Yamaha Motor to Release Industrial Multi-rotor YMR-II in spring 2023 - Safe and secure domestic drone with automatic flight function as standard -
October 6, 2022
IWATA, October 6, 2022 - Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (Tokyo:7272) is pleased to announce today that the company will release the YMR-II equipped with an automatic flight function as standard in the spring of 2023 as a new model of the industrial multi-rotor YMR series.
The YMR-II developed with the aim of being a "safe and secure domestic agricultural drone" has some key features including 1) advanced information security functions that help to protect producer from leakage of know-how obtained in agricultural productions, and hijacking of aircraft, etc., 2) excellent automatic navigation, automatic takeoff and landing functions with the new automatic flight application agFMS-IIm that is easy to operate even for beginners, and 3) greater flight stability through the adoption of a 6-rotor (rotary wing) layout and a box frame structure.
In addition, the new unit supports greater work efficiency with a new mechanism that allows one-touch arm opening and closing, a cassette-type spray tank, and fully washable waterproofing (waterproof rating: IP55). In the future, the model is to reflect ever diversifying needs with options such as granule spreading equipment, 4K cameras, obstacle sensors, and additional spraying pumps.
The development of this product was carried out as a project of the High-Spec Drone Development Consortium*, commissioned in June 2021, as part of the "Development of High-Spec Drones for Safe and Secure Agriculture and Utilization Technology" project of the Technology Development Project for Enhancing International Competitiveness, of which the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) is the implementing agency. The basic elements of the aircraft will be developed as core technologies that can be used by other companies, and these technologies will help contribute to improving the international competitiveness of the domestic drone industry.
The YMR-II will be exhibited as a concept model at the Yamaha Motor booth at the 12th Agricultural Week held at Makuhari Messe (Chiba Prefecture) from October 12th to 14th.
* Representative institutions of the High-Spec Drone Development Consortium: Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Joint research institutions: <Companies> Xacti Corporation, Xacti Engineering Service Corporation, Nileworks Inc., Yanmar Agribusiness.Co.LTD., <Research Institutes> NARO, Oita Prefectural Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Center, Kagoshima Prefectural Institute for Agricultural Development, Saga Prefectural Agricultural Research Center, Nagasaki Agricultural and Forestry Technical Development Center
■ Advanced information security functions that help to protect producers from know-how leakage
The unit is equipped with an advanced information security function that further helps to protect the producer's resources from leakage of acquired data due to hacking, etc., and aircraft-hijacking by external operations. An encrypted communication system by AES256 has been adopted for communication with the aircraft. In addition to implementing a security diagnosis of the transmitter application by a third party, various security measures have been placed, such as specifications that prevent flight logs from being uploaded against the user's intention.
■ Improved convenient automatic flight function from the adoption of the new automatic flight application - agFMS-IIm
The unit is equipped with a Professional Mode for experienced operators where more advanced flight settings are available, and a Simple Mode for beginners in order for them to configure various flight settings more easily. In Simple Mode, operators can easily complete the settings by following the instructions on the screen. In addition, for the RTK method* that achieves higher-precision positioning, operators can choose between the RTK-GNSS method that uses the conventional reference station module, and the network-type RTK-GNSS method that does not require a reference station module at all.
*RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) method: A real-time survey method that combines satellite data obtained on-site with correction information created from observation data from nearby electronic reference points.
■ Higher stability from the adoption of 6-rotor blades and a box frame structure
YMR-II is a hexacopter with six rotors. The rotor layout contributes to a more stable flight and weight reduction of the airframe. In addition, higher flight stability has been achieved by adopting a box frame structure made of aluminum and carbon fiber reinforced resin.
■ Compact design about half the size of conventional models when stored
The size when stored with the rotors folded is compact at 733×626×786 mm. A reduction in volume of about 1/2 has been achieved compared to the company's conventional model.
* Specification is subject to change without notice.
■Contact us from the Press
Corporate Communication Division, PR group: +81-3-5220-7211
■News Center: https://global.yamaha-motor.com/news/
The YMR-II developed with the aim of being a "safe and secure domestic agricultural drone" has some key features including 1) advanced information security functions that help to protect producer from leakage of know-how obtained in agricultural productions, and hijacking of aircraft, etc., 2) excellent automatic navigation, automatic takeoff and landing functions with the new automatic flight application agFMS-IIm that is easy to operate even for beginners, and 3) greater flight stability through the adoption of a 6-rotor (rotary wing) layout and a box frame structure.
In addition, the new unit supports greater work efficiency with a new mechanism that allows one-touch arm opening and closing, a cassette-type spray tank, and fully washable waterproofing (waterproof rating: IP55). In the future, the model is to reflect ever diversifying needs with options such as granule spreading equipment, 4K cameras, obstacle sensors, and additional spraying pumps.
The development of this product was carried out as a project of the High-Spec Drone Development Consortium*, commissioned in June 2021, as part of the "Development of High-Spec Drones for Safe and Secure Agriculture and Utilization Technology" project of the Technology Development Project for Enhancing International Competitiveness, of which the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) is the implementing agency. The basic elements of the aircraft will be developed as core technologies that can be used by other companies, and these technologies will help contribute to improving the international competitiveness of the domestic drone industry.
The YMR-II will be exhibited as a concept model at the Yamaha Motor booth at the 12th Agricultural Week held at Makuhari Messe (Chiba Prefecture) from October 12th to 14th.
* Representative institutions of the High-Spec Drone Development Consortium: Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Joint research institutions: <Companies> Xacti Corporation, Xacti Engineering Service Corporation, Nileworks Inc., Yanmar Agribusiness.Co.LTD., <Research Institutes> NARO, Oita Prefectural Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Center, Kagoshima Prefectural Institute for Agricultural Development, Saga Prefectural Agricultural Research Center, Nagasaki Agricultural and Forestry Technical Development Center
Industrial multi-rotor (drone) YMR-II
YMR- II Main Features
■ Advanced information security functions that help to protect producers from know-how leakage
The unit is equipped with an advanced information security function that further helps to protect the producer's resources from leakage of acquired data due to hacking, etc., and aircraft-hijacking by external operations. An encrypted communication system by AES256 has been adopted for communication with the aircraft. In addition to implementing a security diagnosis of the transmitter application by a third party, various security measures have been placed, such as specifications that prevent flight logs from being uploaded against the user's intention.
■ Improved convenient automatic flight function from the adoption of the new automatic flight application - agFMS-IIm
The unit is equipped with a Professional Mode for experienced operators where more advanced flight settings are available, and a Simple Mode for beginners in order for them to configure various flight settings more easily. In Simple Mode, operators can easily complete the settings by following the instructions on the screen. In addition, for the RTK method* that achieves higher-precision positioning, operators can choose between the RTK-GNSS method that uses the conventional reference station module, and the network-type RTK-GNSS method that does not require a reference station module at all.
*RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) method: A real-time survey method that combines satellite data obtained on-site with correction information created from observation data from nearby electronic reference points.
■ Higher stability from the adoption of 6-rotor blades and a box frame structure
YMR-II is a hexacopter with six rotors. The rotor layout contributes to a more stable flight and weight reduction of the airframe. In addition, higher flight stability has been achieved by adopting a box frame structure made of aluminum and carbon fiber reinforced resin.
■ Compact design about half the size of conventional models when stored
The size when stored with the rotors folded is compact at 733×626×786 mm. A reduction in volume of about 1/2 has been achieved compared to the company's conventional model.
■Contact us from the Press
Corporate Communication Division, PR group: +81-3-5220-7211
■News Center: https://global.yamaha-motor.com/news/
