Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on autonomy, battery life, scanning speed, location accuracy and cost.
Not yet for the drone systems. The current drone system requires an operator to guide it down the aisle — easier than it sounds, since the drone is inherently stable and will not crash into obstacles in front, behind or to the sides of it. We are working on a system that scans on its own but still needs an observer to change the battery. As drone and battery technology improves, we will adapt the product to automated platforms as they become commercially available. Note that our Barcode Bully ground robot is fully autonomous today.
A drone battery lasts around 10 minutes. To scan continuously all day you would typically buy 12 batteries, keep 6 on charge and 6 in the aisle, fly for 60 minutes using the first set, then swap them onto the charger and collect a fresh set.
The fastest we have scanned is one pallet every 2 seconds. That is possible when barcodes are large and aligned at the same height — a scenario that rarely exists in a real warehouse. In most real-world warehouses an operator scans between 6 and 11 pallets per minute.
Location matters to us: pallet and position are critical for any WMS. We use several methods of determining the location of a scanned item, depending on how your warehouse is set up and what information is available. If a pallet is scanned in the wrong location, the operator is immediately informed audibly on the drone and in the interface, and can correct it if it is a genuine mistake.
If you elect to attach a camera, photos of everything scanned are recorded automatically, and a second camera can be added onboard. Cameras are optional if you only want to scan barcodes.
There is an initial project cost covering pre-project work, integration, training and the equipment itself. We know you need to see a return on investment soon after purchase, so there are no hidden costs — contact us for current pricing.
No. We use a stock standard DJI airframe, which you can buy directly from DJI if you prefer and attach our equipment to. Spares are readily available.
Yes — it is designed to travel in normal checked airline luggage within weight limits. We have our own drone case that fits our equipment, or you can buy a standard drone case and modify it to take the scanning assembly.
Yes. It is designed for industrial use and takes knocks, scrapes and heavy landings (not crashes) without going out of alignment or focus with repeated use. Our embedded processor means almost instant startup and repeatable, reliable behaviour. The system is simple and self contained, and fits to a drone in 15 minutes with simple tools and 8 bolts.
Yes. You can remove our payload and use the drone for other purposes, then refit the payload when you want to scan again.
We would rather answer it than have you guess.