7 Best Drones With GPS In 2022

Looking for GPS Drones? We curated the best drones with gps for you to check out!

GPS drones are unmanned flying gadgets having an electronic module that allows them to define their precise aerial location coordinates relative to an orbiting network of navigation satellites known as the Global Positioning System or GPS.

The market is flooded with drones that offer a plethora of options and techs onboard. Often, these create nothing but confusion. Hence to choose the most befitting GPS drone for your specific task, look no further. Here’s the one-stop article where you get the buying guide that matches your budget and the ideal GPS drone to aid in your operations.

Most drones in the market rely upon GPS technology for navigation. A non-RTK hobby drone can achieve maximum accuracy of about twenty inches while navigating to a position. But hover accuracy worth a few inches only is attainable by RTK (real-time kinematic) drones in high-precision applications like inspection, survey, aerial photography, photogrammetry, etc. 

Best Drones With GPS

GPS drones take advantage of their built-in positioning technology that refers to satellite networks like GPS (US), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (Europe), BeiDou (China), or IRNSS (India), the last three being under development. They can embody varied payloads like high-res cameras – optical or infrared, spotlight, loudspeaker, etc. They can transmit encrypted data far away and may have artificial intelligence too. 

This article will present you with top-notch GPS drone models and their specialties so that you can pick the most befitting one for your project and job. So, let’s start.

Top Drones With GPS

What are GPS drones?

Drones that fly while employing GPS navigation for their flight systems and relevant data collection are called GPS drones. Signals from multiple available GPS satellites are constantly used to make the drone understand its precise location in space. The information is relayed to the ground controller over radio signals through transponders and transmitters as feedback for further action.

Specific utilities of a GPS drone

  • GPS drones are used for varied applications that need precise positioning and location of the craft for tasks like – inspection of structures and installations, rescue and search missions, remote surveillance, highway patrol, wildlife census, 3D mapping, etc. The accuracy of all these tasks depends upon GPS or GPS correction technologies such as RTK when you cannot rely upon GPS alone. 
  • GPS drones are generally radio-controlled via a hand-held console that transmits commands to and receives data from the UAV. Such drones are expected to function at places having adequate satellite signal strength. They cannot safely operate near metal bridges, inside underground mines, etc. These call for different positioning technologies.
  • These aircraft can fly over hazardous locations like volcanos, deliver medicines and utilities in quarantined places, and can even function autonomously beyond the line of vision.

Industry experts and enthusiasts alike own top-class GPS drones for offering niche services. Custom commercial drones can easily have a price tag upward of USD10,000, while our list of top 7 will even have a sub-USD1000 entry. Please go through the carefully chosen list below.

Parrot Anafi Thermal

It’s an ISO 9001 certified, ultra-compact, fully-integrated thermal drone that offers the dual advantage of thermal as well as visual imagery in 4K HDR. It caters to the needs of most professions, be it construction, civil security, healthcare (first aid), thermal surveys, an inspection of a defective solar panel, identification of a failed power line, or observing, identifying, and counting wildlife species from a safe distance.

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Parrot Anafi Thermal

Key features:

  • Dual GNSS: GPS and GLONASS
  • Maximum working altitude 4500 m above sea level
  • 26 min flight time
  • Automatic return to the take-off point
  • 21 MP Sony 4K HDR visual camera and FLIR Lepton IR camera

Autel Robotics EVO 2 Pro

DJI Phantom 4 RTK is a compelling buy for people who are into next-generation precision mapping. The most accurate and compact solution for low altitude mapping.

Autel Robotics EVO 2 Pro

Key features:

  • Dual GNSS: GPS and GLONASS
  • 360-degree obstacle avoidance with 12 visual navigation sensors
  • 6K hyperlapse photography in both JPEG and RAW formats
  • Supersensitive Sony CMOS sensor offering 4K HDR
  • 40 min long flight time and 9 km transmission range

Upgraded Hubsan Zino Mini SE

A fully-loaded, pocket-size drone that is winning hearts. Weighing a mere half a pound, this mini wonder can offer a butter-smooth 4K video with a Sony CMOS sensor and is controllable from as far as 6 km.

Upgraded Hubsan Zino Mini SE

Key features:

  • Satellite navigation: GPS, GLONASS, Vision optical flow
  • Maximum take-off altitude 4000 m
  • Supports panorama, hyper-lapse, comet, and night mode
  • Supports both Android and iOS
  • Failsafe auto return to home

Yuneec H520E RTK Plus CGOETX

It’s a professional hexacopter designed to execute an inspection of radio towers, windmills, power lines in areas where the high wind blows. Although a quadcopter could be equally capable, having two extra rotors can ensure a safe landing in the event of malfunction of any one of the other four. It also adds additional power of flight and stability.

Yuneec H520E RTK plus CGOETX

Key features:

  • Proven handy gadget for low-enforcing agencies like Highway Patrol for recording and reconstructing accident scenes
  • Precise and efficient flight plans by DataPilot software
  • Yuneec SDK enables software developers to create new applications for exploiting the full potential. 
  • Thermal imaging is also helpful in firefighting and rescue missions.

DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced (M2EA)

The light and portable M2EA is a mini monster in terms of abilities. It can conduct inspections with centimeter-level RTK precision from a safe distance. It superbly combines the convenience of a consumer drone with commercial class capabilities. 

DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced (M2EA)

Key features:

  • 640X512 px radiometric thermal camera can instantly detect hotspots even through smoke with 16x zoom.
  • 48 MP visual camera captures crisp images with 32x digital zoom.
  • It can create up to 240 waypoints to conduct automated and repeat inspections in challenging environments. 
  • Can seamlessly switch among thermal, visual, or split-view feeds.
  • Accessorized with a spotlight speaker, be-10 deg C to 40 deg C operating temperatures.

DJI AIR 2S

Aptly called an All-in-one consumer drone that features plain GPS without RTK. This portable drone weighs less than 600 g and can record master images and videos. It’s a must-have gadget for the adventurer.

DJI AIR 2S

Key features:

  • Affordability – sub-USD1000 consumer drone
  • 1 inch CMOS sensor
  • MasterShots and FocusTrack function can create cinematic footage
  • 5.4K/30fps/30fps and 4K/60fps video
  • Obstacle sensing in four directions

DJI Inspire 2

Inspire-1 was the world’s first filming drone that combined the power of a 4K camera, 360-degree rotating gimbal, and HD video transmission. Inspire-2 became the able successor by upgrading to up to 6K video, 94 kmph maximum traverse speed, and 9m/s maximum descent speed. Retractable landing gear and 360-degree swivel camera allow for difficult shots from almost any angle.

DJI Inspire 2

Key features:

  • Video recording with CinemaDNG, 6K/30fps, 3.9K/60fps, H264/H265, and Apple ProRes, 4K/30fps
  • -20 deg C to 40 deg C operating temperatures.
  • Smart return to home – real-time map generated of the flight path helps here.
  • Wireless transmission of HD videos without loss of quality between pilot and camera operator controllers being up to 100 m apart.

Buyer’s guide for the best drone with GPS

Small hobby drones are more of a toy for leisure time, but when it comes to achieving specific tasks by the drone, it calls for checking the following points before ordering your drone online. Please consider the below checklist before ordering.

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GPS Drones

Technology used

  • Check whether it has a plain GPS or RTK (real-time kinematic) module needed for the extra precision of your task. 
  • Also, its compatibility with the primary satellite navigation system of the region where you plan to operate your GPS drone (GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou, etc.)

The typical price points

  • Hobby drones and consumer drones featuring GPS feature a price tag of nearly a few hundred dollars. However, the mighty custom commercial drones can cost you thousands.
  • Remember that a bare airframe drone may cost less, but the final price to accomplish all your desired tasks many call for accessorizing the same with compatible payloads that can jack up the final price. Budget your purchase accordingly.

Flight time

  • Flight time of your drone depends on its battery juice and its duty assigned apart from propulsion. Choose the drone based upon this set of parameters. If you intend to shoot an outdoor movie, plan beforehand for the duration. A short flight of, say, 30 minutes may be suitable just for photography or videography, but not for the meticulous inspection that calls for a heavy commercial variety.

The average price of a good drone with GPS

The price of custom commercial drones can vary widely from close to USD1000 and can go upward as high as USD 42000. However, a good consumer drone with GPS can be below USD 500.

Market stats of drones with GPS

With a CAGR of 12.27% drone market is projected to hit USD 40.9 billion mark in 2027. Usage of drones has boosted efficiency and data analytics in commercial applications and hence witnessed a continual path of growth.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has created a multi-folded demand for commercial drones to serve the healthcare industry and governments to deliver food, medicine, and other essentials to cargo ships or lockdown affected areas.

Integration of artificial intelligence in drones has enabled them to manage and store data in high volume. Cloud computing, machine learning, and computer vision will lead to the production of fully autonomous drones that do not need the Visible Line of Sight restrictions.

Best GPS Drones: FAQs

Do all drones have GPS?

No. There are GPS denied drones also, which depend on other technologies for navigation for specific reasons. Example applications include indoor inspection, mining, bridge inspection, search & rescue operation at GPS signal starved regions.

Do all drones with GPS are equally potent?

No. GPS drones featuring RTK (real-time kinematic) technology offer centimeter-level precision in navigation and hence are expensive.

Most expensive GPS drone?

EHang 184 worth USD 300,000 is currently the most expensive drone. It can be used for individual transportation purposes as well as cargo carrying.

Conclusion

GPS-enabled drone technology is an interesting and inviting segment of the market for start-ups. As drones have blurred the borderline of the hobby with serious commercial and military applications, they open a new horizon of active research and investments.

Since drones depend upon onboard batteries for propulsion and other destined functions, breakthroughs and advancement in power-efficient compact batteries will boost the abilities of drones alike.

The day is not far away when we will be used to autonomous GPS drone couriers and heavy-lift drone taxis ferrying people as public transport vehicles.

Also Read:

Parrot Anafi Thermal

Looking for GPS Drones? We curated the best drones with gps for you to check out!

Product SKU: 32445FDHGJGHKM453456

Product Brand: Parrot

Product Currency: USD

Product Price: 2,499.99

Price Valid Until: 2022

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
5
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