Any one have experience here slash can point me in the direction to learn more about how to tell the difference in strengths and weaknesses?
GG EOTvs flir vue pro
- Thread starter Tgleason
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R.P..R
Well-Known Member
I am hoping that @dougcjohn will chime in because has almost tested most products in the field for his business.
I know the flir is radiometric. The CG smooths it out so its not as effective. But im trying ro figure out eachs overall mapping ability
@R.P..R appreciate the shout out; Many more experienced Thermal Specialist on this forum to pipe in too.
I'm in process of learning and would be a consider a Newbie... although enjoy a good learning discussion!
I'm not recognizing the GG EOT, can you provide a bit more info. Are you meaning the Yuneec E10T or CGO-ET?
What FLIR Vue Pro are you wanting to compare? I'm assuming... GG EOT you mean the CGO-ET.
If so, there isn't really ANY practical comparison between the 2.... if the E10T, new story.
The CGO-ET is a non-FLIR 160 standard thermal with a few years on it's technology, limiting it's functionality. For it's design limitations, and close range it's a decent little 160 sensor. Actually, I owned 2 CGO-ET and found the low light level RGB sensor to be it's greatest strength for dawn / dusk timeframe.
The VuePro is based on the Tau2 Sensor, the same as the Zenmuse XT & XT2 and it's multiple steps up in thermal quality. The VuePro was designed for a sUAV purposes. It comes in a 336 or 640 and Non-Radiometric (Standard Radiometric) and Radiometric (Advanced Radiometric). The 640 is double the Hroz resolution, although almost 4x (3.8) the pixel count. A 640x512 @ 327,680 pixels, 336x250 @ 86,016 pixels and 160x120 @ 19,200 pixels.
So the lower VuePro 336 is 4.4X greater pixel and the 640 is 17X greater pixel resolution to a 160 sensor. Both the 336 & 640 will provide useable aerial detail even before upscaling, MSX or other enhancement technology.
Including the new technology, the 336 will provide ample detail at a lower altitude (compared to 640) and the 640 using the newer technology can practically identify a moving hand in brush both visual detail & thermal zone temp alerts above 200-400 feet. The 160 with the new technology and upscaling maybe be useful up to about 100-125 feet max per findings by established Thermal / SAR experts (not my data). Combine this sensor with and RGB such as the DUO or XT2 and you gain more detail with MSX.
Currently to my findings... the ONLY 160x120 Thermal Aerial Platform that provides Advanced Radiometric, Upscaling and RGB Overlay is the Parrot Anafi-Thermal. For a close range inspection (10-40 feet), it can provide Dx data and POST Dx data. The Mavic Enterprise DUAL is another 160x120 platform, a superior platform but lacks the Advanced Radiometric.
The biggest difference for all: 160, 336, 640 would be effective range to obtain useable thermal images.
Adding the Adv Radiometric would provide pixel level readings vs zone level reading, and additional Dx post-work using FLIR Tools.... ON Photos. The videos for both radiometric & Adv radiometric do not collect & store pixel data or actually any useable POST Dx Data. Videos are best for Live Dx work... such as SAR, Tactical, Fire, etc.
@R.P..R , received the Re-order Anafi-T. After FW updates on both platform & RC, it's demonstrated an improvement in stability and connecting to the tablet compared to 1st unit. Only minimal tests... Indoors was much improved too, very stable... almost like a larger Tello... easy to gently move it around and under household items while playing with thermal. When cats moved, I could easy see a few minutes later where they "were" on both wood & carpet floors... left a very clean heat signature. Pretty Cool!
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Regarding mapping... most "service" focused shops... DroneDeploy, etc won't accept anything lower than 640. The software programs will allow you to use whatever images you load, but the detail as mentioned above would be much lower than the 640... thus the map quality would follow.
The CGO-ET has been used for both, and I'm sure many find it acceptable data.
Although if you're providing your Solar panel data to an Insurance company, they normally require 640 and Advanced Radiometric still images to accompany the Video.
Roofing if close enough would probably work for the main purposes of insulation & joints.
I'm going to experiment with the Anafi-T on roofs and close wall orbits around a home, and looking forward to trying the 180 gimbal to capture various overhangs.
To save $$ Thousands $$, if you're focus is mapping, Ag or terrain... I wouldn't think the Adv Radiometric would improve the scope of project. I think most (that I've read or discussed) use 640 non-radiometric for mapping.
Another thought on Mapping... actually the Advanced Radiometric might be a negative benefit for Mapping.
Mapping is capturing a high rate of still photographs, and the Adv Radiometric photos are JPG-R. To collect all the pixel’s radiometric values, it takes time to process... much longer than a standard RGB. That may hinder the constant collection of photos on a map grid, the camera would fall behind. I don't have 1st hand experience with the VuePro, XT or XT2... but the little Anafi-T when switched over to RGB takes rapid photos, but if on the Thermal camera is very slow to process & save the JPG-R data.
Mapping is capturing a high rate of still photographs, and the Adv Radiometric photos are JPG-R. To collect all the pixel’s radiometric values, it takes time to process... much longer than a standard RGB. That may hinder the constant collection of photos on a map grid, the camera would fall behind. I don't have 1st hand experience with the VuePro, XT or XT2... but the little Anafi-T when switched over to RGB takes rapid photos, but if on the Thermal camera is very slow to process & save the JPG-R data.
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Well, full circle... again... after really wanting to use the Anafi-T. Accepted the feel & operation of the sub-par RC Controller, started to get accustomed to the software... disappointing compared to M2ED's Pilot App. After 6 flights and various methods to optimize the Thermal without satisfactory outcome... decided to send it back for refund. Would rather put the $2K towards a XT or XT2... or if arrives to market... examine the E10Tv later this Winter.
The Anafi-T's Radiometric Post-Work is the best part about the little craft. It's ability to blend RGB & Thermal I think is better than the MSX non-adjustment on M2ED but it's inability to perform in low light or darkness for thermal sensitivity! Kinda defeats the thermal if it can't detect thermal heat in low / no light. Dawn & Dusk are good times to inspect structures and it was essentially blind. In the hour before dusk, the reading wasn't specific enough "live", but Post-Work did separate the temps much better with FLIR Tools.
I've had a few opportunities to experiment with the hi-end XT-R 640 & XT2-640 units... not only is the Detail exceptional (as expected), the sensitivity or separation of temps, the zone box, isotherm, and low / dark light operation defines what is expected from a thermal.
Minor points... the Anafi-T only has 1 blue light on belly. Hard to determine orientation when dark above a roof. Radio reception when close to roof on far end of structure (house) presented constant warning messages of poor reception... this was low to roof (5-10 Ft) but only 60 feet away. The M2ED had practically zero vertical movement when above roof, the Anafi-T would go through intermittent periods of vertical movement of .5 to 1.5 ft requiring a little higher hover inspection... which for the 160 sensor, close range is optimal.
In the end... passing on the 160 sensor.
Thanks for that indepth analysis. I was looking at this model but agree. Seems like its trying to do to much while not maintaining consistency throughout stress tests.
Hoving up and down defeats its automated mapping ability and the facts its blind at dusk and dawn is quite disappointing. In addition lack of connectivity is a major fault.
Again thanks for the indeot analysis
On the disappointing side, I was really hoping to have a little small thermal craft for specific tasks. The gimbal rotation of 180...major plus for a small craft to tuck up under a overhang or hover around the inside of a large structure near rafters or follow electrical boxes, the ultra quite props are again a nice trait, the ultra light small package... smaller than a DLSR camera bag. Several positive points, simply made ya work to like the craft!
Not sure how it all works, but if light is low enough the RGB is black, the Thermal becomes black too. I thought it was associated to the RGB / Thermal overlay, so I switched over to only Thermal mode... placed the craft at 25 feet looking down at me sitting in a chair in the yard... no other hotspot near me. The screen was black even if you adjusted the temp sliders. Open the garage door to create a little side light, bingo the camera could show a little thermal... turn on outside lights and the thermal was much better in color template but temp of my head or arm now displayed 10 degrees different with more light. Turn off the lights, screen goes black. Tried switching to all modes: relative, absolute, and spot.
(*** Edit *** See 8/23/19 post - Total Darkness failure may be associated to a bad Thermal Sensor. )
On the nice side... if you capture thermal that looks rather non-detail, image loosely undefined and pull that over to FLIR Tools... the image is much sharper, upscaled nicely and thermal pallets provide nice separation.
Grab several roof or structure walls, and post examine... pretty good detail. But while you're flying it, looks pretty mundane without specifics to alert your eye.
So it's not useless, if used in the right environment or light, it's workable and it flies great inside 10-15 ft off deck. But I was hoping for night useable thermal, even if image was poor grade compared to 640 caliber... but enough to identify an object. IF calf or small livestock got loose, able to take a quick scan in the ditch or pasture. That functionality it missed obtaining.
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My above testing may be invalid due to a possible defective Lipton 160R sensor.
Had a discussion with @jaja6009 that his Anafi-T is useable in total darkness, provides a good Thermal image.
That's great news! That's the behavior I had originally expected and hoped to utilize in a small Thermal.
My 1st unit, I was comparing more of the detail of the RGB / Thermal overlay and general platform behavior between the Anafi-T and M2EDual. I'm not confident if I tested total darkness with the 1st Anafi-T. The 2nd Anafi-T my testing was more focused on the usage of the Thermal, and that's when it was noticed no total darkness thermal.
With the Good News that the Anafi-T can view thermal in total darkness, I'll purchase another one and test.
Are there Other Owners of the Anafi-T that can contribute, are you getting thermal in total darkness too?
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