Panthair 3D Camera Versus Existing High-End 3D Camera Systems: Let's first address a misconception that has been associated with the introduction of the PanthAIR 3D camera system by Lead'AIR in 2023: Although the PanthAIR has successfully demonstrated its ability to collect 3D aerial imagery adapted for the generation of high quality and high accuracy professional 3D models, the PanthAIR has mainly been developed by Lead’AIR to complement existing aerial 3D camera systems, rather than to serve as their competitor or replacement.

The primary objective of the PanthAIR system is to allow operators who operate with high-end three-dimensional cameras such as the Vexcel Osprey or the Leica City Mapper to focus these cameras on high value, high resolution targets such as large metropolis centers, while using PanthAIR systems as an entry-level camera to capture medium or even low-resolution 3D images of the city perimeters. This strategic division of work between high-end cameras and PanthAIR cameras will help optimize resources.

Attempting to cover an entire country at 2 to 3cm (1 - 1.5-inch) resolution would necessitate to mobilize an impractical number of high-priced cameras and larger airplanes, making it commercially unfeasible. Therefore, by operating the PanthAIR alongside existing camera systems, one can economically extend the 3D coverage to outer city area and rural area that do not require high-resolution imaging but can be adequately captured with a larger Ground Sample Distance (GSD).

As an example, in Lead’AIR home city of Orlando (Florida, USA), more than 80% of the 115 neighborhoods and smaller communities within the city limits can be efficiently and economically mapped in 3D using the PanthAIR system instead of a top-level camera. Meanwhile, once the downtown city center (red circle) has been captured at high resolution, the Operator can send their higher cost camera systems to other important cities to start new lucrative projects.

Lead’AIR considers that GSD 2 inch (5cm) or above can be considered medium/low resolution which is perfectly suited for the PanthAIR at any altitude and ground speeds. In some cases, PanthAIR can of course be used to fly small projects with higher resolution (down to 3cm, 1.2”) but this is not its primary purpose.

To sum up; in our view, the 3D business is slowed down due to the high cost of 3D aerial capture. The twin city model has a lot to offer, but thousands of cities have never been flown in 3D, and it will take years for them to be. We think that PanthAIR is the missing link that could enable the 3D market to take off, to develop and to thrive by complementing more expensive and more sophisticated camera systems (i.e. with FMC, LiDAR, Near Infrared, etc), and contributing high-quality medium/low-resolution 3D data where costly high-resolution coverage is not essential. PanthAIR is an innovative non-disruptive technology that can help traditional camera manufacturers and operators of these cameras gain more business by opening up the 3D market.

3D Post-Processing And 3D Models: Superior 3D software such as Skyline Photomesh or ESRI ArcGIS Reality which are able to combine 3D aerial photos in a wide range of formats can be used to create seamless 3D models fusing high resolution data generated by traditional camera, i.e. Vexcel, Leica, etc, and PanthAIR data.

PanthAIR data, although quite different from the output of traditional cardinal cameras (image up), has been confirmed by the authors of the above software to behave as standard photogrammetric material which does not require a special processing method. Both ESRI and Skyline have concluded that PanthAIR data can be processed “out the box” by their users, using default settings.

PANTHAIR IS NOW 100% COMPATIBLE WITH ESRI ARCGIS REALITY FOR ARCGIS PRO.

Statement from E.S.R.I.

“Esri’s ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro fully supports imagery collected with the PanthAIR 3D camera system. Lead’AIR has demonstrated that outstanding results can be achieved using ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro and have verified that with the PanthAIR 3D camera system, 3D and 2D content can be produced out of the box at scale with True Orthos, Digital Surface Models, Point Clouds and 3D Meshes. Customers already familiar with ArcGIS Pro are ready to go with any dataset captured with the PanthAIR 3D.

Please visit the ArcGIS Reality page for more information https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-reality/products/arcgis-reality-for-arcgis-pro and to find out how to get your hands on ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro.”

And here is a quote from Mr. Eatay Ben Shechter, Vice President Imaging Solutions and Services Skyline Software Systems, Inc.

 “The new PanthAIR design is an all-inclusive data collection method optimized for achieving a complete 3D perspective, as opposed to the common systems designed for collecting one nadir and four individual oblique perspectives. This enables the capture of all possible perspectives from nadir to +50 degrees in all directions (a complete 3D cone), instead of only 5 different views in nadir and 4 cardinal directions. The Lead’AIR PanthAIR system is the next logical step in the evolution of 3D mapping cameras, and differentiates between standard oblique image capture, and a true 3D data collection.”

Panthair Specifications: With a completely original design, the PanthAIR 3D camera's specifications were thoroughly defined and strictly followed during its entire development. A major guiding criterion for the development of this system was to keep the selling price of the basic PanthAIR system at or under $200,000. A compact size and lightweight design, easy maintenance, cross-platform operation, unmanned operation, were also considered as well as the ability to operate from an unmodified airplane for low operational costs. Most of Lead’AIR goals were met, and the final product is exactly what we hoped for and planned to launch for 2024.

Price: The Price of less than $200,000 is met. The basic PanthAIR system in standard airplane 19-inch camera hole configuration with full stabilization mount is introduced at a price of $195,000 with a delivery time of approximately two months.  

Lightweight: The entire system weighs including mount is less than 15kg (30 lbs.)

Compact size: The system is the size of a tabletop office printer.

Easy maintenance: Every part can be repaired or exchanged in the field by the user. Regardless of the issue, we guarantee a turnaround of less than 24 hours before the camera is back in the air. In any case, as the number of in-flight failures is proportionate to the number of cameras used, a single camera system is a lot less likely to cause problems.

Cross platforms: The PanthAIR was designed to fit any existing survey platform: The same camera system can be installed inside an airplane above a camera hole, outside an airplane attached to the wing strut, on a helicopter nose mount, in a UAV, and even on a terrestrial vehicle. 

The advantage is that the same components are used for all configurations. All the software, electronic, computerized control systems, cameras, etc, are the same. This means that support and maintenance is reduced to one set of components, whether the equipment is used on airplanes, helicopters, drones, etc. Also, the users only have to learn to work on one system and to learn one software.

Unmanned Operation (Single Pilot): The need to bring along a camera operator contributes significantly to the high operational costs of aerial survey. In the case of extensive long-term missions away from the base, an assistant can be useful to assist the Pilot, but for shorter missions, the Pilot should be able to fly alone provided the camera system is capable of operating independently. PanthAIR is designed to be a cross-platform system that includes a version for unmanned aerial vehicles (image below).

This has been accomplished by upgrading the Lead’AIR TrackAIR FMS Flight Management System with an Unmanned Camera Operating System (UCOS) that does not require any operator supervision. When operating manned aircraft, the same software option can be selected so that the camera system does not need to interact with the crew during operations. The FMS software will provide the Pilot with information to guide him to the area and will automatically operate the camera while helping him fly the mission as long as a project has been selected prior to the aircraft's departure.

Unmodified Airplane For Low Operational Costs: Customarily, aerial cameras are big and heavy, 200 lbs. and more (100kg +) and are mounted inside the airplane above a large camera hole, at least 19 inch in diameter (50 cm +) which is cut through the floor of the airplane by an aircraft repair shop. Making a camera hole is a major aircraft modification which requires an FAA STC (Single Type Certificate) and costs tens of thousands of dollars.

Being able to use normal non-modified airplanes contributes to the main goal driving the PanthAIR, which is to keep the operational costs as low as possible. Thanks to its very compact and lightweight form-factor, the PanthAIR fits in a small pod which can be conveniently hung under the struts of high wings airplanes such as the popular Cessna single engine airplanes. The PanthAIR can be delivered with FAA certified clamps which allows it to be installed under the wings of the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, the Cessna 182 Skylane, and the Cessna 206 Stationair. In less than two hours the camera system is ready to fly a mission and to start earning its money. 

To sum up: Wing mounting allows the user to transform a regular airplane into an efficient inexpensive aerial survey airplane. The installation can be done in a couple hours by a regular A&P mechanic without making any permanent modifications to the airplane. The installation is logged and signed in the airplane logbook by the mechanic who carried out the work. The wing strut pod corrects for drift and yaw and delivers imagery aligned with the airplane ground track without any crab.

PanthAIR 3D Aerial Camera System technology: Introduced a couple months ago with a price of less than $200,000, the PanthAIR single camera 3D aerial system stands as the pinnacle of our development efforts. leveraging a single camera, PanthAIR data produces highly detailed and accurate 3D city models, on a par with those produced by other 3D aerial cameras.

Unlike most other aerial camera systems, PanthAIR employs a mechanically set-in-motion camera that sequentially points at designated ground locations. Rather than employing a rig of multiple cameras always looking at the ground at fixed angles and perspectives, PanthAIR uses a single camera which is aimed successively at multiple locations on the ground with constantly varying perspectives. From the point of view of 3D reconstruction software, processing multiple fixed angled images captured by several cameras or processing multiple images at multiple angles captured by one camera is the same task.

This innovative approach harnesses the rapid triggering speed of modern digital cameras, such as the Illunis EMC-103, firing up to 5 images per second. A complete 360 degrees array of images is captured almost at the same instant, in less than 2.5 seconds, under exactly the same lighting conditions.

The trajectory of the PanthAIR camera is meticulously designed to collect images with optimal angles and perspectives, ensuring precise 3D twin city models. The spectacular twin models which have been generated with PanthAIR imagery by Skyline and ESRI software have proven that this method is working and that the results are consistent with what is required for extensive cost-effective city mapping.

Should you have any inquiries or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. Also, if you are interested to know more about the PanthAIR technical side, please ask for our PanthAIR technical presentation from JP Email Contact

About Lead’AIR Inc: The Florida-based Lead’AIR Inc. is a small Engineering company that employs 35 people concentrating on software, mechanical and electronic engineering. Opened in 1995 originally under the name Track’Air, Lead’AIR has always been at the forefront of aerial survey technology, FMS (flight management systems), vertical medium format mapping cameras, 3D oblique camera systems (MIDAS), emergency response camera systems (NOAA), etc. https://trackair.us

Lead’AIR Is Looking For Partners And Investors. The development and marketing of the new single camera 3D aerial photography line of products is a considerable effort which absorbs significant resources. Hence Lead’AIR is actively looking for business partners and investors interested in joining forces with our company to help develop, support, and promote our worldwide initiatives and products. Please contact JP Barriere      Email Contact