Freefly's Flux series is a lineup of lightweight LiDAR payloads that integrate a laser scanner, 20 MP RGB camera, dual full-band GNSS receivers, and onboard storage into a single sub-720 g package. Each sensor mounts via Freefly's Smart Dovetail with no external cables or field calibration required.
The lineup includes three sensors targeting different priorities: survey-grade accuracy, ultra-dense point clouds with NDAA compliance, and long-range coverage at an accessible price point.
Sub-700 g LiDAR with PPK processing on an iPad. Freefly built the Flux series to make survey-grade aerial mapping radically simple.
Product line overview
| Model | Scanner | Primary use |
|---|---|---|
| Flux H1 | Hesai XT-32MX (32-beam) | High-accuracy professional surveying |
| Flux O1 | Ouster OS1 | Dense mapping for NDAA-regulated sites |
| Flux L1 | Livox Avia | Long-range mapping at entry-level pricing |
Sensor comparison
| Specification | Flux H1 | Flux O1 | Flux L1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | ±1 cm | ±3 cm | ±5 cm |
| Precision | ±0.5 cm | ±0.5 cm | 2 cm |
| Range | 300 m | 200 m | 450 m |
| Point rate | 1.92M pts/sec | 5.2M pts/sec | — |
| Field of view | 360° × 40.3° | 360° × 42° | 70° × 77° |
| Returns | Triple | Dual | Triple |
| Camera | 20 MP Ximea | 20 MP Ximea | 20 MP Ximea |
| Weight | 690 g | 663 g | 720 g |
| NDAA compliant | No | Yes | No |
| Price | $32,995 | $32,995 | $13,995 |
Sensor breakdown
Flux H1
The Flux H1 is the flagship sensor in the lineup, built around a Hesai 32-beam scanner that delivers survey-grade centimeter accuracy at ranges up to 300 meters. Its triple-return capability is particularly valuable in vegetation-heavy environments — the scanner distinguishes canopy from ground and resolves thin features like power lines, fences, and handrails that dual-return systems can miss.
- Hesai XT-32MX scanner with 360° × 40.3° field of view
- Triple returns for penetrating dense canopy and resolving fine structures
- 20 MP Ximea RGB camera for colorized point clouds
- Dual full-band GNSS receivers (L1/L2/L5/L6) with PPK correction
- 690 g total weight including camera, GNSS antennas, and storage
The H1 is the right choice for professional surveyors and mapping firms who need the highest possible accuracy from a drone-mounted system. Common applications include topographic surveys, construction site monitoring, corridor mapping, and volumetric analysis.
Flux O1
The Flux O1 swaps the Hesai scanner for an Ouster OS1, producing the densest point clouds in the Flux lineup at 5.2 million points per second. At 663 grams it is also the lightest sensor in the series. The tradeoff is range (200 m vs. the H1's 300 m) and absolute accuracy (±3 cm vs. ±1 cm), but for applications where point density and regulatory compliance matter more than raw precision, the O1 is purpose-built.
- Ouster OS1 scanner with 360° × 42° field of view
- 5.2 million points per second, the highest density in the Flux series
- Dual returns for capturing layered surfaces and structures
- NDAA-compliant and DIU Blue UAS listed
- 663 g total weight, the lightest sensor in the lineup
The O1 is built for operators working on government contracts, military installations, critical infrastructure, and any project where NDAA compliance is a requirement. Its ultra-dense point clouds also make it well-suited for complex structural inspections and urban modeling.
Flux L1
The Flux L1 uses a Livox Avia scanner with a non-repetitive scanning pattern that builds complete coverage over time rather than spinning a fixed beam array. It offers the longest range in the lineup at 450 meters, making it particularly effective for corridor mapping and large-area surveys where altitude flexibility matters. At $13,995, it costs roughly 58% less than the H1 or O1.
- Livox Avia scanner with 70° × 77° field of view
- 450 m range, the longest in the Flux series
- Non-repetitive scanning builds dense, complete coverage
- Triple returns for vegetation penetration
- 720 g total weight
The L1 is an accessible entry point for organizations adding LiDAR to their drone operations for the first time. Common applications include power line inspection, forestry inventories, and wide-area topographic surveys where sub-centimeter accuracy is not critical.
What all three sensors share
Regardless of which Flux model you choose, the core platform is the same. Every sensor includes:
- Smart Dovetail mount slides onto the Freefly Astro, Astro Max, or Alta X Gen 2 and connects power, Ethernet, serial, and MAVLink through a single interface. No external cables.
- Dual full-band GNSS with two ublox X20 receivers supporting L1/L2/L5/L6 bands for PPK post-processing.
- 256 GB USB-C storage on a removable flash drive that stores over an hour of continuous scan data. Pull it from the drone and plug it directly into your processing device.
- iPad-based post-processing through the Freefly PPK app, which runs on any iPad with an Apple M-series chip. An 8-minute flight processes in roughly 2 minutes. Add a RINEX file from your base station for centimeter-level geo-correction.
- No subscription fees. All software and firmware updates are included with no recurring license costs.
- LAS/LAZ export to standard formats compatible with Pix4D, DroneDeploy, ArcGIS, Propeller, Agisoft, and other major platforms.
Which Flux LiDAR should you choose?
I need the highest possible accuracy for professional surveys
The Flux H1 delivers ±1 cm accuracy and ±0.5 cm precision, the best in the series. Its triple-return Hesai scanner penetrates vegetation and resolves fine features, making it the go-to for topographic surveys, construction monitoring, and any project where survey-grade data is non-negotiable.
I need NDAA compliance for government or defense work
The Flux O1 is NDAA-compliant and DIU Blue UAS listed. It uses an Ouster OS1 scanner with no restricted components, making it the only option in the Flux lineup approved for government contracts and critical infrastructure projects.
I want the densest possible point clouds
The Flux O1 produces 5.2 million points per second, nearly three times the H1's output. If your work involves detailed structural inspections, urban modeling, or any application where point density matters more than maximum range, the O1 is the strongest choice.
I need long-range coverage for corridors or large areas
The Flux L1 reaches 450 meters, over twice the O1's range and 50% further than the H1. Its Livox scanner uses a non-repetitive pattern that builds complete coverage, making it well-suited for power line inspection, forestry, and wide-area topographic mapping.
I'm adding LiDAR to my drone operations for the first time
The Flux L1 at $13,995 is the most accessible entry point. It shares the same Smart Dovetail mount, GNSS system, and iPad processing workflow as the H1 and O1, so you get the full Freefly ecosystem at a lower cost — and can upgrade to a higher-tier sensor later without changing your workflow.
I need to map through dense vegetation or forest canopy
The Flux H1 is the strongest choice for vegetation penetration. Its triple-return Hesai scanner fires through canopy layers and distinguishes tree crowns from the ground surface beneath. The H1's ±1 cm accuracy also ensures the bare-earth model you extract is survey-grade.
Need help choosing the right Flux sensor for your project? Contact our team for a free consultation. We can walk through your use case, recommend the right configuration, and get you flying.
Browse the full Freefly Flux lineup: Flux H1 | Flux O1 | Flux L1
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