Wingtra, a leader in aerial insights technology, has announced the release of WingtraGROUND, a ground control system that promises to streamline the entire drone surveying process from field setup to data analysis. This innovative offering integrates drones, field operations, and data processing into a seamless workflow, simplifying the traditionally complex process of aerial surveying.
The launch is set against the backdrop of increasing demand for high-accuracy drone data across various industries. André Becker, Wingtra's Senior Product Manager, highlighted the significance of this development by stating, "Drone data holds the power to boost safety and productivity across a range of vital industries. Yet when you need high accuracy, you need ground truth to prove it." Becker emphasized that the current error-prone setup for establishing ground truth has been a significant barrier for many utilizing drone data effectively.
WingtraGROUND aims to overcome these challenges by offering a guided and fully integrated solution that removes the need for switching between multiple tools and allows for simplified and accurate data collection. The system's integration into the Wingtra ecosystem provides users with real-time planning guidance and receiver placement confirmation, significantly reducing the expertise previously required.
Testimonies from industry users like Jake Hinton, partner at Flyover Services, underscore WingtraGROUND’s impact. Hinton, who manages the surveying of multiple sites daily, cited the new system as a "game-changer," eliminating the cumbersome process of connecting multiple devices and manually organizing data files. This automation translates into significant time savings and reduces manual error.
The operational backbone of WingtraGROUND involves receivers powered by Emlid technology, which are seamlessly integrated into the Wingtra ecosystem. The system provides step-by-step guidance for accurately placing base station and rover receivers, radically streamlining setup compared to traditional survey equipment. Wingtra suggests the setup time is slashed by up to four times, enabled by automatic connections and precise GNSS accuracy, opening up the technology for use by professionals and novices alike.
This development represents a significant shift in drone technology. Traditionally, having the most advanced drone was insufficient without a complex array of supplementary tools, each demanding specific expertise and experience. Becker articulated this challenge, noting, "Until now, even if you had the best drone, you still needed to know how to use a range of tools from different manufacturers. This part of the workflow was begging for ease of use and seamless integration."
WingtraGROUND democratizes the ability to perform high-quality aerial surveys by eliminating technological and expertise barriers. Key features of the system include a synchronized guided process for placing receivers, integrated aerial and ground data collection processes, and measures to prevent data loss due to human error. Its portability ensures surveys can proceed smoothly even outside the range of a reliable CORS network.
Drawing the wing of WingtraCLOUD—Wingtra’s overarching data management workflow—the introduction of WingtraGROUND is expected to revolutionize how organizations approach drone data capture and analysis.
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