If you are an enterprise drone pilot or work in the military, federal, or government agency, this article might pique your interest.
Over the years, the drone ecosystem in the U.S. has significantly evolved, and there is an observable difference in the safety priorities, use-cases, and so much more.
The Parrot ANAFI USA GOV Edition is quite a competitive and highly capable UAV on all fronts. This article explores the nooks and crannies of this American-made UAV.
Let's get right into it!
Parrot ANAFI USA GOV Edition: Background Information
A proper exploration should begin with the 'when' and 'where' to conclusively answer the 'what' question.
When
Parrot ANAFI USA GOV Edition was unveiled on the Aug. 19, 2020, alongside the ANAFI USA MIL.
Where
The U.S.A.-built UAV got locally manufactured by Parrot and the American army in Massachusetts.
What
The aircraft was one of the projects that the U.S. military and Parrot -- the parent company -- collaborated on as part of the cybersecurity solutions initiated by DIU through a special program that we'll later highlight in this article.
Parrot ANAFI USA GOV Edition is a powerful, versatile quadcopter. Let's start with its features.
Parrot ANAFI USA GOV Edition: Features
Now that we have an idea of how the powerful quadcopter came to be, let's intensify our exploration by further dissecting its features which include:
1. A portable design
A UAV's size is among the first observable features that help you formulate your first impression.
The Parrot ANAFI USA GOV drone is about 500 grams light in weight. Its foldable design allows it to fit in its waterproof transport case neatly. Its compact design leaves no time wasted while setting it up or moving from one site to another.
So, what's your first impression of this aircraft? You'd be impressed by the great tech built into this small UAV and, equally, the operations it can complete. Here's more on the features that may benefit you and your team as we're just getting started.
2. An impressive imaging system
Parrot's Government Edition UAV has not one but three cameras that facilitate the generation of non-pixelated videos and images. The imaging system includes:
A FLIR Boson thermal camera
A 32x zoom RGB camera
A wide-angle RGB camera
Besides having a gimbal with a wide tilt range (-140° to +110°), these cameras facilitate 4K video recording and the generation of visible thermal stills and videos.
3. A highly cyber-secure system
Like the Parrot's Short-Range Reconnaissance (SRR), the Parrot ANAFI USA GOV Edition has an advanced data encryption and security system.
All data generated during a flight is encrypted on its S.D. card using an AES-XTS algorithm. This secure algorithm has a 512-bit key length. S.D. card encryption is highly effective if the aircraft lands in the wrong hands.
However, it doesn't end there, as the network connection is another loophole that individuals with malicious intent notoriously use.
This UAV uses a highly secured WPA2 Wi-Fi connection as its default connection during aerial operations. ANAFI USA also employs signed firmware technology to prevent malicious parties from overriding the drone's software.
Other cybersecurity measures involve:
The use of open protocols, namely, Wi-Fi, WPA2, RTP/RTSP, H.264, and GUTMA.
A feature that enables users to consent to all data shared through the FreeFlight 6 app.
Ensuring the drone's features comply with the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Cybersecurity is one of the major concerns for federal agencies as cyber crimes have been on a steady rise, but there's no need to worry when you have all these measures in place.
4. Autonomous flight capabilities
It can autonomously carry out flight routes or allow you to use satellite navigation (GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO) coordinates in assisted framing. You can also construct a flight route with pre-set automatic flights and target-tracking. How convenient right?
Its RTH (Return To Home) feature comes in clutch during outdoor operations when the UAV has lost its signal or when the battery is low enough to compromise your mission and affect the durability of your drone.
5. A variety of sensors
Sensors are especially vital in inhospitable environments as they provide accurate feedback in such scenarios. The sensors include:
- A barometer, magnetometer, ultra-sonar, vertical camera
- 2 x 6-axis IMU (inertial measurement unit)
- 2 x 3-axis accelerometers and gyroscopes
6. Minimal flight noise
Its propeller design ensures that you and your team carry out your aerial operations with minimal noise disturbance to keep off unwanted attention from the people in the surveillance area.
7. An impressive flight time
It has a maximum flight time of 32 minutes which is quite decent for a drone of its size.
8. An IP53 certification
Parrot's Government Edition UAV is IP53 certified to mean that it is both dust and water-resistive. It can decently fly in all weather conditions.
9. An updated smart controller
The Parrot Skycontroller USA is an 8-inch touchscreen with an IP53 rating and is both NDAA and TAA compliant. It offers a high-quality resolution (720P) with a transmission range that's over 3 miles to ensure that your team on the ground gets a clear and seamless live feed experience.
10. A robust software ecosystem
The Parrot ANAFI USA GOV's drone technology allows the use of various softwares to meet the needs of different enterprise users. For instance, it is compatible with Pix4Dreact- a mapping software that can convert stills into 2D maps from your P.C.
ANAFI USA also has an Open source SDK (Software Development Kit) for devs which birthed several applications with different use cases, such as:
So, are these features ideal for your unique professional needs?
More on that in the next section, after we briefly explore the correlation between the Blue sUAS program and Parrot's GOV Edition UAV.
Is the Parrot ANAFI USA GOV Edition A Blue Drone?
It indeed is a Blue sUAS that made it to the Blue sUAS 1.0 list.
The Blue sUAS program aims at developing new prototyping processes for the Department of Defense (DoD) to easily acquire cyber secure and highly capable quadcopters for their unique use cases.
Here's a more indepth guide on what the Blue sUAS program truly advocates for: Everything You Need to Know About the Blue UAS Program.
Use Cases
As expected, the Parrot ANAFI USA GOV Edition is suitable for use by military, federal, and government agencies.
It's primarily an asset to first responders in law enforcement and firefighting, offering a wide range of applications, including:
- Search and rescue operations
- Crime surveillance
- Indoor surveillance
- Traffic collision reconstruction
Besides public safety usage, the UAV makes an efficient tool for the following operations:
- Powerline or cell tower inspections
- Environmental inspection
- 2D modeling
Why You Need A Parrot ANAFI USA GOV Edition Drone
Are you in need of a drone with zero GPS-restricted flight areas?
How about one that's both NDAA and TAA compliant? Or, do you need a highly secure quadcopter with competitive mid-range pricing? Parrot ANAFI USA GOV Edition checks all the boxes.
It might be the perfect drone for your enterprise needs. Ready to add it to your fleet? Get your risk-free quote now from Advexure.
Would you rather start with a demo? Connect with us today to see if you qualify for our loaner leasing program!
At Advexure, we have a highly qualified and experienced team of UAV personnel ready to assist you with all your UAV queries and order inquiries.
To get started, connect with us to send in that query or just open the chat box to inquire whether that drone you've been eyeing is suitable for your use cases.
