eBee X

The eBee X is an advanced fixed-wing drone platform tailored for mapping, surveying, and photogrammetry professionals. It makes aerial data collection faster, safer, and more efficient by combining long flight endurance with high-precision capabilities. Lightweight and hand-launched, the eBee X can be deployed by a single operator in minutes to capture high-resolution aerial imagery across vast areas. This drone is built to “map without limits,” offering a blend of ease-of-use and technical prowess that streamlines geospatial workflows.

Platform Overview

Designed for professionals who demand accuracy, efficiency, and reliability, the eBee X has proven itself in applications ranging from mine surveys and infrastructure inspections to agricultural analysis and disaster response. Its interchangeable payloads and robust construction allow you to capture orthomosaics, 3D models, multispectral data, and more. With the eBee X, you gain the flexibility and performance needed to handle diverse geospatial projects—without compromising on quality or safety.

Key Features

The eBee X offers a range of standout capabilities optimized for professional mapping workflows. Below is a breakdown of its major strengths:

Extended Flight Time & Coverage

Fly up to 55–60 minutes with the standard battery, or up to 90 minutes with an optional endurance upgrade. This translates to coverage of hundreds of hectares in a single flight—significantly reducing the number of flights, battery swaps, and overall labor costs. By finishing surveys quickly, you can move on to the next site or project sooner.

High Precision Mapping

On-demand RTK/PPK capabilities enable the eBee X to achieve down to ~3 cm absolute accuracy—without requiring ground control points (GCPs). The system’s flexible camera options can deliver ground sampling distances (GSD) as fine as 1–2 cm/pixel, making it ideal for survey-grade results.

Durable & Reliable Design

Rugged, lightweight materials and a shock-absorbent fuselage let the eBee X withstand belly landings, wind, and varied terrain. Proven in thousands of hours of commercial use, the drone’s design prioritizes minimal downtime and consistent, safe operations—even in challenging conditions.

Lightweight & Safe Operation

Weighing around 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) with payload, the eBee X meets or exceeds regulatory requirements in many regions and is approved for certain operations over people. Its low mass reduces risk on the ground and helps streamline the waiver process for advanced operations like BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight).

Easy Deployment & Automation

Hand-launch the eBee X in seconds, and let its autopilot handle everything from takeoff to landing. Mission planning is done in eMotion software, where you draw your survey area, set altitudes, and let the system do the rest. Minimal piloting skills are needed, enabling one-person field crews to cover extensive areas quickly.

Software & Workflow Integration

Use the included eMotion software for flight planning, monitoring, and data management. The eBee X outputs are compatible with a wide range of processing suites (Pix4D, Agisoft Metashape, DroneDeploy, Trimble Business Center, and more), making it easy to integrate into existing GIS, CAD, and photogrammetry workflows.

Camera Options

S.O.D.A. 3D

S.O.D.A. 3D is a unique photogrammetry camera that changes orientation during flight to capture every photo from multiple angles (two oblique and one nadir). This expanded field of view enables the eBee X to generate high-quality 3D reconstructions of vertical environments (such as buildings, cliffs, and urban areas) with stunning detail. With the endurance extension, S.O.D.A. 3D can cover up to 500 ha (1,235 ac) in a single flight, maximizing mapping coverage. Visit the S.O.D.A. 3D datasets page to explore sample data and learn more.

Aeria X

Aeria X is a high-end, compact photogrammetry camera offering DSLR-level image quality in a rugged, lightweight body. It features smart exposure control that optimizes settings for various lighting conditions, capturing sharp and detailed images even in low light or high contrast scenes. This superior exposure adaptability allows you to map for more hours per day and achieve consistently clear orthomosaics and 3D models. Visit the Aeria X datasets page for examples of its high-resolution imagery and additional details.

S.O.D.A.

S.O.D.A. (Sensor Optimized for Drone Applications) is the original professional drone photogrammetry camera and a reference standard in its field. Light, robust, and efficient, this 20 MP RGB camera captures amazingly sharp aerial images under a wide range of light conditions, resulting in detailed, vivid orthomosaics. Its ultra-compact, lightweight design also maximizes the eBee X’s flight endurance, allowing larger areas to be mapped per flight. Visit the S.O.D.A. datasets page to see sample outputs and further information.

Corridor

Corridor is a portrait-oriented camera solution optimized for linear route mapping projects (such as roadways, pipelines, and power lines). By using a vertical camera position, it requires ~30% fewer images to cover the same linear distance compared to a standard landscape orientation, which in turn means about 30% shorter processing times for your imagery. This combined hardware and eMotion software solution makes corridor mapping faster and more efficient without sacrificing detail. Visit the Corridor datasets page for sample corridor mapping data and more details.

Duet T

Duet T is a rugged dual-sensor payload that integrates a high-resolution RGB camera with a thermal infrared camera in one unit. It captures synchronized RGB and thermal images simultaneously, allowing you to create geo-accurate thermal maps (heatmaps) and corresponding high-resolution orthomosaics in a single flight. The tightly integrated design and calibration ensure the visual and thermal data align perfectly, saving time and enabling reliable, detailed thermal analysis for inspections or monitoring. Visit the Duet T datasets page to view sample thermal mapping data and learn more.

Duet M

Duet M is an innovative dual-purpose mapping camera rig that combines an RGB sensor with a multispectral sensor. In one flight, it simultaneously captures standard color images and four-band multispectral data (green, red, red edge, near-infrared), enabling the creation of both a high-quality RGB orthomosaic and detailed multispectral maps for vegetation analysis. With its automatic radiometric calibration and geo-tagging, Duet M produces geo-accurate multispectral outputs and high-resolution digital surface models quickly and efficiently. Visit the Duet M datasets page for sample multispectral datasets and further information.

Data Collection Speed & Cost Efficiency

The eBee X is built to minimize flight time, labor costs, and complexity:

• Faster Coverage: Its extended endurance means you can map large sites in fewer flights, saving days of fieldwork and dramatically lowering cost per acre.
• Efficient Flight Planning: eMotion software reduces redundant photo overlap, capturing only the data needed for accurate results.
• Fewer GCPs: RTK/PPK capabilities allow survey-grade accuracy without extensive ground control, cutting labor hours in the field.
• Reduced Downtime: Modular components and proven reliability mean minimal maintenance and quick swaps if repairs are needed.
• Low Operational Costs: Electric-powered, easy to maintain, and designed for fewer flights overall—leading to long-term savings.

Optional Accessories

Customize the eBee X to fit your workflow by adding:

• Endurance Upgrade: Boost flight time to 90 min and map up to ~500 ha in one go.
• RTK/PPK Activation: Unlock centimeter-level accuracy without ground control points.
• Extra Batteries & Chargers: Ensure continuous operations with multiple battery sets and chargers for back-to-back flights.
• Spare Parts Kit: Carry extra propellers, pitot tubes, and rubber bands for quick field repairs.
• Tracking & Safety Gear: Attach a radio tracker or an ADS-B receiver to enhance post-landing recovery and airspace awareness.
• Professional Carrying Case: Upgrade from a backpack to a hard-shell transport case for air travel and rugged protection.
• Extended Support Plans: Opt for additional warranties or service packages for fast replacements and priority technical assistance.

A Drone You Can Rely On

No matter the conditions, the eBee X operates safely and delivers high-quality data, consistently.

Engineered & Assembled for Durability

Its EPP foam wing structure and carbon-fiber reinforcements stand up to routine use and demanding terrains, while still being easy to repair.

Field-Tested & Proven

With thousands of hours of commercial operation worldwide, the eBee X is trusted by mapping teams in diverse industries, including mining, agriculture, construction, and research.

Automated Safety Checks

Pre-flight checks ensure all sensors, actuators, and flight components function properly. If an anomaly arises mid-flight, the autopilot will safely abort or adjust its landing sequence.

Results

Hardware

Software

Operation

Included with the eBee X (Base Configuration):

(1) eBee X Drone (main fuselage, detachable wings, pre-installed motor)
(2) Standard Flight Batteries (each ~60 min flight time)
(1) Battery Charger/Discharger
(1) Rugged Backpack for transport and field operations
(2) Spare Propellers
(2) Spare Attachment Rubber Bands
(10) Spare Pitot Tube Kit
(1) USB Ground Modem (telemetry link to your laptop)
(1) eMotion Flight Planning Software (license included)
(1) Documentation & Quick Start Guide

Q: How long can the eBee X fly and how much area can it cover in one flight?
A: With the standard battery, the eBee X typically flies up to 55–60 minutes. Using the optional Endurance battery upgrade, flight time can reach 90 minutes. At 120 m (400 ft) altitude, this allows coverage of ~220 ha (standard) or up to 500 ha (endurance).

Q: What camera payloads are available for the eBee X?
A: You can select from several sensors, including senseFly S.O.D.A. or Aeria X for high-resolution RGB, S.O.D.A. 3D for multi-angle 3D mapping, Parrot Sequoia+ or Duet M for multispectral imaging, and Duet T for thermal+RGB data. These swappable payloads offer flexibility for different applications.

Q: How accurate are the maps and models produced by the eBee X?
A: With RTK/PPK, it can achieve ~3 cm (1.2 in) absolute accuracy without GCPs. If you add a few GCPs, you can refine accuracy even further. Ground sampling distances (GSD) can be as low as 1–2 cm/pixel depending on altitude and camera.

Q: Is the eBee X difficult to fly? Do I need special training?
A: It’s highly automated. You plan the mission in eMotion, hand-launch the drone, and the autopilot manages the flight path and data capture. Minimal piloting experience is required, though basic training is recommended to ensure safe, effective operations.

Q: What are the regulatory advantages of the eBee X being so lightweight?
A: Its ~1.5 kg takeoff weight helps it meet safety standards and secure approvals (like Operations Over People in some regions). Lighter drones pose less risk, which can simplify regulatory compliance and broaden your operational possibilities.

Q: Can the eBee X fly in windy or rainy conditions?
A: The eBee X handles winds up to ~28.6 mph (12.8 m/s) and can tolerate light rain or drizzle. It’s not meant for heavy downpours, but it performs well in typical field conditions without compromising flight stability or data quality.

Q: What software do I need to process the data collected by eBee X?
A: You can use any popular photogrammetry software (Pix4D, DroneDeploy, Agisoft Metashape, Bentley ContextCapture, etc.) to convert the drone’s geotagged images into orthomosaics, point clouds, or 3D models. eMotion is only for mission planning and flight control; data processing is done in your preferred mapping suite.