UAS Fleet and Payloads

Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus has a large and diverse fleet to support research, training and consulting initiatives. Consisting of more than 40 aircraft, the fleet is made up of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft (both single-rotor and multi-rotors). K-State Salina's fleet consists of gas-powered motors, used for longer endurance, and electric-powered motors used for less vibration.

In addition to aircraft, K-State Salina has many different payloads. Data can be collected from electro-optical, near-infrared and thermal infrared cameras.

Fixed-wing/Hybrid aircraft

A Spectreworks Cobalt UAS that is offered at K-State Salina sits in a grass field with the sunsetting in the background.
Spectreworks Cobalt

Endurance: 10 hours, Speed: 50 knots, Wind Resistance: 25 knots, Payload Capacity: Custom payloads

A Censys Sentaero 5 UAS that is offered at K-State Salina sits in a grass field at dusk with the grass below illuminated in red and green colors from the lights of the aircraft's sensors.
Censys Sentaero 5

Endurance: 1 hour, Speed: 35 knots, Wind Resistance: 22 knots, Payload Capacity: Custom payloads

UAV Factory Penguin-B drone with purple light backdrop at the K-State Salina campus
UAV Factory Penguin-B

Endurance: 8 hours, Speed: 70 knots, Wind Limit: 30 knots, Payload/Capacity: Custom payloads/22 lbs

AAI Aerosonde Mk4.7 drone with purple lighting backdrop at the K-State Salina campus
AAI Aerosonde Mk4.7

Endurance: 10+ hours, Speed: 68 knots (maximum dash speed), Wind Limit: 20 knots, Payload/Capacity: TASE Duo (EO/IR)

A K-State Salina Great Shark drone while the sun sets in the background in a grassy field.
FOXTECH Great Shark 330 VTOL

Endurance: 2 hours, Speed: 62.2 knots, Wind Resistance: 25 knots, Payloads/capacity: 8.8 lbs

A black and yellow Sensfly Ebee X drone at K-State Salina
Sensefly Ebee X

Endurance: 1.5 hours, Speed: 59 knots, Wind Resistance: 28.6 knots, Payloads/capacity: Sequoia, RedEdge mx

UTC Aerospace Vireo drone that is gray in color with a purple light backdrop at the K-State Salina campus.
UTC Aerospace Vireo

Endurance: 1 hour, Speed: 40 knots (maximum dash speed), Wind Resistance: 35 knots, Payloads/capacity: 0.35 lbs.; EO or IR camera—proprietary

3DR Aero drone with purple backdrop light at the K-State Salina campus
3DR Aero

Endurance: 0.7 hours, Speed: 39 knots, Wind Resistance: 22 knots, Payloads/capacity: Custom/1.1 lbs.

Super Sky Surfer RC drone offered at the K-State Salina campus
BlitzRC Works Super Sky Surfer RC

Endurance: 0.4 hours, Speed: 32.2 knots, Wind Resistance: 23 knots, Payloads/capacity: N/A

Two K-State Salina students prepare a large drone for flight.
UAS Education at K-State Salina.

Get your degree in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems!

Learn more 

 

Multirotor aircraft

A Hylio AG 210 UAS with spraying capabilities offered at K-State Salina sits in a grass field on a sunny day.
Hylio AG 210

Endurance: 15 minutes, Speed: 26 knots, Wind Resistance: 22 knots, Payload Capacity: 2.5 gallon tank with crop sprayer that sprays at 1 gallon per minute.

A Hylio AG 272 offered by K-State Salina sits in an agricultural field as the sun sets in the background.
Hylio AG 272

Endurance: 15 minutes, Speed: 26 knots, Wind Resistance: 22 knots, Payload Capacity: 18 gallon tank with crop sprayer that sprays at 3 gallons per minute.

An Autel Evo II UAS offered by K-State Salina flies in a cloudless sky.
Autel Evo II

Endurance: 40 minutes, Speed: 40 knots, Wind Resistance: 40 knots, Payload Capacity: 0.5" CMOS 25.6 mm camera

A DJI Air 3s UAS offered at K-State Salina.
DJI Air 3s

Endurance: 45 minutes, Speed: 40 knots, Wind Resistance: 23 knots, Payload Capacity: 50 MP 1" CMOS 24mm Wide Angle Lens, 48 MP 9.87mm CMOS Medium Telephoto Lens

A DJI Avata UAS offered by K-State Salina
DJI Avata

Endurance: 18 minutes, Speed: 52.5 knots, Wind Resistance: 21 knots, Payload Capacity: 12 MP 1.49' 12.7mm camera

A DJI Inspire 2 UAS offered at K-State Salina
DJI Inspire 2

Endurance: 30 minutes, Speed: 50 knots, Wind Resistance: 20 knots, Payload Capacity: Zenmuse X7, X5S, X4S

A DJI M300 UAS that is offered at K-State Salina flies in the air with a clear blue sky backdrop.
DJI M300

Endurance: 50 minutes, Speed: 45 knots, Wind Resistance: 23 knots, Payload Capacity: Zenmuse / DJI Gimbals, 6 pounds

A FLIR Siras UAS offered by K-State Salina
FLIR Siras

Endurance: 30 minutes, Speed: 35 knots, Wind Resistance: 19 knots, Payload Capacity: 20 MP EO Camera, IR Camera (640x512)

Skydio S2 UAS that is offered at K-State Salina.
Skydio S2

Endurance: 24 minutes, Speed: 22 knots, Wind Resistance: 31 knots, Payload Capacity: Sony IMX 577 1/2/3" 12 MP CMOS 20mm camera

Skydio X2 UAS that is offered at K-State Salina.
Skydio X2

Endurance: 34 minutes, Speed: 27 knots, Wind Resistance: 20 knots, Payload Capacity: FLIR Boson 320P Thermal Imager, RGB Camera

 

Sensors

A K-State Salina UAS instructor teaches a law enforcement officer how to operate a drone in a large agriculture field.
Canon EOS 6D

Description: 20.2 MP Full Frame (35mm x 26mm) CMOS Sensor

A DJI Zenmuse H20 sensor that can attach to a drone is offered at K-State Salina
DJI Zenmuse H20

Description: 20 MP 1/1.7" CMOS with 6.83 - 119.94 f/2.8 - f/11. 12 MP 1/2.3" CMOS with 4.5mm f/2.8

A DJI Zenmuse H20N sensor that attaches to a UAS is offered at K-State Salina.
DJI Zenmuse H20N

Description: 4 MP 1/1.18" CMOS with 6.8 - 119.9 f/1.6 - f/11. 2 MP 1/2.7" CMOS with 4.5mm f/2.8. Tele IR: Vox Microbolometer 44.5mm f/1.2. Wide IR: Vox Microbolometer 12mm f/1

A DJI Zenmuse H20T sensor that attaches to a UAS is offered at K-State Salina.
DJI Zenmuse H20T

Description: 20 MP 1/1.7" CMOS with 6.83 - 119.94 f/2.8 - f/11. 12 MP 1/2.3" CMOS with 4.5mm f/2.8. IR: Vox Microbolometer 13.5mm f/1

Other sensors:

Sensor Description
DJI Z30 RGB, 30x zoom, FOV at 1x, 2.3 FOV at 30x, Effective Pixels: 2.13M
DJI Z3 RGB – 3x Optical Zoom, 6.17mm x 4.56mm sensor size, 4000×3000 pixel dimensions
DJI X3 RGB, 6.17mm x 4.56mm sensor size, 4000×3000 pixel dimensions
DJI/FLIR XT Thermal, 640×512 pixel dimension
DJI X5 RGB, 15mm, 4608x3456, 4/3-inch CMOS sensor
DJI X5S RGB, 17.3mm x 13mm sensor size, 5280×3956 pixel dimensions
DJI X4S RGB Camera 16:9 aspect 5472x3078 FOV 84 degrees
Sony a5100 RGB, 23.5mm x 15.6mm sensor size, 6000×4000 pixel dimensions
Sony Nex-7 RGB, 23.5mm x 15.6mm sensor size, 6000×4000 pixel dimensions
Nikon D810 RGB, 35.9mm x 24mm sensor size, 7360×4912 pixel dimensions, flown on DJI S1000+, DJI M600, and C172
Canon S100-NIR Near-infrared/green/blue, 7.44mm x 5.58mm sensor size, 4000×3000 pixel dimensions
FLIR Tau 2 Uncooled LWIR Thermal Imager, 640×512 VOx Microbolometer, 7.5 – 13.5 µm Spectral Band, 24.6° x 19.8° FOV, 25mm Lens, 30Hz (high-speed)
CloudCap TASE Duo Primary Payload-Gimbal for Aerosonde UAS, contains LWIR Thermal imager, as well as Sony FCB-EX980 RGB Zoom Imager
Sony FCB-4300 Primary Payload for Penguin UAS, Mounted in custom gimbal assy., RGB 1/3-type Exmor CMOS Sensor, 1920×1080 HD Video, 20x Optical zoom, 12x Digital Zoom (240x combined)
Micasense RedEdge mx Multispectral Imager; Contains Blue, Green, Red, Red Edge, Near-IR 8 cm per pixel at 120 m
Micasense RedEdge 3 Multispectral Imager; Contains Blue, Green, Red, Red Edge, and Near IR Sensors, 4.8mm x 3.6mm sensor size, 1280×960 pixel dimensions, 47.2 deg. HFOV, 5.5mm focal length
Parrot Sequoia Multispectral Imager, Contains Green, Red, Red Edge, Near Infrared, Resolution 1280x960, Focal Length 3.98mm. RGB Resolution 4608x3456, Focal Length: 4.88mm
Photo3S Scout UAS High-Res Camera
Photo 3S NIR Scout UAS Camera Payload
Tetracam Scout UAS 3-Axis Camera Payload
GO PRO Hero 3 Black Scout UAS Camera Payload
S100 Adapter Scout UAS Camera Payload – S100 Adapter from modified gopro base
FLIR 640 Scout UAS Camera Payload – Thermal 19mm Lens
UTC EO Payload Vireo UAS EO Payload
UTC IR Payload Vireo UAS LWIR Thermal Payload
SkyIMD Cessna 172 Camera Pod Camera Pod Mount for Wing Strut of C172. Supports remote triggering, power, and USB connectivity of select sensors.