I’m trying to find manufacturers who make thermal cameras for drones, but outside of FLIR. I’m working on a business case and want to connect with other options. It’s been tough to find any alternatives. Does anyone know of any companies?
The DJI Mavic 3T comes with a thermal camera, but it’s pretty expensive. You’re unlikely to find any cheaper drones with built-in thermal.
Rowan said:
The DJI Mavic 3T comes with a thermal camera, but it’s pretty expensive. You’re unlikely to find any cheaper drones with built-in thermal.
I’m planning to build something custom, sourcing parts like motors locally. I want to integrate a thermal camera into my setup.
Why not just use FLIR?
Noor said:
Why not just use FLIR?
Good question. FLIR’s pricing is really high, and I’d like to negotiate better deals to lower costs for users and reach a wider market. Having more vendor options helps with that.
@Joss
We use FLIR but looked for alternatives recently. Most other options aren’t as good. They might be slightly cheaper, but the quality isn’t there. Best advice is to deal with FLIR directly instead of through resellers; the markup from resellers can be over 100%.
@Zaire
I’ve contacted FLIR directly too. I’m surprised more companies haven’t jumped into this space. Brands like Zeiss, Panasonic, Sony, or Canon should really consider it.
You might want to look into Teledyne.
Ashwin said:
You might want to look into Teledyne.
Teledyne bought FLIR, so they’re now Teledyne FLIR.
Ashwin said:
You might want to look into Teledyne.
Teledyne bought FLIR, so they’re now Teledyne FLIR.
Got it, that makes sense.
The DJI Mavic 3T and Matrice series have thermal options, but they’re on the pricey side.
How many drones are you planning to build?
Roux said:
How many drones are you planning to build?
More than Parrot, but aiming for a wider market. We’ve got initial funding secured but are finalizing some numbers before rolling things out.
DJI used to have one, and Autel made a thermal camera for their Evo 2, which was around $3-4K. The Autel drone was decent, but I sold mine when I closed that part of my business.
Foxeer sells thermal cameras. You might also look into non-drone thermal cameras for firearms and other uses to find manufacturers that way.
Payne said:
Foxeer sells thermal cameras. You might also look into non-drone thermal cameras for firearms and other uses to find manufacturers that way.
Thanks, I’ll check that out. Maybe I can adapt some spotter scope tech.
@Joss
Foxeer is good for drones, and if you need a lower-cost FLIR alternative, try TOPDON.
Even non-FLIR thermal cameras for drones are pretty pricey. There’s no cheap option out there.
Zane said:
Even non-FLIR thermal cameras for drones are pretty pricey. There’s no cheap option out there.
I’m mostly looking to get some leverage in negotiations. Cutting 25-30% off retail prices would be a big deal.
@Joss
Usually, the more you buy, the less you pay per unit.