Freefly Astro Max

Freefly Systems Astro gives professionals a compact, American-built aircraft engineered for demanding field work. Centered on the all-new Astro Max airframe and 61 MP Sony LR1 sensor, Astro blends open-architecture payload integration with the intuitive Pilot Pro controller and Auterion mission suite. Proven by 100,000+ commercial flights and NDAA/Blue UAS certification, Astro delivers reliable, high-precision imaging for mapping, inspection, public safety, and agricultural missions.

Made in the USA | 25 Min Flight Time | Swappable Payloads | 61 MP Sony LR1 | Smart Dovetail Ecosystem |100k+ Commercial Flights | Auterion Skynode LTE Connectivity

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Freefly Astro Max Features

Astro Max combines a 61 MP Sony LR1, open Smart Dovetail payload bay, NDAA/Blue-approved hardware options, and the rugged Pilot Pro controller to deliver agile, American-built performance and 25-minute flights for precise mapping, inspection, public-safety, and agricultural missions with fleet-wide scalability and reliability.

  • 61MP Sony LR1 Imaging: Capture ultra-high-resolution stills and orthomosaics with sub-centimeter detail for survey-grade photogrammetry and crisp visual inspections.
  • Smart Dovetail Ecosystem: Swap payloads—from thermal to LiDAR—in seconds via Freefly’s open, Pixhawk-compatible interface for rapid mission reconfiguration.
  • NDAA / Blue UAS Compliance: Aircraft, firmware, and Doodle Labs RF link meet federal security requirements, enabling sensitive government and DoD operations without waiver hurdles.
  • 25-Minute Flight Time with LR1: Dual SL8-Air batteries keep the full-frame sensor aloft longer, reducing swaps during large-area surveys and time-critical flights.
  • Pilot Pro + LTE & Auterion: Rugged controller with hot-swap power, LTE cloud link, and AuterionOS mission computer delivers real-time telemetry, OTA updates, and intuitive gimbal control.
  • Made-in-USA Build & 100k+ Proven Flights: Designed, tested, and supported in Washington State with over 100,000 successful industrial missions—confidence born from real-world performance.

DJI Matrice 30 Series Use Cases

Surveyor launching a Freefly Astro in front of his work truck

Construction & Surveying

Astro unites 61 MP photogrammetry, rapid LiDAR swaps, 15 m/s precision handling, and long flights to compress field-to-finish timelines on complex, even GPS-challenged, jobsites.

  • Site Mapping & Volume Surveys: Capture sub-centimeter orthomosaics and cut–fill reports in a single 25-minute flight with the Sony LR1 sensor.
  • GPS-Denied 3D Modeling: Clip on Hovermap ST-X via Smart Dovetail to live-scan pits, tunnels, or bridge undersides where GNSS fails.

 

A Freefly Astro Drone flying at an angle

Film & Broadcasting

High power-to-weight, cinema-grade imaging, and encrypted downlink give crews agile, visually stunning shots without heavy-lift rigs or latency headaches.

  • Dynamic Tracking Shots: 5 m/s position-mode speed and tight control authority nail fast chase sequences in a single take.
  • Live Director’s Feed: Pilot Pro streams stabilized LR1 footage directly to set monitors for real-time creative feedback and rapid resets.

 

Top down view of Freefly Astro flying above rows of orchards

Agriculture

Plug-and-play payloads turn one airframe into a season-long agronomy scout, from early emergence to harvest prep.

  • Crop Health Mapping: Swap to the Sentera 6X multispectral package for NDVI layers that flag stress, irrigation gaps, or nutrient issues across broad acreage.  
  • Stand Counts & Yield Forecasts: Fly high-resolution RGB passes with the LR1 to quantify emergence and refine variable-rate prescriptions before yield is lost.  

 

A Freefly Astro flying near power lines in a mountainous region for inspection work

Infrastructure Inspections

Detailed RGB, thermal, and LiDAR data reveal faults early while techs stay safely on the ground.

  • Thermal Fault Detection: Add the FLIR Boson 640 x 512 thermal upgrade to the LR1 to pinpoint hotspots in panels, transformers, or roofs without shutdowns.
  • High-Detail Visual Checks: 61MP imagery uncovers hairline cracks or corrosion from a safe standoff, enabling proactive maintenance plans.  

Public Safety

Secure, NDAA/Blue-certified hardware and rapid deployment give responders real-time aerial intelligence for critical incidents.

  • Compliant Incident Overwatch: Encrypted Doodle Labs link and Blue-label airframe meet federal data-security mandates during crowd, fire, or tactical events.
  • Search & Rescue Visualization: Thermal LR1 upgrade cuts through smoke or darkness to locate victims or hotspots in minutes.

 

Freefly Astro flying above an open pit mine or aggregates processing site

Mining & Aggregates

Rugged sensing boosts safety, accuracy, and environmental compliance from pit walls to processing lines.

  • Highwall & Stope Mapping: Emescent Hovermap ST-X generates dense point clouds of vertical faces and underground voids while keeping surveyors clear of hazards.  
  • Gas-Leak Detection: Freefly's Ventus OGI payload detects fugitive hydrocarbon emissions along crushers, conveyors, and vents for rapid remediation and regulatory reporting.

 

Freefly Astro Max FAQ

How long can the Astro Max stay airborne?

With no payload the Astro Max can fly up to 39 minutes; expect ≈ 28 minutes with the 61 MP LR1 and ≈ 18 minutes at the 3 kg max payload.

What is the maximum payload capacity?

Astro Max lifts 3 kg / 106 oz while remaining within its MTOW limits, giving teams plenty of headroom for LiDAR, multi-spectral, or dual-sensor packages. 

Is the Astro Max NDAA/Blue-UAS compliant?

Yes—when you order the NDAA/Blue configuration with the Singapore-made Doodle Labs radio, the aircraft, controller, and link all meet DoD sourcing requirements. Versions that ship with the Chinese Herelink radio are not compliant. 

Which radio options are available?

  • Doodle Labs 2.4 GHz (NDAA/Blue, encrypted, DIU-listed)
  • Herelink 2.4 GHz (global use, higher bandwidth but non-NDAA)

What flight controller and firmware does Astro use?

A Pixhawk-class Skynode running Auterion Enterprise PX4 provides triple-redundant IMUs, on-board mission computing and LTE/cloud connectivity. 

Do I need Freefly’s RTK base station for centimetre accuracy?

No. Any multi-band GNSS base that streams RTCM can feed Astro via the Freefly RTK app. For network corrections, add an Auterion Network-RTK licence (≈ $1,200) and point the aircraft at your NTRIP caster—no extra hardware required.

Which mapping and mission-planning software does Astro support?

Astro is software-agnostic; Freefly validates Auterion Mission Control (pre-installed) and Esri SiteScan for flight, and Pix4D/DroneDeploy/SiteScan for processing. Other PX4-compatible planners (e.g., UgCS) work but are not officially tested. 

Will Astro automatically geotag my photos?

Yes. All Freefly payloads write high-accuracy geotags in flight. Note: The NDAA/Blue build ships with GPS logging disabled by default. Enable it in the settings first.

How portable is the Freefly Astro?

Fold the props, booms, and landing gear, and the airframe packs down to ≈ 390 mm × 178 mm (15.35 in × 7 in)—small enough for a padded backpack or the included rolling case. 

Can two people fly camera ops and pilot separately?

Not yet; Astro is optimised for a single operator. Freefly is tracking demand for a future dual-operator mode.

Which ground station ships with Astro Max?

Every Astro Max includes the Freefly Pilot Pro—a six-hour runtime controller with swappable batteries, dual rockers, an emergency kill-switch, and a Samsung Tab Active 5 display. 

Where is the Pilot Pro built?

The handset is assembled at Freefly’s Woodinville, Washington HQ; the optional Herelink radio comes from China, while the Doodle Labs module is manufactured in Singapore. 

Is the video transmitter integrated?

Yes. A low-latency, 1080p digital link is built into both radio options, eliminating the need for separate downlink hardware.

How fast do SL8-Air batteries charge?

A single SL8-Air reaches 100 % in ≈ 90 minutes on the SL-Fast charger; a four-bay charger is available for parallel charging.

What does the aircraft weigh?

Astro Max weighs ≈ 7.77 lb / 3.52 kg empty (no batteries or payload).

Does Astro support image-stitching or photogrammetry outputs?

LR1 imagery and LiDAR LAS files import directly into Pix4D, SiteScan, ArcGIS, Trimble Business Center, and most major GIS or BIM suites.

How long do the batteries last in service?

Freefly guarantees ≥500 cycles for SL-series packs when maintained within the recommended charge and storage limits.

Where do I find firmware updates?

The latest aircraft, payload, and Pilot Pro builds are posted on the Astro public wiki; update all components together to maintain compatibility.