Yuneec Launches Industrial-Strength Typhoon H520 Drone

The bright orange hexacopter is larger and more powerful than the consumer-focused Typhoon H, and offers multiple camera options suitable for law-enforcement, search-and-rescue use, and the like.

LAS VEGAS—Yuneec is announcing a new drone here at CES, but it's not one that it intends recreational pilots to buy. The Typhoon H520 is a bright orange hexacopter that, aside from its color, looks a lot like the Typhoon H Pro. Upon close examination you'll find that its chassis is a little bit larger, which makes room for a larger battery—the company promises the drone will be capable of up to 31-minute flights.

CES 2017 BugIt also packs more powerful motors and propellers to deliver a higher top speed, and the option to use one of three camera modules. The CGO3+ is the basic option, and is the same camera bundled with the Typhoon H.

The CGO-ET is another option. It's a dual-lens model, with one lens capturing infrared and the other recoding residual light. You can set which temperature ranges it detects, making it an ideal choice for search-and-rescue, building inspection, firefighting, and law enforcement use.

Finally there's the CGO-CI, a traditional 4K video camera with a standard-angle 50mm field of view. It features an all-glass lens for improved video and image quality, and makes it possible for the drone to be further way from objects while still capturing them in exquisite detail. Cinematographers will appreciate the tighter field of view, as it produces a very different aerial shot than the ultra-wide cameras typically used with drones.

Other features are identical to the Typhoon H, including the same basic design, with folding arms and retractable landing gear, forward obstacle detection, dual operator support, and a the large ST16 remote with an integrated 7-inch tablet.

Pricing and availability are not set at this time.