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The unmanned aerial gizmos, rightly guessed the drones, have gained momentum lately, and are a flying tech wonder! There are already the big names, the market leaders, like Parrot, DJI, or Yuneec (just to name a few) all racing to become the best brand, but there are many more drone manufacturers that deserve our attention.
That’s why today we’ll discuss the most popular and innovative manufacturers that deserve a place at the winners’ table.
The Best Drone Manufacturers in The World
In the following paragraphs, we’ll discuss some of the most well-known manufacturers all over the world and the main selection criterion we considered was their most important creations and achievements.
Hubsan
Their drone line-up appears terrific, whether it is the Hubsan X4 Pro that surpasses in recording aerial photographs and video, or the GPS Spy Hawk with its great wingspan and First Person View from the transmitter screen. The Hubsan can offer a drone for absolutely everyone.
Their almost every version is laced with some type of physical controller that permits even a person with no smartphone to enter the zone of drones. This Chinese company does not believe in size when it comes to building drones, as they have created a diverse range from the mini-drones to the formidable ones. And, you can check out our review of their FPV X4 model that is smaller in size, but offers some amazing features.
3D Robotics
This is an American firm headquartered at Berkely, California that produces and designs commercial and entertainment UAVs. Their customer facility is in Tijuana and they are the pioneers of the Drone Code with various commercial and entertainment models in their portfolio.
One of their most important drones, the 3D Robotics Solo (You can check out our review of this model), is highly functional and uses GoPro Hero 4. You can remove the camera and can use it for other purposes too, but the distinction between Solo and other ready-to-fly camera drones id the possibility to upgrade by adding pieces.
Their IRIS+ drone (We have an in-depth review of this model as well) is a recreational drone with a flight range of 40 miles per hour while their X8 Quadcopter is comprised of waypoint navigation systems and directed towards aerial shooting and cinematography.
The Solara 50: Titan Aerospace
Titan Aerospace is an American aerospace company located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and they produce special drones. Recently, the company was acquired by Google Inc. to produce UAVs that have the potential to bring Internet connectivity to far-flung areas of the globe.
The company produces unmanned aircraft under the label Atmo Sat logo and their Solar 50 is the first solar-powered aircraft on the globe that operates like an atmospheric satellite. It isn’t your typical model flying vehicle as its wingspan is larger than the one of a Boeing 767.
Valmie Resources Inc.
Out of the drone manufacturers, a limited few have the capacity to tap the competence of the commercial drone segment.
Valmie Resources Inc. is one such U.S. firm, with its hardware and programs system that permits enterprises to collect and process high-grade aerial data resourcefully for quicker and exact decision making.
Matternet
Amongst the UAV companies that build superior flying gadgets and intelligent software, Matternet figures as the leading one. A logistics drone manufacturer based in California, and a progressing Silicon Valley UAV start-up, it has installed its own delivery drone system in real world projects in areas which are hardest to arrive at.
They built the Matternet One, the initial smart drone specifically made for transportation.
Game of Drones
Game of Drones builds drones that perfect in UAV sports. They are promoters of the Aerial Sports League (ASL) and produce drone gadgets, gears and DIY kits for starters and professionals alike.
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the company was founded in 2013 and operates the toughest drone in the world after passing it through stringent fire, water, top-speed impacts and even gunshot tests. Presently, they offer two lines of products: the unassembled airframe gear and the ready-to-fly drone.
GoPro
Though mainly an adventure sports camera maker, GoPro is manufacturing their first consumer use drone. A special mention of their cameras that are the finest for recording aerial shoots and videos using drones has to be made.
It’s a popular brand and can boost the drone segment by attracting beginner level drone purchasers. The company is headquartered in San Mateo in California and its founder is CEO is Nicholas Woodman.
Ascending Technologies
Ascending Technologies is a US producer and developer of machinery for professional, civil and research UAV drone use. Their every system undergoes different control processes like indoor and outdoor demo flights for a close check before the ready-to-fly delivery.
The German advanced technology firm was instituted at Krailling, close to Munich in 2007 by four innovators in UAV know-how. They have performed leading work in the field of sensor data computing and flight attitude control with an intent on the professional utility of the aerial systems regarding the civilian segment.
Skycatch
Skycatch, a U.S. company located in San Francisco, California formed with an objective to build visual intelligence to assist people in working quicker and safer. They extend actionable information with the help of UAVs to aid construction officials and engineers coordinate their operations.
Skycatch has also constructed a drone for aerial imaging and programs to examine the data. Besides, they have also initiated Commander iOS flight app regarding DJI drones.
Vires Aeronautics
Vires Aeronautics produces ultra-performance UAVs that employ Active Circulation Control (ACC) know-how. Their build of the drone increases the lift potential of the fixed wing aircraft with a quicker takeoff and landing and an increased payload potential.
Their frontrunner brand, the Ora is the first commercial drone that completely operates on solar power. It is designed to cater to the requirements of water management, land mapping, disaster help and infrastructure monitoring. It is a wing construction company that augments the flight ability of aerial gadgets.
Kespry
Kespry produces drones that are devised exclusively for recording, viewing and examining aerial pictures and inspection data.
Their clients comprise the mining, building, aggregates and surveying firms. They are headquartered at Menio Park, California
Sunlight Photonics
Instituted in 2007 and headquartered in New Jersey, Sunlight Photonics produces solar aerial communication technology and facilities. They develop the Sun Fleet – batches of solar aerial vehicles with sturdy airframe models, structure flight control programs and dispersed communication payloads.
The Sunlink-X-UAV is built for high-altitude sustainable missions and a functional platform for Sunfleet Networks built for broadband wireless and web facilities.
The Kansas City Drone Company
The Kansas City Drone Company extends high-tech aerial mapping, fixed snaps, and videos. They assist the farmers, rescue teams and civil engineers with their 2D pinpoint maps.
The corporate team can use their 3D maps for presentations and the survey group to compute earth removal tasks. The maps also aid the police to reconstruct crime scenes.
The Dutch Drone Company
The Dutch Drone Company is amongst one of the few companies in Holland that have 100% authorization to promote drones.
They extend mapping and inspection facilities besides various aerial shots and video programs.
DJI
DJI is one company which has an array of high-performing drones under its name. This Chinese company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong. They are well known for the Phantom series of drones, but lately, they took the challenge a step further with the Inspire line.
One of the drones that have won huge applauds for DJI is Inspire 1 which is among the most advanced quadcopters with all the features of the Phantom 3 Professional, but with a much larger and upper-quality design.
The Inspire 1 Pro is yet another drone which attracts a lot of attention from drone pilots. It is a version of the Inspire 1 which carries a micro-four-thirds 4K camera with 13 dynamic range stops, interchangeable lenses and a sensor which is 8 times bigger than the standard Inspire 1 camera. You can find out all the details regarding this model in our Inspire 1 review.
This Chinese Drone Manufacturer has recently also launched the Inspire 1 Raw, bearing a 500GB SSD and 4K Raw video recording for performing in professional post-production environments.
Yuneec
Yuneec is the global electric aviation giant and is headquartered in Kunshan, Jiangsu, China.Yuneec too has contributed immensely in the drone industry with its high-end drones including the likes of Q500 4K and others. If the 4K model sounds interesting and worthy of finding out more about it, we suggest that you check out our review of the Q500 model.
Yuneec came into the spotlight with the manufacturing of a model aircraft that could be controlled by radio. Further, they were the first to develop an all electrically powered paraglider.
Parrot SA
Parrot SA is one of the leading drone manufacturing companies based out of Paris, France. It was founded in 1994 and since then, has contributed immensely to the drone industry by launching various powerful drones both for beginners and pros alike.
The Parrot Bebop is one among them and is more technologically superior drones for sale presently. The French company Parrot is a fresh entrant in the UAV or quadcopter market. It can be said to be the AR Drone’s little, smarter, quicker and more costly little brother.
Syma
Syma is another drone manufacturing company based out of Shantou city, Guangdong, China. The company is a large scale enterprise and engages in its own designing, manufacturing and selling.
X5C is a popular quadcopter from this brand which resembles a DJI Phantom at first glance but doesn’t provide you awesome aerial videos of running across the forest. The company is known for providing stable products through the optimum use of gyros and accelerometers.
Blade Helis
Blade Helis is the product of Horizon Hobby a company who exists to support people’s hobbies. The company is based in Champaign, Illinois and has centers across the world. The company at present employees 700 employees and aims to distribute good hobby products.
The Nano QX is one of the popular drones created by this company and promotes two flight modes: stability and agility. The agility mode allows you total control over the quadcopter to teach flying manually without a self-auto level. The stability mode enables automatic leveling on leaving the controls.
Traxxas
To learn to manually fly a quadcopter, the Traxxas is a great starter.
The full manual flight mode and high durability that its drones come with make it an excellent brand for learning without risking crashing too much. LaTrax Alias is a popular drone that has made headlines for the company.
Cheerson
Cheerson Hobby Technology was set up in 2011 and is located in Guangdong province, China.
They produce a wide range of quadcopter, but one of the most popular is the Gyro LED RC Quadcopter. This drone is equipped with a 6-axis design which keeps the gyroscope adjustable, facilitating flying stability.
Lily Robotics
Lily Robotics is an American robotics company, founded in 2013 with headquarter in San Francisco, California.
The company built the Lily Drone, a totally autonomous quadcopter that follows you while performing any activity. It’s superb for extreme sports, hikes or simply making still-frame portraits and panoramic videos.
Panoptes UAV
Panoptes Systems Corporation was established in 2014 as a business division of Aurora Flight Sciences which is a pioneer in the production and manufacturing of advanced unmanned systems and aerospace vehicles headquartered in Manassas, Virginia.
Panoptes built the eBumper, an add-on which locates obstacles near your drone and automatically bumps it away to prevent a collision. Afterward, control is restored to the pilot. Currently, the eBumper is present for four drones: the DJI Phantom 2, Phantom 2 Vision, Phantom 2 Vision+ and the 3DR Iris+.
SkyWorks Aerial Systems
Skyworks Aerial Systems is a Las Vegas company which builds drones for indoor applications such as moving packages around warehouses. SkyWorks Aerial Systems builds tools which ease drone application development for countless untapped developers and their customizable products seek to remove the barrier to robotic technologies for everyone.
For instance, Qua R K is a drone that utilizes Skyworks Aerial Systems’ rare POD (plug-n-operate) technology to offer different payload options for various commercial solutions.
Sky-Futures
Sky-Futures is one of the UAV companies that provide oil and gas surveys via drone both on onshore as well as offshore locations. They provide HD video, motionless and thermal graphics.
Established in 2009, it is the global provider of drone inspection facilities for the oil and gas segment. It carries out cost effective surveys of splash zones, flares stacks and decommissioning tasks. The firm has been expanding their global activities and has extended their drone survey facilities beyond their offices in Houston, London and Abu Dhabi as well as Kuala Lumpur.
Flyability
The Swiss company, Flyability, builds safe drones for hard-to-reach places. Its drones can be used securely within cities, buildings, and human contact which permit new interactions & services with UAVs mitigating collision and risk of injury.
They are also building Gimball, the world’s single collision-withstanding flying robot able to remain balanced after contact and safely able to fly near people. Their main purpose is to provide secure and convenient access to areas inaccessible to present drone systems. Flyability also bagged the 2015 UAE Drones for Good Award with $1 million prizes.
We reached our end of the list, but you should watch out for these creative, latest high-tech drone manufacturers who introduce new applications to make your drone flying experience enthralling. How many of these have you tried yet and what was your experience? We’re looking forward to your opinion in comments.
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