Skip to main content

Texo flying high in the UK with a Topcon Falcon 8+ UAV

Texo Drone Survey and Inspection says that it is the first company in the UK to fly the Falcon 8+ UAV system from Topcon. The multicamera payload Topcon Falcon 8+ is the third-generation edition of the Falcon Drone system that was introduced in 2009 for aerial imaging, monitoring and mapping. The Topcon Falcon 8+ needs minimal pilot corrections while its GCS includes built-in automated flight functions. There is also advanced flight planning thanks to the Intel Cockpit Controller.
July 3, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Texo Drone Survey and Inspection says that it is the first company in the UK to fly the Falcon 8+ UAV system from Topcon.


The multicamera payload 342 Topcon Falcon 8+ is the third-generation edition of the Falcon Drone system that was introduced in 2009 for aerial imaging, monitoring and mapping.  
The Topcon Falcon 8+ needs minimal pilot corrections while its GCS includes built-in automated flight functions. There is also advanced flight planning thanks to the Intel Cockpit Controller.  

The Intel Cockpit ground control is a water-resistant station built for operators to plan and execute highly complex missions with ease with the integration of the complete single hand flight control joystick. In addition, the Intel Cockpit ground control features an Intelbased tablet and also supports low-latency digital video links. This allows for up to 1080p resolution for the best possible live view.

Topcon Falcon 8+ is said to be resistant to magnetic interference and automatically compensates for wind gusts. There is also an active vibration damping system.  

Safety features include three autopilots, a redundant propulsion system as well as a redundant radio link. The Intel Falcon 8+ System is powered by a dual battery system comprised of Intel Powerpack smart batteries, bringing redundancy even to the power supply. The batteries feature automatic balancing, storage mode, charging and LEDs that display remaining battery life.  

Texo Drone’s key services range from visual inspection and thermographic survey through to detailed survey-grade LiDAR mapping and measurement, as well as multi-hyperspectral analysis. The company maintains a fleet of rotor and fixed wing UAV platforms for contracts nationally and overseas at short notice. ¬

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Efficient slipforming with Wirtgen
    May 15, 2019
    A Kentucky concrete slipforming contractor is benefiting from new technology in optimising kerb and gutter work. Fox Enterprises now constructs offset kerb, gutter and parking lot island placements using an on-site guidance system. The system permits automated placement of those items, including tight radii. Its fleet recently expanded to include a larger slipform paver that can handle offset curb-and-gutter paving, but also inset pavement slab paving.
  • Brisbane’s Airport: Innovative Management of One of the World’s Busiest Runways
    June 26, 2014
    When it comes to runways, there are few busier then Brisbane’s main runway. Servicing both domestic and international travel, with over 200,000 movements per year, operating without a curfew Brisbane’s main runway is the busiest in Australia. For maintenance, crews only have a limited period of time to determine the pavement condition, normally during the night, making the detection of pavement faults difficult. To resolve this issue, a new high speed pavement scanner was used to rapidly survey the pavem
  • Workzones benefit from new mobile speed enforcement technology
    April 11, 2012
    A variety of new technology for temporary speed zones during major highway projects across the globe is about to hit the market, while other proven systems remain in demand. Guy Woodford reports The D-Cam P is one of four new mobile speed reading products for temporary speed zones being launched this month by Truvelo. Deployable solely as a speed camera or at a red light intersection to monitor red light offences, the D-Cam P can also act as a speed camera on the green and amber light phases. The machin
  • AFRY Helps Scania Drive Toward Sustainable Transport with New Autonomous Vehicle Test Track
    March 10, 2023
    With the rapid development of autonomous and electrified vehicles, Swedish heavy truck and bus manufacturer Scania is developing a new test track in Södertälje, 40 kilometers southwest of Stockholm. To design the track to simulate multiple scenarios, Scania hired AFRY for their design and engineering expertise. The test track includes 19 kilometers of roads with more than 60 intersections and junctions, though complex, hilly ground conditions that will make layout difficult. Since changing any single element would impact numerous others, AFRY needed a flexible, accessible design environment.