Canon 51 Megapixel 5DS is FAA Certified by SkyIMD for Aerial Photography and Precision Agriculture
San Carlos, California (PRWEB) July 16, 2015 -- Sky Imaging Mapping Data (SkyIMD) has completed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval of Canon’s 51 MegaPixel (MP) 5DS and 5DS R as aerial cameras on fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft. Installed in SkyIMD’s aerial imaging pod, the Canon 5DS becomes a worldwide traceable aircraft component through SkyIMD’s FAA Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA).
The Canon EOS 5DS and 5DS R bring medium format camera resolution to aerial imaging with the low cost simple automation of a DSLR. The camera produces high quality aerial imagery for photogrammetry, geomatics, and precision agriculture (Ag) at a greatly reduced price compared to existing aerial cameras.
SkyIMD’s Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) integrates a Canon 5DS pod kit for a Cessna 152, 172 Skyhawk, 182 Skylane, 206 Stationaire, or most helicopters using a Meeker Mount. Over 60 different aircraft models are approved domestically and internationally by the FAA, European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC), and many others. The FAA STC approves use of the camera while carrying commercial passengers. As an advanced certified feature the pilot can remove or swap the camera pod to another aircraft in minutes. A 22 pin cable interface connects power and laptop to the camera for live viewing, recording, or even in-flight processing.
Ryan Guthridge, Business Manager at Top Intel, a Precision Ag service in Iowa and Nebraska, believes the Canon 5DS R will improve farm productivity, “Canon is already a market leader for Precision Ag imagery applications. A Canon 6D captures Near Infrared (NIR) multispectral imagery up to 60,000 acres per day with excellent 70% ground overlap at five inch resolution, or 30,000 acres/day at two inches. This already allows for a Precision Ag business with one Cessna to capture 10-20 fields per hour, and a whole region of farms during each flight. Canon 5DS R will nearly double daily productivity; whether one inch ground pixels or 1 meter GSD (Ground Sampling Distance). The actionable imagery is very cost effective and timely (delivered within 24 hours through AgPixel), which provides invaluable information for in-season management decisions, whether it be for scouting missions, variable rate application, biomass calculations, or insurance adjustments.”
Mark Zaller COO of SkyIMD says, “A Canon 5DS in an FAA approved Cessna pod provides an economically competitive alternative to drones. A Cessna captures huge areas at altitudes from under 400 feet AGL (Above Ground Level) to over 17,000 feet, with no commercial airspace restrictions. A Canon 6D (20MP) on a Cessna has been one of the most cost effective Precision Ag platforms in the air, and SkyIMD’s FAA approvals will now allow up to five Canon 5DS (255 MP total) on the same low cost aircraft. During a recent Precision Ag mission, SkyIMD diverted to use the Canon 5DS R on a true Emergency Response at the Santa Barbara Refugio Beach Oil Spill. With a 35 mm lens from 1000 feet up, we supplied the US Coast Guard with 2 inch pixel resolution of the affected beaches.” (sample on YouTube)
The Canon 5DS becomes part of SkyIMD’s family of Manned-UAV solutions, allowing autonomous operation in regular manned aircraft, or ground operation from over the internet. Instantaneous Field of View (IFOV) of up to 400 MP with photogrammetry cameras looking nadir or oblique, and SkyFusion Pak gyro stabilized tracking superzoom gimbals provide the most powerful and versatile, yet easiest and least expensive imaging in the sky. Simultaneous capture is possible with any combination of NIR, RGB (normal visible light), Ultraviolet (UV), Short Wave Infrared (SWIR), Middle Wave Infrared (MWIR), Long Wave Infrared (LWIR), LIDAR or Hyperspectral cameras. Live video can be inexpensively streamed to mobile phones on the ground.
SkyIMD (http://www.skyimd.com) will showcase the Canon 5DS R at the InfoAg Conference in St Louis on July 27-30th. During the Monday demonstration tour, Top Intel (http://www.topintel.com) will capture normal commercial imagery from a Cessna to create a Normalized Digital Vegetation Index (NDVI) that is processed overnight by AgPixel (http://www.agpixel.com), and will be viewed in SkyIMD’s exhibitor booth. SkyIMD will present “Aerial Platform Innovations” in Grand Ballroom C at 10 am on Thursday July 30th, and will participate in an industry panel comparing the cost of precision ag imagery from UAVs, manned aircraft, and satellites.
About Sky Imaging Mapping Data
SkyIMD creates aerial imaging, mapping, and data communications solutions for Public Safety, Precision Agriculture, wildfires, government, oil, gas, and power/pipeline customers worldwide. The company integrates cutting edge technologies into cost-effective, turnkey solutions for airplanes, helicopters, and UAS. From installation to operation, everything is plug-and-play easy for regular workers to conduct sophisticated missions.
Mark Zaller, SkyIMD Imaging Mapping Data, http://www.skyimd.com, +1 (650) 610-1560, [email protected]
Share this article