Vantage Robotics
Vantage Robotics Vesper
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The Vantage Robotics Vesper is a Blue UAS Cleared, NDAA compliant micro ISR quadcopter designed, sourced, and built in the United States. At 710 g and roughly 1 kg packed, the whole aircraft deploys from an IP67 field case in under 90 seconds, then runs quiet enough to be effectively unseen and inaudible past 50 meters. A 3-axis tri-sensor gimbal pairs dual 4K Sony sensors with an uncooled thermal core and 48x combined zoom, and AES-256 encryption protects every link and every file on board. Swappable rotor sets, thermal resolutions, radio bands, and gimbals let one airframe cover long-endurance overwatch, indoor clearing, search and rescue, and mapping.
Backpack-portable, US-built ISR. Blue UAS Cleared, AES-256 encrypted, airborne in under 90 seconds.
Features
- Blue UAS Cleared and NDAA compliant, with TAA compliance and a US Air Force ATO granted: eligible for DoD, federal, and grant-funded SLED procurement
- Designed, sourced, and manufactured in the United States on an auditable supply chain
- Up to 55 minutes of endurance on the Recon rotor set, or 32 minutes with the shrouded rotors installed for indoor and confined-space flight
- Under 37 dBA at 25 meters: the aircraft is effectively imperceptible by sight or sound beyond 50 meters, which is what makes persistent covert overwatch practical
- Tri-sensor gimbal with dual 4K Sony IMX334 sensors, an uncooled VOx thermal core, and 48x combined zoom (72° to 1.5° HFOV)
- Low-light performance below 0.01 lux for near-dark operations without illumination
- AES-256 encryption on all communications and on stored data, with bonded tamper-resistant construction and no off-board data transmission
- Selectable radio: 2.4/5.8 GHz or 1.8 GHz, with frequency hopping, adaptive modulation, and 1, 2, 4, or 8 MHz bandwidth to work through congested spectrum
- Redundant triple GNSS plus VIO and optical flow for position hold indoors and in GPS-denied environments
- Field-swappable gimbal and magnetic battery change: reconfigure the aircraft in minutes without tools
- Open architecture ground control: Vantage Vision2 GCS plus QGC, DroneSense, ATAK, and RAS-A compliant systems
- IP67 MOLLE-compatible field case rated to MIL-STD-810G, surviving a 90 kg crush load and a 1-meter drop
- User-selectable Remote ID, automated and manual launch and recovery, return-to-home, orbit and go-to modes, and autonomous mission planning
Compliance
| Blue UAS | On the Blue UAS Cleared List |
| NDAA | Compliant: free of covered foreign components |
| TAA | Compliant |
| Air Force ATO | Granted |
| Country of origin | Designed, sourced, and built in the USA |
| Data security | AES-256 on all communications and stored data, no remote data transmission |
| Remote ID | User-selectable |
| Eligible buyers | DoD, federal civilian agencies, state and local government, public safety, Part 107 commercial operators |
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | |
| Configuration | Quadcopter, folding |
| Airframe weight | 710 g |
| Packed weight | 1 kg in field case (full system with GCS under 2 kg) |
| Packed volume | 2,300 cm³ |
| Setup to launch | Under 90 seconds |
| Max flight time (Recon rotors) | 55 minutes |
| Max flight time (shrouded rotors) | 32 minutes |
| Max speed | 20 m/s (72 km/h, 45 mph) |
| Max climb rate | 4 m/s |
| Max range | 45 km (28 mi) |
| Service ceiling | 5,000 m |
| Wind rating | Up to 65 km/h (35 kt) |
| Operating temperature | -20°C to 45°C |
| Acoustic signature | Under 37 dBA at 25 m, inaudible at 50 m |
| Ingress protection | IP54 (aircraft) |
| Imaging | |
| Gimbal | 3-axis stabilized, field-swappable |
| Gimbal pitch | +30° to -90°, user controllable |
| EO sensors | Dual 4K Sony IMX334, 8 MP stills |
| Video | 4K or 1080p MPEG-4, up to 30 fps |
| Zoom | 48x combined optical and digital (72° to 1.5° HFOV) |
| Thermal | Uncooled VOx LWIR, 320 × 240p or 640 × 480p, 65 mK sensitivity |
| Low-light threshold | Below 0.01 lux |
| Navigation and autonomy | |
| Positioning | Redundant triple GNSS, VIO, optical flow |
| GPS-denied flight | Supported via VIO and optical positioning |
| Obstacle sensing | Downward-facing lidar |
| Flight modes | Manual, semi-automated, and fully autonomous, with orbit, go-to, return-to-home, and failsafe |
| Radio and control | |
| Frequency options | 2.4/5.8 GHz or 1.8 GHz |
| Bandwidth | 1, 2, 4, or 8 MHz selectable |
| Link technology | Frequency hopping with adaptive modulation |
| Link range | Up to 8 km with directional antenna, 4 km with standard antenna |
| Short-range transfer | Wi-Fi |
| Ground control | Vantage Vision2 GCS (7 in, 1080p, 2,500 nit sunlight-readable display, 625 g, IP54, 4 hr runtime); also QGC, DroneSense, ATAK, RAS-A compliant systems |
| Storage and power | |
| Onboard storage | 64 GB internal plus removable 256 GB microSD |
| Battery | Vesper Endurance 84 Wh, magnetic quick-swap |
| Case | |
| Field case | IP67, MOLLE compatible, MIL-STD-810G, 90 kg crush load, 1 m drop |
Configuration options
Vesper is a modular platform. Select the combination that matches your mission and spectrum environment.
- Radio band. 2.4/5.8 GHz for general use, or 1.8 GHz where lower-frequency propagation and less-congested spectrum matter.
- Thermal resolution. 320 × 240p, or 640 × 480p for longer detection ranges and finer thermal detail.
- Rotor set. Recon rotors for maximum endurance and the lowest acoustic signature, or shrouded rotors for indoor flight and contact tolerance. Both sets install without tools, so most operators carry both.
- Alternate payloads. Photogrammetry-optimized gimbal for mapping deliverables, or an extreme low-light monochrome sensor for near-total darkness.
- Accessories. High-gain directional antenna for extended link range, and a tether kit for persistent stationary overwatch.
Who this is for
- Tactical teams needing pre-entry reconnaissance and overwatch on high-risk warrant service
- Law enforcement running covert surveillance where an audible or visible aircraft would compromise the operation
- Corrections and facility security conducting perimeter and yard monitoring
- Search and rescue teams working at night or in heavy cover with thermal and low-light imaging
- Federal agencies and DoD units required to buy from the Blue UAS Cleared List
- Critical infrastructure and utility operators with NDAA compliance requirements
FAQ
Is the Vesper Blue UAS Cleared?
Yes. Vesper is on the Blue UAS Cleared List, the vetted shortlist of small drones approved for DoD and federal use. It is also NDAA and TAA compliant and has been granted a US Air Force ATO, and it is designed, sourced, and built in the United States.
What is the difference between the Recon and shrouded rotor sets?
The Recon set is optimized for endurance and the lowest possible acoustic signature, giving up to 55 minutes of flight time. The shrouded set encloses the rotors so the aircraft tolerates contact with walls, doorframes, and ceilings, which is what you want for interior clearing and confined spaces. Flight time drops to roughly 32 minutes with the shrouds installed. Both swap without tools in the field.
Should I choose 2.4/5.8 GHz or 1.8 GHz?
2.4/5.8 GHz is the general-purpose choice and works well in most environments. 1.8 GHz is worth selecting when you routinely operate in congested spectrum or need better propagation through structures and terrain. Both configurations use frequency hopping with adaptive modulation and selectable 1 to 8 MHz bandwidth. If you are unsure which fits your operating environment, ask us before ordering: the radio is specified at build time.
Can it fly indoors or without GPS?
Yes. Vesper combines redundant triple GNSS with visual inertial odometry and optical flow, so it holds position indoors and in GPS-denied environments. Pair that with the shrouded rotor set for interior reconnaissance.
How quiet is it in practice?
Under 37 dBA at 25 meters. Vantage rates the aircraft as effectively unseen and inaudible beyond 50 meters, which is the basis for its use in covert surveillance and persistent overwatch.
What software can I fly it with?
Vesper ships with the Vantage Vision2 ground control station and uses an open architecture, so it also works with QGroundControl, DroneSense, ATAK, and RAS-A compliant ground control systems.
How is my data protected?
All communications and all data stored on the aircraft are AES-256 encrypted, the airframe uses bonded tamper-resistant construction, and the system does not transmit data off-board. Footage and stills are written to 64 GB of internal storage plus a removable 256 GB microSD card.
Do I need a license to fly this drone?
In the United States, commercial operation requires an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Public safety agencies may instead operate under a Certificate of Authorization or public aircraft rules depending on the mission. Remote ID broadcast is user-selectable on this aircraft to accommodate authorized operations. Check your governing rules before flying.
