UAV and drone-based monitoring
UAV operations need two different things from this range: acoustic drone detection for airspace security, and altitude/weather sensing for safe flight operations. Different instruments serve each need.
Drone detection
The ZD-EAR acoustic drone detection sensor is a UAV direction finder using an acoustic microphone array (up to 208 channels) to detect drones by sound signature, with an integrated camera (13MP, 6x digital zoom) for visual confirmation once a drone is acoustically detected. Detection range covers 0.1-500m with a 0.1 second response time, used for airport no-fly zone enforcement, border defense and general no-fly zone monitoring.
Barometric altimetry for UAVs
The ZPA barometric altimeter provides precise altitude data for small flying machines and vehicle-mounted autonomous positioning systems. Two variants are available: the ZPA-1 (silicon piezoresistive, 25-1150 hPa range) for general use, and the ZPA-2 (vibrating cylinder type, 103-1450 hPa range, higher stability) for applications needing tighter altitude precision such as avionics experiments and geological exploration.
Weather data for UAV operations
Compact weather sensors from the ZWS series provide the wind, visibility and precipitation data UAV operators need before and during flight. Wind speed and gust data is particularly relevant given most commercial drones have wind speed operating limits, and the ZWS200 ultrasonic anemometer's sub-1-second response time captures gusts that slower mechanical anemometers can miss.
Airspace monitoring context
Acoustic drone detection is typically deployed alongside standard weather monitoring at sensitive sites (airports, borders, government facilities) where both airspace security and flight-safety weather data are needed from the same monitoring infrastructure.
Relevant products
Frequently asked questions
How does the acoustic drone detector tell drones apart from other noise?+
The ZD-EAR uses a microphone array of up to 208 channels to triangulate acoustic signatures characteristic of drone rotors, then confirms visually using its integrated camera once a candidate detection is made, reducing false positives from other ambient noise.
Which altimeter variant should I choose for a UAV project?+
The ZPA-1 suits general-purpose altitude sensing with a wider 25-1150 hPa range. The ZPA-2 offers higher stability and a narrower, more precise range (103-1450 hPa), better suited to applications needing tighter altitude accuracy such as avionics testing.
Why does wind sensor response time matter for UAV weather data?+
Gusts can exceed a drone's safe operating wind speed briefly even when average wind speed is acceptable. A sub-1-second response time, as on the ZWS200 ultrasonic anemometer, captures those gusts, where slower mechanical anemometers may smooth them out.