Freefly Systems
FreeFly Astro
ROBOSCORE™ METHODOLOGY — 9 DIMENSIONS
Independently verified.
Not manufacturer-provided.
$14,000
1.6kg payload
What problem does this solve?
Aerial inspection and surveying.
Who is this for?
Small-to-mid operations evaluating automation for the first time. Low barrier to entry, fast deployment.
BEST FOR
Aerial inspection and surveying
AVOID IF
Budget is primary constraint and manual alternatives exist
PAYBACK
TBD
COMPLEXITY
TBD
US-made mapping and inspection drone. 47-minute flight time. Designed for LiDAR and photogrammetry missions. IP44 weather rating. Open ecosystem supports third-party payloads. Popular with survey professionals.
The FreeFly Astro earns a RoboScore of 79.2/100, placing it in the solid tier for aerial inspection and surveying robots. At $14,000 it sits in the mid-range segment, making it a reasonable choice for teams where flight time and sensor resolution is the priority. Key specs include a 1.6kg payload capacity, and an IPIP44 protection rating. Freefly Systems delivers a competent platform at this price point. FAA Part 107 certification (or equivalent) is required for commercial operations.
Growing operations that have validated their automation use case and need reliable throughput. If flight time and sensor resolution is your primary decision criterion, the FreeFly Astro deserves a place on your shortlist.
Budget-constrained teams where manual processes remain viable, or enterprises needing fleet-scale deployment. If your requirements center on a different set of capabilities, compare alternatives in the drone category before committing.
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ROBOSCORE™ METHODOLOGY — 9 DIMENSIONS
Independently verified.
Not manufacturer-provided.
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DJI Matrice 350 RTK
ROBOSCORE™ METHODOLOGY — 9 DIMENSIONS
Independently verified.
Not manufacturer-provided.
DJI flagship enterprise drone platform. Interchangeable payloads including H20T thermal, L2 LiDAR, and P1 photogrammetry. 55-min flight time. RTK centimeter positioning.
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DJI Dock 2 + Matrice 3D
ROBOSCORE™ METHODOLOGY — 9 DIMENSIONS
Independently verified.
Not manufacturer-provided.
Autonomous drone-in-a-box system. DJI Dock 2 houses Matrice 3D/3TD. Fully autonomous takeoff, mission, landing, charging. Remote monitoring.
Physical
| Ip Rating | IP44 |
Performance
| Payload Kg | 1.6 — Handles light assembly and pick-and-placehandles most pick-and-place and assembly tasks |
Other
| Origin | US-made |
| Applications | LiDAR, photogrammetry |
| Open Ecosystem | Yes |
| Flight Time Min | 47 |
The Real Cost of Ownership
Purchase price is only 40-60% of the true cost. Here's the full picture.
Purchase Costs
MSRP
$14,000
CURRENT
$14,000
Operating Costs (Annual)
MAINTENANCE LOW
—
MAINTENANCE HIGH
—
5-Year Summary
$14,000
Purchase price + estimated 5 years maintenance
Monthly savings
$8,333
Payback period
2mo
3-year net ROI
2043%
5-year savings
$486,000
| Interval | Task | Est. Time | Est. Cost | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | Visual inspection & debris removal | 5–10 min | — | Operator |
| Weekly | Sensor calibration check & log review | 15–30 min | — | Operator |
| Monthly | Lubrication, belt/chain tension check | 1–2 hrs | $50–150 | Technician |
| 6-Month | Full mechanical inspection & software update | 4–8 hrs | $500–2,000 | Certified Tech |
| Annual | Comprehensive overhaul & recalibration | 1–2 days | $2,000–10,000 | OEM / Partner |
Service Details
Operator Training
Contact Vendor
Typical Training Plan
SAFETY & BASICS
2–4 hours
OPERATIONS
4–16 hours
TROUBLESHOOTING
2–8 hours
MAINTENANCE
4–16 hours
Before purchasing the FreeFly Astro, ask the vendor these critical questions:
- 01What is the total cost of ownership over 5 years?
- 02What does the warranty cover, and what's excluded?
- 03What is your average response time for critical issues?
- 04Can you provide references from similar deployments?
- 05Is a pilot program available before full commitment?
... and 15 more critical questions
Purchase Price
$14,000
Est. Annual Maintenance
Est. $1,120–$1,680/year (8–12%)
5-Year Total
Requires pricing data
Cost per Shift
—
Cost per Hour
—
Based on industry averages. Actual costs vary.
Freefly Systems
Founded
EST. 2011(15 years)
Funding
Undisclosed
Employees
Undisclosed
HQ
US
Vendor Health Score
Health score pending verification
Certifications data being verified. Contact manufacturer for compliance documentation.
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