Rugged Android Ground Control Stations for LiDAR Drone Mapping
A BVM CASE STUDY
Customer Overview: Giving Operators a Better View from Above
As industries continue to embrace autonomous technologies, LiDAR equipped drones are changing the way large-scale industrial and mining sites are surveyed. Able to capture millions of precise measurement points in a single flight, these systems produce highly detailed 3D maps while keeping personnel away from hazardous terrain, unstable ground and difficult-to-access areas.
A company developing an advanced LiDAR drone platform approached BVM to help source a rugged Android tablet that would become the operator’s primary control interface. The solution needed to perform reliably outdoors while integrating seamlessly with the customer’s bespoke drone control software.
Requirements: A Tablet Built for the Field
The customer required more than a standard rugged tablet. The device needed to become an integral part of the drone system, providing operators with dependable control in demanding industrial environments.
Their requirements included:
- Android operating system to support their own custom application
- 8–10″ sunlight-readable display
- Programmable physical buttons for quick access to key controls
- Rugged design for industrial and mining environments
- Integrated RF radio module for wireless communications
- A platform suitable for long-term production
The Challenge: Combining Ruggedness, Flexibility and Connectivity
Finding a device that met every requirement wasn’t straightforward. Many rugged tablets offered the durability needed for outdoor use, but lacked the programmable controls or integrated communications required for a specialist drone application. The customer also wanted to minimise additional hardware, making factory integration of the RF radio module an important part of the overall solution.
With the tablet acting as the operator’s connection to the drone, reliability, usability and integration were all equally important.
BVM’s Solution: The Winmate G101Q9-A-RF
Following detailed discussions around the application, BVM recommended and supplied two Winmate G101Q9-A-RF rugged Android tablets for evaluation. The 10.1-inch platform provided the ideal balance of portability, visibility and ruggedness, while Android enabled the customer to deploy and test their own application without compromise. Just as importantly, Winmate could integrate the required RF radio module during manufacture, delivering a single, streamlined device tailored to the project’s needs.
Programmable function buttons completed the package, giving operators immediate access to key controls when flying missions in challenging outdoor conditions.
Project Outcome: From Prototype to Production
With the project now moving towards production at approximately 100 units per year, the selected solution provides a scalable foundation for future deployments. By matching the customer with hardware that met both the technical and operational requirements from the outset, BVM helped simplify integration and support the transition from development to production.
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