Why did I choose the Autel EVO II Drones

They are game-changers for the following reasons:

1.  The number one reason that I believe the Autel EVO II is a game-changer is basically two-fold, ha.  First off just excellent service. I cannot compare it to any other drone manufacturer, but all I know is I feel I am treated fairly and quickly, what else can you expect.  Second is the concept of one drone for three gimbals/cameras.  Each gimbal/camera has its own uniqueness.  The logistics savings alone is worth it.  Having the same batteries and Remote Controller is huge.  Having two of everything in the field is very good business and I can do that with my EVO II 8K and EVO II Pro.  As soon as I can afford the Dual it is going to be in my fleet of drones, I assure you.

2. Airspace, the Autel EVO II series does not have restrictions on airspace. These drones can be set up and launched in minutes, which in the world of First Responders can make all the difference and there are no NDZ fence issues with the EVO II.

3. Batteries, the Autel EVO II series optimal time aloft is a true 30 minutes, this is with a solid 30% reserve. I have two EVO II drones and six batteries and can recharge my batteries on-site for a truly extended period.

4. Wind, I am amazed at how well the EVO II drones perform in wind. They have been proven to fly in Force 8 winds in excess of 40 mph.

5. Speed, when speed is needed, the EVO II drones can respond. The normal standard mode can be set to 11 mph or 22 mph and you retain the obstacle avoidance capability. In Ludicrous mode you do lose the obstacle avoidance capability, but you can set the speed to either 34 mph or an outstanding 45 mph. Also, the ascent and descent times of the Autel EVO II drones are also excellent.

6. Obstacle Avoidance. The Remote Pilot is always responsible to be aware of his surroundings, but the Autel EVO II drones 360-degree obstacle avoidance gives you a lot of confidence. I must admit that the forward and aft and top and bottom obstacle avoidance is great but extra caution must be taken when sliding the drone near obstacles.

7. Moisture. This is not an all-weather drone. But this drone is designed with an over-pressurization of the main body to keep out as much moisture as possible.

8. Intelligent Modes. I can set a smart orbit from a minimum of 33 feet altitude the 400-foot limit if necessary, but the radius can be set out past 1000 feet. This will reduce the pilot workload if you need a drone to monitor (loiter) a specific area for an extended time. There are other dynamic modes that I can demonstrate.

9. Built-in Mapping. The Autel Explorer app presently has a waypoint mission, a rectangular mission, and a polynomial mission to map odd shapes.

10. PIX4D React. PIX4D and Autel have joined to help the First Responders in the field.

11. Dual Remote controllers. While I have personally not yet tested this it is possible to use two remote controllers with the EVO II. If necessary a Remote Pilot can focus on just flying the drone while a sensor operator has full control of the camera. I see this as a huge benefit for First Responders.

12. External Lift Capability. This is still being tested, but the EVO II drone can be fitted with a saddle and a bracket/sling assembly which then a lanyard can be attached, and from that items can be attached. We are talking radios, first aid, small life preservers. A release mechanism may be available soon. The EVO II has power to do this.

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The following describes the capabilities of each EVO II Gimbal/Camera:

AUTEL ROBOTICS EVO II 8K – this drone is in my fleet. 

• EVO II camera: Takes photos with a resolution of up to 48 MP (8000 x 6000), and records 8K video at 25 fps, 6K video at 30 fps, or 4K video at either 30 or 60 fps, with a bit rate of up to 120 Mbps. 

AUTEL ROBOTICS EVO II PRO – this drone is in my fleet. 

• EVO II Pro camera with a 1-inch sensor: Takes photos with a resolution of up to 20MP (5472 x 3648), and records 5.5K video at 30 fps or 2.7K video at 120 fps, with a bit rate of up to 120 Mbps.  The lens aperture is adjustable within the range of f/2.8 to f/11. 

AUTEL ROBOTICS EVO II DUAL– This is right now only on my list of equipment I still need to get. 

• Dual camera: Includes the 8K camera plus an infrared imaging camera.  It can operate in visible, infrared, and dual-image modes.  In addition, this camera takes infrared images at a resolution of 640 x 512 and records 720p video at 30 fps in dual-image mode. 

All three camera modules support a variety of shooting modes, including:

• Single shot
• Burst shooting
• Auto Exposure bracketing (AEB)
• Time-lapse
• High-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging
• NIGHTBEAT (high signal-to-noise-ratio)

All three cameras save photos in DNG or JPG formats and record video in MOV or MP4 formats. Images and videos can be stored in the aircraft’s onboard memory or on a micro SD Card.  A high-definition live feed from the camera can be displayed on your remote control’s screen, or at up to 1080P 30 fps on the Autel Explorer App.  

What is remarkably interesting is that after the camera and gimbal configurations which are all interchangeable, the basic drone itself is the same.  I purchased both the 8K and Pro with this in mind. I have two drones and two separate cameras/gimbals as a backup.