Modular UAV Systems and Custom Payloads

Our Savant fixed-wing drones are designed for efficiency and long-distance flight. With high-aspect wings and lightweight composite construction, they excel at missions like mapping, surveillance, and cloud seeding (as proven by our record Nevada BVLOS flight)​. These aircraft can be launched via runway or catapult and recovered by VTOL/CTOL, with an optional parachute for added safety. Payload bays on the Savant series allow mounting of cameras, scientific instruments, or even cloud-seeding flares, demonstrating the platform’s modularity.

We develop vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAVs that combine the advantages of helicopters and airplanes. These hybrid drones can take off and land in tight spaces like a multicopter, but transition to winged flight for long-range efficiency. They are ideal for operations in rugged areas without runways – for example, deploying a VTOL drone to survey a disaster zone, then returning to a small clearing. Our VTOL platforms feature interchangeable payload pods (for swapping a camera with a sensor package easily) and can be equipped with fuel-cell power for extended endurance​.

For precision and hovering tasks, we utilize multirotor (quadcopter and octocopter) drones that are highly stable and agile. These UAVs carry gimbaled cameras for detailed inspection of structures (bridges, towers, buildings) or can deliver small payloads to exact locations. Drone America’s multirotor fleet is also modular – we can outfit them with optical zoom cameras for security, thermal cameras for night operations, or spraying systems for agricultural and environmental applications. Quick-swap mounts allow one drone to serve many purposes.

A key aspect of our technology service is payload integration. We work closely with sensor manufacturers and client needs to integrate the right tools on our drones. Whether it’s mounting a LiDAR unit for 3D mapping, a radiation sensor for hazmat response, or a high-pressure nozzle for precision agriculture, our team can modify and balance the drone to carry it. We ensure power supply, data connections, and mechanical fit are all optimally configured. This modular approach means clients can use the same drone for multiple use-cases by simply switching payloads, maximizing utilization of the equipment.

All our UAV platforms come with advanced ground control station software and communication links. Operators can plan missions with waypoint navigation, monitor aircraft telemetry, and receive live video feeds. We utilize secure radio and satellite communications for long-range control, and our systems support encryption for sensitive operations. The user interface can be customized per the mission (e.g., overlaying power line routes for inspection missions, or adding thermal imagery displays for SAR missions). We also offer mobile command center setups for field operations, ensuring that our technology can be deployed wherever our clients need it.