Offering an improved capture speed and twice the spatial resolution of the RedEdge-MX (RE-MX), MicaSense's RedEdge-P (RE-P), introduced in late 2021, builds on MicaSense's legacy of the rugged, high-quality, multispectral sensor and adds the power of a higher resolution, panchromatic band to double the output data resolution. Compatible with a wide array of drones ranging from large fixed-wing to small multirotor, Wingtra saw an opportunity to fit the RE-P payload onto the WingtraOne GENII to take results and field efficiency to the next level for environmental monitoring, research, and investigation, as well as agriculture.
By equipping a 5.1 MP panchromatic sensor and a three frames per second image capture rate, the RE-P offers pansharpened output resolutions of 2cm (0.8in) flying at 60m (197ft), or 4cm (1.6in) at 120m (394ft), whereas the RE-MX could only reach 6.7cm (2.7in) flying at 60m. The panchromatic sensor produces a panchromatic image - a single-band grayscale image with a high spatial resolution that combines the information from the visible R, G, and B bands and yields a single integrated image band containing no wavelength-specific information. Then, the pansharpening process merges the high-resolution panchromatic and lower resolution multispectral imagery to create a single high-resolution color image.
But why did Wingtra choose a White & Black over an RGB sensor?
"That's due to how these sensors are made," Erik de Badts, Channel Sales Manager at MicaSense, answered during a webinar. "First of all, it is important to have a global shutter for the data quality, not a rolling shutter. That means you are quite limited on the maximum amount of pixels you can use. An RGB sensor corresponds to 40% green, 30% red, and 30% blue cells. So, an RGB camera of 12MP is less than 4MP of real spatial information. With a Black & White camera, you can use the entire array of pixels for spatial information. The RE-P's panchromatic camera is only 5MP, but it is comparable to almost an 18 or 20MP RGB camera - that's the real resolution you can expect."
In addition, the RE-P extracts useful digital elevation models, just like you would with a 24 MP RGB sensor, and with Wingtra's bundle solution, there's no need to switch up your software.
Since its market entry in early 2017, Wingtra has reached various customers in Surveying & GIS, Mining & Aggregates, Construction & Infrastructure, as well as Agriculture & Environment. The company is constantly looking for new and improved technologies to bundle with its drone, so Wingtra's adoption of the RE-P doesn't surprise. Back in 2019, the company had already integrated MicaSense's RE-MX with its drone to boost multispectral camera options for those in need of wide-coverage and high-quality multispectral imagery and reliable mapping results even in harsh conditions.
"We're excited to bring RE-P to our customers, because it breaks through an efficiency barrier while holding to our high-quality standard," said Julian Mackern, Product Manager at Wingtra. "You get both RGB definition and high-resolution multispectral in one flight. Add to this WingtraOne's fast coverage, easy setup, and high-quality PPK, and we now offer an all-in-one solution for a wide range of projects."
Technology in general makes João Antunes tick, but the specific ways it has created and changed the landscape in IT, gaming and computers ignited curiosity that’s turned into a passion for him. As the son of a journalist writing about how these industries have emerged and evolved, he has an incredible perspective when it comes to understanding the kind of disruption new technologies can create in a given space. He’s committed to showcasing what that disruption will mean for professionals as they work to utilize brand new pieces of hardware, software, systems and processes.
Subscribe to our weekly global newsletter for news, insight and market information about commercial drones!
Free reports focused on the commercial drone industry
September 6-8, 2022 • Las Vegas