senseFly eBee Drone Demonstrates Mapping Capabilities in Swiss Alps

No audio available for this content.

senseFly successfully demonstrated the 3D mapping capabilities of its fully autonomous mini drone under extreme conditions. In mid-February, the eBee conducted a mapping mission in the mountains above Zermatt at altitudes of up to 3000 meters. Several flights were conducted to map small hamlets and valleys at temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius (14°F).

“Zermatt village, the starting point of this excursion, is a car-free zone, therefore all transportation of equipment had to be done manually,” said Andrea Hildebrand, co-founder of senseFly. “On top of this, the only means of transportation to reach the takeoff locations, some at altitudes as high as 2800 meters, were ski lifts and skis. Luckily the eBee only weighs 630 grams and fits with all its accessories in a carry-on case, so we could easily carry it with us and even ski down the slopes with it.”

The entire mapping of a small valley, including the takeoff, flight, landing and resulting geo-referenced orthomosaic and 3D elevation map, is documented in a video available online.