Drones with night vision are no longer just used for military and police operations, as technology advances they are becoming more available and affordable to use in many industries.
Having the ability to take aerial footage in low light or no light conditions means drones are making operations safer and more efficient for search and rescue, security and surveillance, and many other sectors.
In this article, I’ll go through the different types of night vision, what industries are using drones with night vision capabilities and regulatory considerations. You may also be interested in the articles on Drones with Infrared Cameras and The 101 on Thermal Drones.
How does night vision on drones work?
Drones with night vision are fitted with a special lens to produce photo and video footage beyond what we can see with our natural visible sight. Night vision sensors detect near infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
There are 3 types of night vision technology; thermal vision, image intensification and active illumination.
Thermal Vision
Also known as forward looking infrared (FLIR), his is the most common night vision type in drones. Thermal imaging detects infrared radiation and doesn’t require any source of illumination, unlike other night vision technology. The thermal drone camera visualises the temperature difference between objects.
Image Intensification
The image intensification type of night vision requires a source of illumination such as moon light. This method uses a very small number of light particles to create an image with infrared and visible sensors.
Active Illumination
As the name suggests, this type of night vision requires a controlled light source or active illumination that emits near-infrared or shortwave infrared waves. This active light source is not visible to the human eye but allows the cameras on active illumination night vision drones to create a monochromatic image.
This light source can be picked up by other night vision devices but produces higher resolution images than other night vision technology.
Image credit : NASA
This diagram shows the continuum of wavelengths and the different types.
We can only see the small segment in the middle as colours or visible light. Infrared rays are longer wavelengths which we can’t see with the naked eye.
These are the wavelengths that night vision devices make visable
The image below show the difference between a thermal night vision image and a starlight night vision image. This example is from the Matrice RTK 300 with the Zenmuse H20N which has multiple night vision cameras and can display the images side by side.
(Image credit: DJI)
What are drones with night vision used for?
Search and Rescue
Traditionally search and rescue teams are limited to working in daylight hours, especially where the terrain is difficult or dangerous. Drones with night vision can continue the search into the evening and overnight, covering large areas and streaming real-time vision to rescue teams. As well as directly identifying the heat signature of people, drones with thermal cameras can pick up heat signatures from debri or other structures constraining trapped people. However, thermal imaging drones can not see through walls or glass.
Drones with night vision can also assist in planning the safest, fastest route to the rescue location, saving time in high-risk situations.
Security & Surveillance
Even in complete darkness, night vision drones can pick up the heat signatures of people for security purposes. Drones can be pre-programmed to fly a set route around a location to undertake security checks or be quickly deployed to investigate a tripped alarm.
The use of drones for surveillance ranges from home security to monitoring borders, critical infrastructure, crowd monitoring, event monitoring and remote locations. Compared to traditional surveillance cameras, drones can track and follow an intruder until they are met by the ground crew or local authorities. This also means that the response crew can be better prepared by seeing first-hand the threat at hand.
Construction
Drones with night vision are used in construction to provide a safe and efficient way to conduct surveys, inspections and monitoring during night hours. The ability to capture high resolution images in low light conditions has become critical for many construction projects. They’re used for night time security, detecting maintenance and repair issues (such as overheating picked up by IR cameras) and site safety inspection of night crews.
Which Drones have night vision?
The most common type of night vision in drones is thermal imaging. Some of the most popular drones with night vision are :
- Autel Evo Dual
- DeltaQuad #View
- SenseFly eBee X fixed-wing drone with Duet T camera
Which DJI Drones have night vision?
- DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual & Advanced
- DJI Mavic 3T
- DJI Matrice 300 RTK with Zenmuse H20T camera attachment
- DJI Matrice 30T
The DJI 300RTK has three payload (attachment) options where the Zenmuse H20N night vision camera can be attached.
How much do drones with night vision cost ?
Drones with night vision cost between $3,000 to $15,000 USD. The cheapest available at the moment is the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise which has been superseded by the Mavic 3T.
On the more expensive end of the market are the Matrice UAVs. These are larger, more robust drones with higher IP ratings to protect against water and dust ingress.
Above: The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced drone has a thermal camera for night vision. Check current availability and price here.
Can you fly a drone at night?
As of April 2021, drone pilots with a Part 107 certification are allowed to fly at night. This doesn’t require a waiver but the following points must be met:
- The pilot must complete and pass the Part 107 knowledge test
- The drone must have anticollision lights suitable for night time flying
For more details, check the FAA’s Part 107.29 Operation at night details here.
How to register a drone with night vision
Drone registration in the US is done through FAA DroneZone. As night flying comes under Part 107 operations all drones must be registered even if under the 250g weight limit. Registering a drone with night vision is the same as registering a normal drone.
The process costs $5 and lasts for 3 years. To register, create an account on DroneZone and provide your details along with the drone’s make and model. Once registered, you need to keep a copy of the FAA registration certificate while you fly (this can be a digital copy) and the registration number must be labelled on the drone.
Drone night vision attachment
Most drones have a built-in camera or a specially designed thermal camera for the specific type of drone. The Matrice 300RTK has a payload fitting that can hold a thermal imaging night vision attachment.
The most recent night vision camera from DJI that is suited to the Matrice 300RTK is the Zenmuse H20N (N stands for night vision). This is one of the more advanced night vision drone cameras as it has both thermal imaging and starlight vision. The previous release, H20T, had a single thermal sensor.
The DJI 300RTK has three payload (attachment) options where the Zenmuse H20N night vision camera can be attached.
Wrap Up On Drones with Night Vision
For a more detailed look into some of the top night vision drones, check out Drones with Thermal Cameras where I go through 8 UAVs that have different benefits such as a longer flight time, the cheapest thermal drone option and which has the highest resolution.
