracking. The company also highlights that the Helius design “ensures superior performance in high winds and challenging environments,” as it can operate in winds up to 40 km/h and temperatures ranging from -20 °C to 60 °C. Its night beacon is visible for up to 4.8 km, and it’s remarkably quiet at under 40 dBA from 30 meters away.

Helius: Compact Yet Powerful for Public Safety and Industrial Use

Bringing our coaxial propulsion technology to a sub-250g platform while maintaining the durability, performance, and reliability that Ascent products are known for has been one of the most rewarding challenges we’ve undertaken,” said Peter Fuchs, co-founder and CEO of the company. “Helius delivers unmatched capability in its class at a competitive price. It is the drone we’ve wanted to make from the beginning; small enough to fit in your pocket but powerful enough to meet the rigorous demands of public safety, emergency response, and critical industrial missions.”

The Helius made its trade show debut at Verticon in Dallas, Texas, earlier this month. It comes with a rather hefty price tag of US$4,499. The drone is now available for pre-order, with shipping expected to begin in Q4 of this year.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

Read more: Drone Air Traffic Control Ensures Safe Skies Using Cost-Effective Radars