Fixed-wing drones, often distinguished by their airplane-like design, are built for efficiency, endurance and large-scale operations. Unlike multi-rotor drones that rely on propellers for lift, fixed-wing drones generate lift through the movement of air over their wings — the same principle used by traditional aircraft. This aerodynamic design gives them a clear advantage when covering vast distances, making them indispensable in industries that demand wide-area mapping, surveying, and data collection.
1. Accessibility through VTOL technology
Modern fixed-wing drones equipped with Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capability can operate in areas once considered unsuitable for traditional fixed-wing designs. VTOL allows them to take off and land in confined or uneven spaces without the need for a runway — expanding their usability across varied environments.
2. Exceptional Efficiency
By combining the quick deployment and precise landing capabilities of multi-rotors with the long-range and high-speed flight of fixed wings, VTOL fixed-wing drones represent the best of both worlds. This efficiency makes them ideal for projects that require both agility and scale.
3. Versatility for Complex Missions
From geographic mapping of rugged terrains to agricultural monitoring across thousands of hectares, fixed-wing drones can handle demanding missions where endurance, coverage, and accuracy are critical.
4. Longer Flight Times, Larger Coverage
Fixed-wing drones can stay airborne for extended periods, covering vast distances in a single flight. This means fewer missions, reduced manpower, and lower operational costs — an essential advantage for large-scale mapping, inspection, and environmental monitoring.
At the forefront of fixed-wing drone innovation is the Sentera PHX Fixed Wings Drone, a platform engineered for precision, reliability, and data accuracy. Built to empower a new generation of drone pilots and enterprises, this drone demonstrates how advanced design and sensor integration can transform aerial intelligence across multiple sectors.
Sentera PHX Fixed Wings Drone is a lightweight (4.5 lbs), long-endurance fixed-wing system capable of flying for up to 59 minutes and covering 640 acres per hour. Its RTK compatibility ensures centimeter-level positioning accuracy, making it an invaluable asset for industries that demand high-quality geospatial data.
The system’s hot-swappable payload design allows operators to easily integrate a variety of sensors, including Sentera Double 4K and Sentera 65R Sensor, for generating high-resolution imagery and digital surface models (DSMs). Whether it’s for agriculture, construction, infrastructure, or environmental monitoring, the PHX adapts to a wide range of mission requirements.
Beyond flight performance, the Sentera PHX excels in transforming captured imagery into actionable intelligence. Its analytics suite converts high-resolution data into precise insights for smarter, faster decision-making.
Key agronomic analytics include:
Canopy Cover: Quantify the fraction and uniformity of green vegetation across fields.
Crop Area: Measure and delineate exact crop boundaries for accurate area assessments.
Crop Health: Evaluate the impact of treatments and products throughout the growing season.
Flowering: Track flower development and coverage for key crops like cotton and canola.
Residue Cover: Assess soil coverage and residue levels before or after planting.
Stand Count: Analyze crop emergence and uniformity to optimize field performance.
Tassel Count: Monitor corn tassel emergence to maintain seed production standards.
These insights help growers, agronomists, and researchers make informed in-season decisions about inputs, yields, and field management — maximizing both productivity and sustainability.
The Sentera PHX stands out as a versatile fixed-wing solution that bridges multiple industries through a single, adaptable platform:
With the Sentera PHX fixed-wing drone, businesses gain more than just a powerful aerial platform — they gain a complete data ecosystem. From rapid field coverage to deep analytics, the PHX enables organizations to capture, process, and act on data faster than ever before.
Cover more acres with fewer resources, streamline data workflows, and make precision-driven decisions — all with the reliability of the Sentera PHX fixed-wing drone. Contact GNSS.AE team for more details.
