The ACSL SOTEN is a compact, NDAA-compliant enterprise drone made in Japan, built for missions where the security of your imagery, flight data, and communications has to be assured. A one-touch swappable camera system lets a single airframe carry a standard 1-inch camera, an optical-zoom camera, a multispectral camera, or a thermal-plus-visible payload. AES-256 encryption, secure supply-chain provenance, an IP43 weather-resistant airframe, and multi-pilot handoff make it a strong fit for public safety, inspection, disaster response, and survey work. This listing covers the SOTEN across its available configurations, so you can choose the camera and package that matches your mission.
NDAA-compliant, made-in-Japan enterprise drone with one-touch swappable cameras, AES-256 encryption, and an IP43 airframe. One platform, multiple mission configurations.
Configuration options
Select the SOTEN configuration that fits your work. All share the same secure, NDAA-compliant airframe.
- Standard. SOTEN with the standard 1-inch, 20 MP camera for mapping, documentation, and general imaging.
- Optical Zoom. Adds the optical-zoom camera for standoff detail, inspection, and situational awareness.
- Multispectral (Agriculture). Adds the multispectral camera capturing key crop bands (550 nm, 680 nm, 850 nm) for NDVI and crop-health analysis.
- Thermal (Public Safety). Adds a thermal-plus-visible payload for search and rescue, firefighting, and night operations.
Bundles differ by the included camera and accessories. If you need a specific mix of payloads, controllers, batteries, or cases, contact us and we will configure the right package.
Features
- NDAA-compliant and made in Japan by ACSL, with a secure supply chain suited to government, public-safety, and critical-infrastructure use
- One-touch swappable camera system, so one airframe covers standard, zoom, multispectral, and thermal missions
- AES-256 encryption of wireless transmissions and flight logs, with optional encryption of photo and video data as it is recorded to the SD card
- Multi-pilot operations: control can be handed off in flight between up to three controllers, all of which continuously receive video and telemetry
- IP43-rated airframe (with camera, gimbal, and battery) for dust and rain resistance, with good wind resistance for demanding field conditions
- Obstacle avoidance with a vision system (front, top, bottom) and infrared (top, bottom), plus collision avoidance in three directions
- Autonomous flight and image-based tracking, controlled over the MAVLink protocol
- Compact and foldable for portability, with up to 25 minutes of flight time on the standard camera
Swappable cameras
| Camera | Highlights | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1-inch, 20 MP sensor with mechanical shutter; 4K/30 video; 20 MP photo (JPEG/RAW) | Mapping, documentation, general imaging |
| Optical Zoom | Optical-zoom camera for detail at standoff distance | Inspection, situational awareness |
| Multispectral | 20 MP multispectral with key crop bands (550 / 680 / 850 nm) and solar sensor | Agriculture, NDVI, crop health |
| Thermal + visible | Combined thermal and visible imaging payload | Public safety, SAR, firefighting, night ops |
Specifications
| Compliance | NDAA-compliant; American Security Drone Act of 2023; made in Japan |
| Dimensions (unfolded) | 25.1 × 22.1 in (including propellers) |
| Dimensions (folded) | 14.3 × 6.4 in (propellers removed) |
| Weight | 3.8 lb (with standard camera and battery) |
| Max takeoff weight | 4.4 lb |
| Max flight time | 25 min (standard camera, 18 mph airspeed) |
| Multi-pilot operation | In-flight control transfer between up to 3 controllers (all receive video and telemetry) |
| Obstacle avoidance | Vision (front, top, bottom) and infrared (top, bottom); 3-direction collision avoidance |
| Command & control radio | ACSL proprietary radio, 2.412-2.477 GHz |
| Ingress protection | IP43 (with camera, gimbal, and battery) |
| Standard camera | 1-inch, 20 MP, mechanical shutter; 4K/30 video; 20 MP photo (JPEG/RAW/both) |
| Remote ID | Bluetooth |
| GNSS | GPS + QZSS (MICHIBIKI) + SLAS/SBAS |
| Security | AES-256 encryption of wireless transmissions and flight logs; optional SD-card data encryption |
| Functions | Autonomous flight, image-based tracking, 3-direction collision avoidance |
| Control protocol | MAVLink |
| Battery | 94 Wh |
| Included accessories (base) | Standard controller, battery (94 Wh), standard charger |
Who this is for
- Public-safety agencies needing an NDAA-compliant platform for search and rescue, firefighting, and scene documentation, with thermal available
- Government and critical-infrastructure operators that require secure, encrypted data and a trusted supply chain
- Inspection teams working on structures, utilities, and facilities where a zoom camera and weather resistance matter
- Agriculture operators using multispectral imaging for crop health and NDVI analysis
- Disaster-response and survey crews that value compact portability and multi-pilot handoff
Please note: NDAA compliance refers to the airframe and manufacturer's supply chain. Configurations, included cameras, and accessories vary by the option selected. If you have specific procurement requirements (for example, a Blue UAS or agency-specific approval), confirm current status for your intended configuration before ordering.
FAQ
Is the SOTEN NDAA-compliant?
Yes. The SOTEN is made in Japan by ACSL and is NDAA-compliant, aligned with the American Security Drone Act of 2023, with a secure supply chain intended for government, public-safety, and critical-infrastructure use.
Can I change cameras on one airframe?
Yes. The SOTEN uses a one-touch swappable camera system. A single airframe can run the standard 1-inch camera, an optical-zoom camera, a multispectral camera, or a thermal-plus-visible payload, so you can re-task the same drone for different missions.
What are the differences between the bundles?
The bundles share the same NDAA-compliant airframe and differ by the camera payload and included accessories: Standard, Optical Zoom, Multispectral (agriculture), and Thermal (public safety). Choose the configuration that matches your mission, or contact us for a custom mix of payloads, controllers, batteries, and cases.
How secure is the data?
Wireless transmissions and flight logs are protected with AES-256 encryption, and photo/video data can optionally be encrypted as it is written to the SD card. Combined with the made-in-Japan supply chain, this targets operations where data security is a requirement.
Can more than one person fly it?
Yes. Control can be transferred in flight between up to three controllers, and all of them continuously receive video and telemetry. This supports multi-operator missions and handoffs between teams.
How long does it fly, and is it weather resistant?
Up to 25 minutes on the standard camera at an 18 mph airspeed. The airframe is IP43-rated with the camera, gimbal, and battery installed, giving dust and rain resistance with good wind resistance for field conditions.
What comes in the box?
The base configuration includes the standard controller, a 94 Wh battery, and the standard charger, plus the selected camera. Optional accessories include a smart controller, spare batteries, propeller guards, an LTE module, hard and soft cases, and a triple battery charger. Included items vary by the configuration you choose.
