ASCTEC FALCON 8

Preamble

I came across this octocopter, and was astonished at the price: ASCTEC FALCON 8 TRINITY INSPECTON/SURVEY UAV/DRONE, £13000.

Specifications

Here is a run down of its specifications

1. TWO PAYLOADS: STILL ,   SONY ALPHA 6000 ,VIDEO SONY CAMCORDER   HDR 730E
2. ASTEC BACK PACK,TRANSPORT CASE
3. ASCTEC FALCON 8  UPGRADED TO THE LATEST  TRINITY  AND  SPLIT CONTROLS

• Photo package
  • WP/Path: For exact reproduction of aerial imaging. Several photo positions including camera orientation can be saved as single waypoints or complex paths with many waypoints. Thus repeat and reproduce a monitoring mission fully automatically.
  • Panorama1: Auto-function for cylindrical and spherical panoramas.
  • COI2: The Circle-Of-Interest (COI) function generates a circular waypoint flight to enable the systematic capturing of images around the point of interest according to your setting.

• Video package
  • POI3: By setting a Point-Of-Interest (POI) you enable the camera to focus on a determined position. So you can fly various manoeuvres, but the AscTec Falcon 8 will stay pointed: to the defined Point-Of-Interest.
  • One-hand camera control: For softer and smoother tracking shots. To simplify challenging tracking shots you can easily tilt the camera up and down with the left control stick. Therefore you can perform smoother panoramas and sweeps by controlling the camera with the thrust lever in the video mode.
  • Cablecam Mode: For maximum flexibility in camera operation. Decouple the flight direction of the AscTec Falcon 8 from its orientation. Hence you can move the camera left, right, up and down – just as you like. The aircraft will keep its flight direction.
• Survey package
  • Flight Planning: You can plan complex waypoint missions on your laptop with the flight planning software AscTec Navigator to fly and survey areas fully automated.
  • Quick Survey: Simply enter the required ground sample distance (GSD), define coordinates of start and final angle via Mobile Ground Station: The AscTec Falcon 8 will automatically adjust flight altitude, speed, GPS-based photo positions and overlapping to provide the wanted results with an optimised output in best time. No laptop required!
• TWO PAYLOADS: STILL ,   SONY ALPHA 6000 ,VIDEO SONY CAMCORDER   HDR 730E
• ASTEC BACK PACK,TRANSPORT CASE

Made by AscTec, a German company, which has a UK distributor.

Technical specification:

UAV body type:	Dihedral Octocopter
Dimensions:	770 x 820 x 125 mm
Max. Take-off weight:	2.3 kg
Max. payload:	0.8 kg
Flight Time incl. Payload:	12-22 min
Max. Range:	1,000 m
Max. Airspeed:	16 m/s
Wind load:	15 m/s (GPS: 12 m/s)
Data Connection:	2 x 2.4 GHz, 10-63 mW
Transmission Power:	5.8GHz 25/100 mW
Battery:	LiPo batteries with 6250 mAh
Operating Temp:	-5c to 35c
Remote Controller:	Mobile ground station, Waypoint
Piloting and Sensor:	AscTec autopilot or AscTec Trinity with 1,000 Hz clock
Flight Modes:	GPS mode, Altitude mode, Manual mode
Security Modes:	Direct landing, Direct Return, High Return