Now that the Flyability Elios 3 has been launched a common question that pop ups is 'how does it compare to the Elios 2?' We will answer that in this post while explaining why comparing the two inspection drones doesn't really make sense.
Built for different purposes
The important thing to note is the major difference between the two drones. Elios 3 is built to be a drone platform with the ability to expand operations with additional payloads and the added benefits, including but not limited to point clouds and 3D maps, of having a LiDAR unit.
You can learn more about the change in thinking behind Flyability Elios 3 here.
The Elios 2 was designed to be more of a closed system, meaning the Elios 2 shipped to you is pretty much in its final form, without the ability to add other payloads.
Elios 2 - a solid inspection drone
Elios 2 when it launched was a massive step up from the Elios 1 and is still a great inspection drone today. Elios 2 features a dedicated inspection payload with a 4k RGB camera, thermal camera, distance, sensor, and powerful lighting system. Elios 2 doesn't have the ability to use third-party payloads, which is the major differentiator between the two.
Elios 3 - an aerial inspection platform built for the future
Elios 3 features the same dedicated inspection payload as Elios 2 with an improved lighting system. Adding to this, Elios 3 introduces improved flight performance thanks to new motors, flight controller, and a LiDAR unit constantly scanning the environment. The LiDAR is not only used for data capture but also helps the drone be rock steady, leaving the pilot to think about the data that needs to be captured.
The addition of a GPS and expansion port allows Flyability to take Elios 3 to the next level. Collaborating with partners and in-house teams Flyability will be able to integrate many new payloads with Elios 3, allowing for operations never possible before.
Which one is for you?
An easy way to think of it is to breakdown what you are going to be using a drone for. If you just need a drone to do inspections and the built-in inspection payload of the Elios 2 satisfies your data needs, then an Elios 3 wouldn't make much sense. On the other hand, if you think your team of clients will likely want more data captured than the built-in payload allows for, the Elios 3 is a perfect option.
As always, if you are unsure of your requirements or have any questions about Elios 3 or Elios 2 contact our team via the live chat button in the bottom left corner of your screen or via our contact page.
