Orkid today announced a new ORKID 260 variant, the world’s first vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone to bring all four of the most advanced aerial data capture technologies together — onboard, fully integrated, and operating simultaneously:
● LiDAR: YellowScan Surveyor Ultra
● Photogrammetry: Phase One P5 camera
● GNSS/IMU: Trimble Applanix APX-RTX with real-time corrections
● Connectivity: Native Starlink SATCOM integration
Unlike other UAVs that can only carry some of these payloads individually, the ORKID 260 is the first Class 1 UAV that will deliver all four at once in a single system — with seamless calibration, data synchronization, and workflow integration.
“Professionals have long had to choose between LiDAR or photogrammetry, between local GNSS corrections or limited-range communications. The ORKID 260VTOL eliminates that trade-off,” said Santiago Pinzon, CEO at Orkid. “For the first time, you will be able to fly one aircraft, on one mission, and capture survey-grade LiDAR, ultra-high-resolution imagery, centimeter-level positioning, and control it all live over Starlink — from anywhere in the world.”
This achievement will be made possible through close collaboration with YellowScan, Phase One, and Trimble, whose teams are working alongside ORKID’s engineers to ensure their systems operate as a single, unified solution. The result will be a seamless integration where LiDAR, photogrammetry, and high-performance GNSS-inertial corrections synchronize in real time, leveraging Trimble’s APX-RTX technology to deliver unparalleled mapping efficiency and accuracy. This eliminates the complexity of multi-vendor payload management and ensures a compact, lightweight, and truly unified airborne solution.
Built on a 100% electric, NDAA-compliant architecture, the ORKID 260VTOL is engineered for mapping, surveying, utilities, oil & gas, defense, and critical infrastructure inspection. With flight endurance for this new variant is estimated to be1.5hr / 75 miles, it sets a new benchmark for efficiency, precision, and reliability in airborne data capture.
Key Features of the ORKID 260VTOL
● All four technologies integrated onboard, simultaneously — no compromises, no separate flights
● Native Starlink SATCOM for unlimited Comms range, high-bandwidth data streaming
● Integrated LiDAR + photogrammetry for dual-modality mapping in a single mission
● Trimble RTX corrections for real-time centimeter-level accuracy
● NDAA-compliant, all-electric design for secure, sustainable operations
“This is not just another UAV with a payload bay,” added Andres Escobar. “It will be the first fully engineered system where every component — LiDAR, camera, GNSS, and SATCOM — work together out of the box. The partnerships with YellowScan, Phase One, and Trimble have been critical in making that possible.”
About Orkid
Orkid is an aerospace company developing long-range, SATCOM-enabled VTOL platforms for tactical ISR, critical infrastructure inspection, and remote logistics. Headquartered in the United States, with additional offices in Colombia and Brazil, Orkid systems have successfully completed missions across Latin America, Asia, and Europe. The company is now scaling its U.S. operations with a 100% NDAA-compliant product line designed for both civil and defense partners.
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