Whether you are new to drones or interested in them, you have heard the term Electronic Speed Controller (ESC).
Like motors and propellers, ESC is an integral part of a drone’s propulsion system
When most people hear of drones, they think of quadcopter or multi-rotor drones. However, there are many types of drones. Another type is the fixed wing drone, which has a traditional aircraft design and glides with four wings instead of the propellers of a multi-rotor aircraft.
The popularity of fixed-wing drones is due to the short range and slow flight speed of multi-rotor aircraft, which do not meet the needs of large mining areas, road projects, large-scale agricultural applications, and urban planning.
Fixed wing UAVs serve as a means of upgrading systems, avoiding the need for frequent battery changes and increasing the efficiency of projects.
Top 3 fixed wing drones for commercial applications
Top 3 fixed wing drones for commercial applications
Commercial drones also called professional drones, are any drones that are used for real business. Fixed wing drones are widely used in several top industries such as construction, real estate marketing, and even security.
Here is our list of the top 3 commercial and professional fixed wing drones on the market:
WingtraOne Gen II | Sensefly eBee X | ||
Take-off and landing method | Vertical take-off and landing from confined areas and on gravel. | Vertical take-off and landing from confined areas and on gravel. | Hand launch and belly taxiing landing can be dangerous for you and the equipment especially if you don’t have the experience |
Take-off and landing on moving surfaces | Yes | No | No |
Max. flight time | 180min | 59min | 60-90min |
Max. speed | 61km/h | 58km/h | 40-110 km/h |
Max. payload capacity | 3kg | 0.8kg | 1.6kg |
Optional payload | 61MP RGB camera, 305MP oblique camera, dual RGB/thermal sensor, MicaSense RedEdge-P multispectral camera, hyperspectral imaging spectrometer | 42MP RGB camera, 24MP oblique camera, MicaSense RedEdge-P multispectral camera | 20MP RGB camera, 20MP oblique camera, multispectral camera, dual RGB/thermal mapping camera |
Max. control range | 50km | 10km | 8km |
Operating temperature | -40℃ to 55℃ | -10°C to 40 °C | -15 °C to 51 °C |
Deployment time | <3min | 5min | 3min |
Weather | Rainfall capacity≤10mm/24h | Not recommended to fly in fog, rain, and snow | Not recommended to fly in fog, rain, and snow |
Stability | ● Belly landing improves stability for takeoff and landing in the wind ● A combination of a quadrotor and fixed-wing flat-flying power layout ensures the stability of the flight attitude | Tailsitters are less maneuverable and easily disturbed by wind, especially during takeoff and landing | Its too light weight makes it unstable even in light winds. |
Obstacle avoidance | Yes | No | No |
JOUAV CW-15 - Long range VTOL fixed wing drone for large-area mapping
Are you looking for a drone with longest flight time and fast speed? The CW-15, a leading industrial drone manufacturer in China, is your best choice. This VTOL drone features vertical take-off and landing capability, long endurance, long transmission range, heavy load flight, and a rugged carbon fiber body, which is ideal for harsh environments and large-scale surveying and mapping.
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Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)
The CW-15 VTOL drone combines a multi-rotor and a fixed-wing drone, which offers not only the accuracy of a multi-rotor drone but also the ability to cover a wide area of land like a fixed-wing drone. Unlike other fixed-wing UAVs that need a runway or hand launch, JOUAV CW-15 can take off in confined areas and land smoothly on gravel, between tree stands, or in mountainous areas. Moreover, it performs the fully autonomous operation of vertical landing on any mobile device, such as cars, planes, trucks, and fishing boats...
Interchangeable and high-resolution payloads
The CW-15 heavy lift drone can deeply integrate carry 61MP full-frame aerial camera, 305MP oblique camera, dual RGB/thermal sensor, MicaSense RedEdge-P multispectral camera, and hyperspectral imaging spectrometer for multi-purpose. All payloads are modularly interchangeable.
With a 61MP full-frame aerial camera and multi-frequency PPK GNSS receiver, the CW-15 provides best-in-class absolute accuracy of up to 3 cm for vertical positioning and 1 cm for horizontal positioning in an optimistic situation. When this drone is equipped with LiDAR, the CW-15 LiDAR drone reaches down to 2cm vertical accuracy without GCP.
Fast speed and long flight time
As a battery-powered drone, the CW-15 has an optimized powertrain and customized high-energy density cells to further improve the system's range, which boasts more than 180 minutes of flight time under 2kg load conditions. With a control range of up to 50km and a cruising speed of 61km/h, you'll be able to get the job done faster and easier than ever before.
Easy and safe operation
The CW-15 uses pins, snaps, and self-locking devices to make it possible for the entire system to be easily assembled and dissembled in less than 3 minutes. Flying the CW-15 is fully automated and requires no piloting skills and very little training. Flight planning is done through a very intuitive application, FlightSurv. You can have various ways to prepare the flight plan as well as monitor and modify the mission in flight.
For comprehensive flight safety, CW-15's robust troubleshooting system supports system self-detection, automatic return function in case of system abnormality, automatic obstacle avoidance function, etc.
Robust and siteproof
The CW-15 is made of carbon fiber material and operates and delivers results to the highest quality standards. It has been tested in different harsh environments, from the large deserts of Taklamakan to the high altitudes of Tibet, to the high salt and humidity of Qinghai, and the heavy rains of Zhengzhou.
WingtraOne Gen II VTOL fixed wing drone
Developed by a Switzerland-based VTOL drone manufacturer, the WingtraOne has quickly made a name for itself in fields such as drone surveying, precision agriculture, and large-scale inspection projects. With a 42MP Sony RX1RII full-frame camera, GNSS board, and PPK module, the WingtraOne Gen II VTOL drone empowers you to minimize your time flying and get more work done.
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Tailsitter vertical take-off and landing
Same as JOUAV CW-15, the WingOne Gen II relies on vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) to offer the flexibility and ease of use of a multi-rotor drone together with the range and stability of a fixed-wing drone. Unlike CW-15, it takes off and lands on its tail, avoiding damage to aircraft from belly landings. But the large exposure of the fuselage and wings makes this tailsitter VTOL less maneuverable and more susceptible to wind interference, especially during takeoff and landing
Efficient fixed-wing flight
The WingtraOne Gen II commercial mapping drone can fly at 36m/h for up to 59mins per flight for large coverage. The drone claims that it can cover more than 100 hectares on a single flight, which is equal to 240 football fields.
High-quality camera
Carrying a 42MP Sony RX1RII full-frame camera, WingtraOne can fly at a high altitude while still providing low GSD images. If you choose to add the optional PPK OPTION, then you've got GSD down to 0.7 cm/px and absolute horizontal accuracy, down to 1cm. But This can only be achieved if the drone flies over hard surfaces and uses well-marked, highly visible, manually measured checkpoints and a well-established base station.
Ready to fly in 5 mins
Using WingtraPilot's tablet, the WingtraOne drone can take off in less than 5 minutes, including drone setup, all pre-flight steps, and planning a simple mapping mission.
Fully autonomous
The WingtraOne is capable of automatic launch, in-flight data collection, and landing without human interaction.
Sensefly eBee X fixed wing drone
The SenseFly eBee X is a fixed-wing drone for meeting the exacting standards of surveyors and GIS professionals all over the world. Designed for improved quality, efficiency, and safety of data collection, eBee X has a wide variety of cameras to suit every job. Its coverage and accuracy are designed to meet the requirements of each project and work in almost any type of field.
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Efficient & precise
The eBee X's efficiency is unmatched. With the unique Endurance Expansion feature activated, it is capable of mapping a maximum flight time of 90 minutes to cover 500 hectares (1235 acres) at a flight altitude of 120 meters. Its available RTK/PPK option helps you achieve absolute accuracy of 3 cm (1.2 inches) without the need for GCP.
- Read more: What is an RTK drone? How accurate is it?
Multiple payload options
The eBee X is right for every job, whether you're performing drone photogrammetry or simply creating high-resolution orthophotos of a project site because it has a range of groundbreaking cameras. These include the new senseFly S.O.D.A. 3D for stunning 3D reconstructions of vertical environments, the best-in-class senseFly Aeria X RGB photogrammetry camera, the senseFly Duet T for creating geographically accurate heat maps, and the senseFly Duet M multispectral camera for monitoring and tracking crop health.
Rugged & reliable
The eBee X is a rugged mapping drone that allows you to work in virtually any location, thanks to its space-friendly steep takeoff and landing technology, ultra-rugged design, real-time air traffic data, and other features.
With over 1 million successful flights worldwide, from simple to complex missions, senseFly's fixed-wing drones are proven for their unmatched operational safety and ability to deliver high-quality data.
The verdict
If you have a small project with enough flat terrain and space for belly landings and takeoffs, the eBee X would be a good choice. It is very portable and can carry multi-spectral, thermal camera, RGB multiple payloads, meaning you can diversify the capabilities of this drone to suit your needs.
However, mapping project sites with gravel terrain or confined spaces is not possible with the eBee X. If you need high precision and are mapping a small area with complex terrain, the WingtraOne is a safer drone because it won't belly land.
If you have a large project with high accuracy requirements accompanied by extreme weather and complex terrain, the JOUAV CW-15 is a more reliable and powerful drone:
- Camera resolution: better than the WingtraOne or eBee X cameras, the CW-15 is equipped with a 61MP full-frame camera that covers a larger area, flies higher for safety and efficiency, and produces higher resolution results.
- Flight time: the CW-15 has a flight time of 180 minutes, which is almost 3 times longer than WingtraOne and 2 times longer than Sensefly eBee X.
- Multi-purpose aircraft platform: the CW-15 can be equipped with a 61MP RGB camera, 305MP oblique camera, dual RGB/thermal sensor, MicaSense RedEdge-P multispectral camera, and a hyperspectral imaging spectrometer.
- Flight stability and safety: Tested in windy weather, heavy rain, high altitude, high salt, and high humidity, the CW-15 can also fly stably and collect excellent data.
- Obstacle avoidance: It can detect obstacles in flight and automatically change its flight path to ensure flight safety. Meanwhile, the CW-15 can make intelligent screening of landing points when landing, cleverly avoiding roofs, cliffs, and other dangerous places.
Top 3 FPV RC fixed wing drones for fun
Top 3 FPV RC fixed wing drones for fun
Thanks to advances in technology and lower prices, first-person view (FPV) drones are growing in popularity, evolving from a niche collection of professional flying machines into a robust category of remotely operated aircraft designed professionally for specific use cases and applications. Some personnel wants to use drones to record footage, some pilots like to compete, while others just enjoy the thrill of flying.
If you are just starting to fly FPV drones, you should definitely try FPV fixed-wing aircraft. Fixed wing drones, by design, are super stable, so flying fixed wing FPVs is a super easy way to get into FPV flying.
Now, let’s take a look at the top 3 FPV RC fixed wing drones you can buy today.
Parrot Disco FPV fixed wing drone
Parrot is one of the world's leading drone manufacturers and its Disco FPV will be the best fit for most people. This is because it offers fantastic quality at an affordable price.
First of all, Parrot Disco FPV has a powerful motor that is not only capable of reaching speeds of 50 mph but also offers a fun and immersive FPV flight experience. The drone is aerodynamically designed with a lightweight carbon fiber frame that helps improve its flight performance. You can fly for 45 minutes at a time at a range of 1.2 miles.
This fixed-wing drone is intuitive to control using the Parrot Skycontroller 2. You can easily create autonomous routes using the waypoints on the app, and the automatic takeoff and return to home are perfect for beginners. Additionally, you can stream live videos of your drone to your smartphone via the FreeFlight Pro app. The controller can even be connected to your smartphone to further enhance your flying experience.
One of our favorite things about this long range drone is that it comes in a kit that includes VR flight goggles to make you feel like you're really gliding through the air from the drone's POV. This view is captured by a powerful 1080P full HD wide-angle camera. The footage can be captured in a variety of formats including JPEG, RAW, and DNG.
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Yuneec Firebird FPV fixed wing drone
The Yuneec Firebird FPV is an attractive fixed-wing drone as it is equipped with different flight modes, which are created both for beginner drone users and for experts in mind.
The Yuneec Firebird FPV has Smart GPS, which allows your drone to automatically land and return to flight. This means that every flight will go smoothly without having to worry about losing your aircraft.
This fixed wing drone from Yuneec also has three different flight modes for beginners and more expert drone pilots. It's perfect because you can do more with your fixed-wing drone as your skills progress. Explore the additional modes you can use.
Unlike traditional analog FPV signals, Yuneec Firebird FPV transmits live images to your smartphone in clear, interference-free high definition. The video signal can be recorded directly on the SD card in 4K format. So you can easily view what the camera sees, whether it's taking pictures or recording video. You also have the option to share it with family and friends via social media.
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Hubsan H301S Spy Hawk fixed wing drone
The Hubsan H301S Spy Hawk has many impressive features. Not only does it provide beautiful real-time video, but it also features GPS geotagging. It is the perfect drone for casual surveying and exploration while providing a truly immersive flight experience.
This fixed wing drone is constructed using high-quality EPO. It has a 1920x1080P ultra-wide camera and a 120° wide-angle lens that transmits audio and video and gives you the option to record your flight. This compact-looking camera plane weighs only 350 grams, which makes it easy to carry.
The drone's transmitter provides real-time, accurate GPS positioning to the controller, which makes it easy to follow the flight path and track the drone's location. It can definitely be considered the best fixed-wing drone for plotting flight paths. It has a handy auto-return feature that guides the drone back to your location.
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Fixed wing drone buyer's guide
Fixed wing drone buyer's guide
When buying a fixed wing drone, you must consider a number of criteria to make a good choice. These criteria must be adapted to your needs. Below, we describe the most important aspects to consider:
Size
The size of the fixed wing is very important. Partly because size affects other portability. Generally speaking, a fixed-wing drone can only be folded down to the size of a wing, so it is usually less portable than a quadcopter drone. Some drones can be taken apart by disconnecting the wings on either side of the fuselage, while others cannot even be taken apart at all.
On the other hand, size also determines its stability in strong winds. Larger drones can withstand higher wind speeds than smaller fixed-wing drones.
So you need to balance portability with your flying conditions before buying a fixed-wing drone.
Flight time
Unlike multi-rotors, fixed-wing drones use aerodynamics similar to that of aircraft, so it has a much longer flight time. A typical fixed-wing drone will be able to fly for between 50 and 300 minutes. Basically, the longer a fixed-wing drone stays in the air, the more area it can cover, which means you can survey a larger area.
Payload
Choose a drone with a camera that meets your project needs, such as a thermal sensor, LiDAR, or optical camera. For deep integration of the drone and payload, it is best to choose a drone and camera from the same manufacturer and they have a range of different payloads for you to choose from.
Controls and operation
Fixed-wing drones have a variety of capabilities depending on their buildup, power, and controls. As a drone pilot, you want to make sure that your level of flight experience is catered to the controls and the way the drone operates in the air. Some drones allow the user to switch between flight modes and provide different levels of flight assistance while flying, which is suitable for novice pilots with little flight experience. However, some drones also offer single-touch controls on the controller that allows for aerobatics, making them more suitable for experienced pilots. These are all features you will want to consider to deliver the flying experience you want.
Material and design
The aerodynamics of a fixed-wing UAV depends on its manufacturing materials and design elements. There are six design configuration configurations to consider, namely the basic fuselage configuration, wing configuration, straight wing, tail configuration, fuselage material, and propeller position. In general, beginner and intermediate drones will be constructed of lightweight and absorbent foam, while advanced fixed wing drones use carbon fiber elements.
Vertical and takeoff and landing
Fixed-wing UAVs have very limited takeoffs and landings. Some fixed-wing drones, like real aircraft, require runways for takeoff and landing. So, you need to plan a large flat area for takeoff and landing in advance. Some fixed-wing can be launched into the air for takeoff by hand, which demands a high degree of pilot skill and is prone to accidents.
Other fixed-wing drones, like VTOL drones, have the ability to take off and land vertically. They are an ideal choice as they have no requirements for takeoff and landing sites and are safe to operate.
Fixed wing drone FAQ
Fixed wing drone FAQ
What is fixed-wing drone?
As their name suggests, they are those equipped with fixed wings, which do not rotate. Its better aerodynamics allows certain models to take advantage of air currents and their ability to glide to increase their flight time.
How fixed wing drone works?
As the name implies, they are those aircraft equipped with fixed wings that are designed to look and work like an airplane, providing lift rather than vertical lift rotors. Their better aerodynamics allow some models to take advantage of airflow and gliding capabilities to increase flight time.
What are fixed wing drones used for?
Fixed-wing drones are available for leisure and also models for professional use. This type is used today for environment monitoring, precision agriculture, aerial mapping, security and surveillance, disaster relief and humanitarian aid, and research.
What are the advantages of a fixed wing drone?
Firstly, fixed-wing drones are made up of flat wings. This wing makes these drones more suitable for long distances, and they consume less energy than rotary-wing drones while covering them.
Secondly, even though the lowest-end fixed-wing drones have only a few minutes of autonomy, they are still the best in terms of autonomy.
Thirdly, fixed-wing drones are faster than rotary-wing drones, so they can cover greater distances in the same amount of time. They can also fly at much higher altitudes. All these features allow them to gather as much information as possible in a single flight.
Finally, fixed-wing drones can carry heavier loads than rotary-wing drones. In fact, fixed wings provide exceptional stability, allowing drones to carry loads of up to 50 kg.
What are the disadvantages of a fixed wing drone?
Fixed-wing drones are more expensive than quadcopter and multi-rotor drones.
Fixed-wing drones are more difficult to operate and often require specialized flight training to fly them.
In most cases, you need a launcher or runway to get a fixed-wing drone into the air.
They are more difficult to land in forested environments than multi-rotor and quadcopter drones.
And they can only move forward, they cannot hover in the air for close drone inspection.
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