DJI Matrice 300 vs. WingtraOne GEN II
To compare the drones, we met with a local DJI dealer—Ueli Sager, of Remote Vision, Switzerland—who joined us in the village of Gansingen to conduct a specific set of flights.
In the first flight scenario, we measured the coverage of each drone on one set of batteries, flying at the same height based on a common mapping altitude above ground level (AGL).
In the second scenario, we flew both drones at the same, lower height AGL over a smaller area to capture established ground points and compare accuracy. We also discussed the user experience with several customers and resellers who fly both drones.
The short read: quick overview of essential differences
The DJI M300 RTK is marketed as the “new standard” in the commercial drone industry, which before the addition of its P1 high-resolution RGB payload was mostly focused on search and rescue, and inspection applications. A VTOL drone, WingtraOne is a dedicated mapping solution capitalizing on a hybrid configuration of both fixed-wing and multirotor capabilities. I.e., it lifts off and lands vertically, but for flight it transitions into a fixed-wing mode.
Customer voices
Summary
As a large multirotor, the M300 is a good drone for inspection, and search and rescue, as well as other medium-range applications. With the introduction of its P1 payload, DJI now markets it as a large-scale mapping drone. Yet even with this payload, the system is challenged in several key ways to compete with a more dedicated mapping system in terms of efficiency. The most obvious one being that the M300, while bigger than a Phantom 4, is still a multirotor that relies exclusively on its own energy—via sizable batteries—to lift it. This explains why its advertised 55 minute flight time is only possible without a payload.
In addition to coverage efficiency, robust flight times are critical in mapping situations to capture data when weather permits. Maps are meant to be a snapshot in time used for analytical purposes, so the quality of the entire map needs to be consistent. In many cases, daylight and weather only afford small windows of flight time to achieve this. A single flight over a large area makes it more likely.
As you take both of these drones out into the field, it becomes apparent that WingtraOne GEN II is a commercial drone engineered for mapping projects. Fundamental to being a dedicated mapping solution is intuitive software plus a long flight time with a high-end payload. WingtraOne GEN II can fly for up to 54 minutes with its RX1R II payload, a spec which has been exhaustively tested. Its flight planning software features all necessary parameters for surveying and mapping, with key items integrated into a smooth pre-flight checklist.
While WingtraOne GEN II is not a drone suitable for missions that require image capture while hovering, it is a robust, high-accuracy solution that enables pilots to take off and land safely from a range of spots while capturing reliable data on any size project as fast as possible. It’s a focused solution, with an entire engineering team working specifically on optimizing mapping functionality, and with every software update dedicated to helping pilots get their small or large-scale data as fast as possible without the need for replanning or reflying.
Quick overview graphic
