Atmos enhances surveying capabilities with integration of Sony cameras

Atmos has integrated Sony α7R mark III and IV cameras into its drones to increase the coverage and accuracy achieved in a single flight. The Dutch manufacturer of high-end vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing drones (Marlyn Cobalt) for surveying and mapping applications regards this as a new milestone in its drone development work.

“Sony is a well-known industry-leading brand when it comes to drone surveying payloads,” said Joost Bouman, head of production and founding partner at Atmos. “We have been working with Sony since 2016, and the combination of great price/value ratio with high-quality sensors is one of the reasons we are so happy with this long-lasting relationship. Their responsiveness, and the continuous support we have with regards to the development and integration of new cameras, have been very valuable to us,” he concluded.

Increased Coverage and Accuracy

Both cameras have an ISO of 32,000 (expandable to 102,400) and camera sensors with a high megapixel count (42.4MP for the α7R ΙΙΙ, and 61MP for the α7R IV, respectively). When combined with Zeiss’ 35mm (α7R III) and 21mm (α7R IV) lenses, this will enable drone surveyors to achieve ground sample distance (GSD) levels below one centimetre. The integration of these two new cameras will provide users of Marlyn Cobalt, Atmos’ leading drone, with increased coverage and accuracy, allowing them to map an area of 210 hectares (an area equal to almost 300 football fields) with centimetre-level accuracy in a single flight.

“When it comes to land and construction surveying applications, we see that Sony cameras are always the number-one choice for professional users,” said Vasilis Tziampiris, marketing lead at Atmos. “We are excited to increase our users’ capacity and further improve their results in the field,” he added.

High-end Aerial Surveying Drones

Yasuo Baba, director, digital imaging and European product marketing, Sony Digital Imaging Europe, stated: “Every time we launch an updated version of our Software Development Kit (SDK), we see the applications multiply and aerial footage is a particularly exciting area. We are very proud to be working in close collaboration with Atmos, bring the best of our camera technology to their drones and delivering unparalleled image quality for their users.”

Marlyn Cobalt is among the first fully autonomous hybrid (VTOL & fixed-wing) drone for mapping and surveying applications. With its patented design that combines the best of both worlds; Marlyn can take off vertically from anywhere, and map quickly and efficiently producing high-quality outputs for professional users. The UAV is built to perform even in harsh and windy conditions, while it is known for its easily swappable payloads, providing operators with great flexibility.

Atmos is based in the Dutch city of Leiden, and is dedicated to the design and production of high-end aerial surveying drones. Founded in 2013, its flagship drone (Marlyn) has a unique design – combining the high performance of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft with the flexibility of helicopters – for use in mapping, construction, mining, agriculture and environmental applications. The company is currently seeking new talent to expand its team and production in order facilitate the fast growth of the company.