Turkey says its Akinci drone deserves more credit for helping to locate the wreckage of the Iranian helicopter that crashed in a remote and mountainous area of Iran on May 19, killing President Ebrahim Raisi and other top Iranian officials, according to Turkish media reports on May 22.

The reports say that the Akinci drone was first to find the site of the wreckage and accused Iran of changing its narrative about the use of the Turkish equipment after it provided information about the location of the wreckage and then made counterclaims that its own drone found the site.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier this week that the Akinci drone was sent at the request of the Iranian government.

According to Erdogan, despite the bad weather conditions the drone was able to conduct search operations in the region for seven and a half hours and fly a total of 2,100 kilometers.

After the Turkish drone identified the helicopter wreckage and detected heat sources believed to be the crash site in Iran’s East Azerbaijan Province, the Iranian search team successfully located the downed helicopter and the bodies of Raisi and the others in the mountainous terrain, according to Turkish media reports.

However, Iran rejected the notion that there was foreign participation in the search operation despite data from the Turkish drone that revealed the coordinates of the crash, and confirmation of this data by some Iranian news agencies.

After the Akinci drone captured images of the wreckage using its night vision and thermal camera and released them on the Internet, Pirhossein Kolivand, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, called foreign participation in the search a rumor.

“We did not stop the search in the dark, fog, and rain, and when we discovered the wreckage of the helicopter with our own drone, we moved to the exact place where the helicopter fell,” Kolivand said.

He claimed that rescuers from the Red Crescent found the wreckage at an altitude of 2,500 meters and “it took 40 minutes from the time of finding the wreckage of the helicopter to reaching the accident site.”

The head of the East Azerbaijan Red Crescent also cited the Turkish drone report that a “burning spot” had been detected and said rescue forces were sent to that area.

The head of Turkey, Asia, and Indo-Pacific studies at the Institute for International Relations and Strategic Research (ULISA) said in an opinion piece published by the state news agency Anadolu that the drone’s role in finding the wreckage site demonstrated the need to recognize Turkey’s commitment to fulfilling its humanitarian responsibilities through its defense capacity.

Professor M. Nazmul Islam said that, after Iran accepted Turkey’s offer to send the drone, the Akinci took off from a Turkish base at around 11:30 p.m. local time and began searching nearly an hour later. Turkey claims that it transmitted the image of the wreckage of the helicopter at 3:06 a.m. Iranian time and shared the coordinates with the Iranian authorities.

But according to Iranian media accounts, an Iranian drone belonging to the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps found the remains of the helicopter at around 5:30 a.m. local time.

A statement issued by Iran’s military said that, despite Turkey sending a drone equipped with night vision and thermal cameras, it “failed to accurately locate the crash site due to its lack of detection equipment and control points below the cloud,” referring to the adverse weather conditions.

Iran Radio reported that it was “five o’clock in the morning when the correct coordinates were finally found with Iranian equipment and Iranian relief forces.”

Iran, whose military has its own drone program, was not able to deploy its drones because they were located in the northern part of the Indian Ocean at the time, the Iranian military said.

Aerodome, a company specializing in Drone-As-First-Responder (DFR) technology, announced it has raised $21.5 million in Series A funding. The funding round, led by CRV with participation from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Karman Ventures, Immad Akhund (CEO of Mercury), and Ford Street Ventures, aims to support the continued development of DFR solutions and expansion of Aerodome’s engineering and go-to-market teams. This investment brings Aerodome’s total funding to $28 million, following a seed round in October 2023.

“Upon experiencing Aerodome’s technology firsthand on a fly-along, I immediately recognized its potential to have a scalable impact on public safety and its ability to save lives,” said Saar Gur, General Partner at CRV and Aerodome’s newest board member. “Speed is of the essence in emergencies. Aerodome doesn’t just provide police agencies with ROI, it also gives them an insanely valuable source of real-time intelligence to first responders out in the field.”

Aerodome was co-founded by CEO and reserve police officer Rahul Sidhu and Chief Architect Kenaniah Cerny. The company aims to revolutionize DFR technology with a turnkey solution that is faster, safer, and more energy-efficient than existing alternatives. Aerodome’s fully automated and remote air support operating system is designed to provide continuous support, reducing the need for patrol officers to respond to calls by 15 percent and improving response times by 80 percent.

“As the second officer in the country to launch a DFR program, I wanted to build a more advanced, automated solution that would reduce the strain on officer resources,” said Sidhu. “Our DFR 2.0 solution is a true force multiplier, since it only requires a single operator overseeing multiple drones at once. Our air traffic awareness system acts as a better observer than human pilots – capable of tracking planes, helicopters, other drones, and even birds in all directions, which saves precious time and resources for agencies.”

Since its inception, Aerodome has rapidly grown, securing contracts with police departments and nearly doubling its earnings projections for Q1 of 2024. The company attributes its growth to its advanced, fully remote and automated DFR system, which allows for an average response time of 86 seconds to 911 calls, compared to the 7-8 minute average with traditional response measures. Additionally, the DFR system offers a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative to police helicopters.

“Aerodome’s willingness to engage with our staff on the unique characteristics of our jurisdiction, and future directions with which to grow DFR capabilities, has led to high levels of confidence between our Department and their company,” said Lieutenant Robert Mitchell of the Hawthorne Police Department. “We were happy to partner with Aerodome. They did what they said they were going to do, and more.”

Aerodome has also entered into an exclusive partnership with Hextronics, a leader in drone autonomy. Hextronics will provide a drone dock equipped with an automated battery-changing system, HVAC system, and remote operational capabilities in any condition.

Building on the success of its predecessor, Dock 2 brings a plethora of unique features and capabilities that are poised to transform emergency response, construction management, surveying, and asset inspection. It’s the ultimate solution for enterprises that seek uncompromising performance for their remote drone operations.

With new drones and payloads being introduced regularly, DJI is committed to leading the way in drone technology by enhancing their products and optimizing their functionality for their users. Before investing in a drone, enterprises should consider key features to ensure they are choosing the best product for their requirements.

Read on to discover the top features of DJI Dock 2 and understand what sets it apart from other units on the market.

1. Easy to Deploy

The DJI Dock 2 is remarkably easy to deploy. It is physically smaller and is approximately 70% reduction in both size and weight compared than its predecessor making it easily transportable by two individuals. With the previous system, operators would have to take the Dock onsite and use the M30 to confirm if there was a strong enough GNSS signal in the area. This was a time consuming process which could last over 5 hours. This is no longer an issue; operators can now use additional drones to evaluate a site without taking the Dock 2 with you. Thus, reducing the evaluation period from over 5 hours to a matter of minutes. Transporting a drone that weighs less than 1kg is easier and much more efficient than transporting an entire dock unit for site evaluation. 

Dock 2 setup

Setting up the Dock 2 is fast and straightforward, allowing remote operators to focus on their missions without wasting precious time on complex setup procedures. With DJI Dock 2, efficiency begins immediately, ensuring that you maximize productivity during every mission.

2. Diverse Payload Options

The new DJI Matrice 3D and Matrice 3TD are custom-made to work with Dock 2. The M3D is equipped with a telephoto camera and a wide-angle camera with a mechanical shutter that captures images of exceptional quality (1:500) – perfect for high-precision mapping tasks. On the other hand, the M3TD is equipped with a telephoto camera, a wide-angle camera, and an infrared camera that can capture visible light and thermal images. It is particularly useful for law enforcement agencies or inspection operations. Both drones have omnidirectional sensing and automatic obstacle bypass functions to protect them from crashing into things such as trees, buildings, and other large obstacles. Thanks to the Dock 2s powerful operation capabilities, either drone can be deployed for rugged or high-performance operations.

Matrice 3D and Matrice 3TD

3. Cost-efficient

DJI Dock 2 stands out for its cost-efficiency. Compared with similar solutions, it offers superior performance. Because of its compact size, transportation to a work site and maintenance of the system are significantly lowered. With a smaller footprint, less civil work is required before installation, making it the ideal choice for enterprises looking to maximize their mission output without compromising quality.

4. Rugged, Reliable, Recharged

DJI Dock 2 is IP55 dust and water-resistance rated, allowing it to operate in the extreme climates and environments. Each drone can operate in the sky for a maximum of 50 minutes. It’s compact size also means operators can take the Dock 2 to new locations that were previously inaccessible due to its large size. It’s environmental monitoring system, an important feature of the Dock 2, uses sensors to detect rainfall, wind speed, and temperature, providing real-time weather feedback and monitoring. These sensors enable the Dock 2 to offer timely warnings and even terminate flight tasks through DJI FlightHub 2. Thus significantly reducing flight risks and preserving the safety of your drone and Dock 2.

5. Rapid Takeoff

Time is of the essence for first responders who need to get their eyes in the sky. DJI understands this better than anyone. With next-generation image recognition algorithms and Real-time Kinematics(RTK) positioning techniques, the M3D and M3TD can take off from Dock 2 in as little as 45 seconds. These drones can be deployed rapidly and provide real-time information to ground teams, enabling them to make quick and informed decisions. Once the drone lands on the Dock 2 landing pad, the wireless charging process can charge your drone’s battery life from 20 to 90 percent in just over half an hour.

6. Precise Landing Capabilities

The Dock 2 has advanced image recognition technology that enables it to precisely identify positioning markers on the landing pad, ensuring a quick and safe landing. The enclosed v-shaped landing pad design ensures your drone lands accurately without missing the target. Once the doors close, the drone is pushed into the correct position for charging. These automatic, cutting-edge features significantly reduce the margin for error when landing while boosting overall operational safety.

Drone landing on Dock 2

7. Remote Live flight Control & Live Stream

FlightHub 2 allows operators to access remote live flight control, providing real-time oversight and management of their drone’s operations. This advanced feature enables you to monitor and adjust flight parameters from afar, minimizing onsite travel while simultaneously enhancing overall control and flexibility during missions. A live stream of each mission can be seen via a QR code. Previously, people interested in watching the live stream of ongoing missions would have to create an account with Flighthub 2 to log in and join. With a QR code, stakeholders and team members can access real-time visual data from the drone’s perspective without any registration. This seamless sharing mechanism promotes collaboration and enhances situational awareness, further enriching the operational experience.

FlightHub 2

8. Third-part Payloads & Waypoint Mission FPV

Using high-precision 3D models, pilots can edit visual flight routes from a first-person perspective, preview simulated imaging results, and simplify the setting and navigating of flight paths through waypoint mission FPV capabilities. This makes missions more intuitive and efficient, which is crucial for mapping and surveying safety.

Moreover, the M3D and M3TD support third-party payloads via the e-port lite, allowing for a diverse range of missions. Each additional payload can be controlled remotely via FlightHub 2, giving you the flexibility to adapt to different tasks. The drone’s E-port lite also enables connection to a parachute, a feature that enhances flight and personnel safety. We take pride in providing our customers with high-performing, safe, and versatile drones for a wide range of missions.

Adaptable for third-party payloads

9. Cloud Mapping

Cloud mapping has become much easier. Operators no longer need to download DJI Terra for model processing; they can create a 3D model directly through FlightHub 2. In the past, operators would have to transfer data from the drones SD card onto a computer, upload it to DJI Terra, and then import it to FlightHub. FlightHub 2’s ability to generate 3D models online has eliminated these steps, saving valuable time and resources.

Conclusion

DJI Dock 2 enables mapping, surveying, inspection professionals, and first responders to achieve previously impossible missions. Its unmatched ease of deployment, increased drone options, advanced integrated features, and safety enhancements set a new standard for remote drone piloting. The system’s cost-efficiency and comprehensive capabilities make it the ideal solution for enterprises and professionals seeking to maximize operational efficiency and output. DJI Dock 2 represents the future of remote drone technology, empowering users to achieve unprecedented levels of performance and productivity in their respective industries.

If you want to know more about Dock 2 and you’re in Malaysia, here’s your chance.

AONIC is launching the DJI Dock 2 & DJI FlyCart 30.

DJI FlyCart 30 is a long-distance heavy lifter with powerful signal and intelligence, DJI FlyCart 30 supports Cargo mode and Winch mode and ascends beyond traditional logistical limits to deliver a safe, economical, and efficient air transport solution.

Event details are as follows:

Date: 25 April 2024 (Thursday)

Time: 10:00AM – 3:00PM

Venue: Aonic Subang Jaya HQ

Admission: FREE

RSVP HERE