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Fixed-wing mapping drone

A fixed-wing mapping drone for areas a multirotor cannot finish in a day

Area and corridor surveys are a coverage problem. Orbit UAV builds two fixed-wing answers: a 1600 mm hand-launched airframe with a belly bay for a mapping camera, and a hybrid VTOL that carries LiDAR and lands vertically on a point.

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1600 mm

Hand-launched fixed wing

LiDAR

VTOL survey payload

2–8 kg

VTOL payload capacity

Two fixed-wing aerial mapping drones

01 / Platforms

Both fly on a wing, so both cover far more ground per battery than a multirotor.

Hand-launched fixed wing ↗

1600 mm span, 2.0 to 4.5 kg all-up, 60 to 70 km/h cruise. Twin motors ahead of the wing leave the belly free for a mapping camera.

Hybrid VTOL fixed wing ↗

Vertical launch and recovery, 60 to 300 km range, 2 to 8 kg payload — enough for LiDAR plus a zoom channel.

How to choose

Open ground and a light camera: hand launch. Confined site, heavy sensor or long corridor: VTOL.

Fixed-wing mapping drone comparison

02 / Comparison

Hand-launched fixed wingHybrid VTOL (VT-60 to VT-300)

Launch / recoveryHand launch, lands on open groundVertical, automatic, on the launch point

Size1600 mm span, 1000 mm length2.6–4.2 m span

Weight2.0–4.5 kg all-up14–42 kg MTOW

Cruise speed60–70 km/h90–120 km/h

PayloadBelly bay for gimbal or mapping camera2–8 kg: zoom, EO/IR, LiDAR + zoom

Typical jobArea mapping, quick surveyCorridor survey, LiDAR, large or remote areas

Survey applications

03 / Missions

Topographic survey

LiDAR and photogrammetry deliverables for engineering and mining.

Corridor mapping ↗

Powerlines, pipelines, roads and rail surveyed in long single passes.

Forestry inventory ↗

Canopy and terrain models over large blocks.

Construction and earthworks

Repeat flights for progress and volume tracking.

Agriculture and land management

Wide-area coverage in one sortie.

Environmental monitoring

Coast, rivers and wetlands mapped without ground access.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ

Why use a fixed-wing drone for mapping?

A wing is far more efficient than rotors, so a fixed-wing mapping drone covers much more area per flight than a multirotor. Fewer flights mean fewer battery changes, fewer take-offs and a more consistent dataset.

Fixed wing or VTOL for aerial mapping?

A hand-launched fixed wing is the lightest kit and suits open sites. A VTOL fixed wing costs more weight but lands vertically on a precise point, which protects the sensor and works on confined or rough sites. It also carries heavier payloads such as LiDAR.

Which mapping sensors are supported?

The hand-launched airframe carries a mapping camera or gimbal in its belly bay. The VTOL line carries a LiDAR plus zoom payload for point clouds alongside imagery. Other sensors are integrated per order within the payload limit.

What accuracy can I expect?

Survey accuracy depends on the sensor, flight altitude, overlap and ground control, not on the airframe alone. Send the deliverable you need and we will propose the sensor and flight plan.

Fixed-wing drone specification VTOL drone specification VTOL vs fixed-wing: which airframe for which mission Operator training

Tell us the area and the deliverable.

Send the survey area, required output and site constraints — {{ contactEmail }}