KEEL seriesIn the field

We deliver pipe fittings, tools, and replacement parts to construction sites. Ground transport within the site is difficult, and the limited payload capacity of our previous UAV meant that a complete order had to be split across several flights.

That was where the problems began. The tools would arrive first, but the critical components would still be on the next flight, leaving the crew unable to start work. Every additional flight meant another round of loading, unloading, checking, and handover. I was taking calls while working hours continued to pass on site. The goods arrived eventually, but the project kept stopping and starting.

We came across KEEL MAX at a trade show and developed a transport plan for a total mission load of nearly 100 kg, including the cargo, packaging, and securing hardware. A complete set of supplies that previously required multiple deliveries can now arrive together. The receiving team checks the shipment once, and the construction crew has everything needed to continue working. One order no longer has to become a series of separate deliveries.

The deployment process also impressed me. With the fuselage and arms laid out in advance in assembly order, two of us completed the main airframe assembly in 2 minutes from the start of the connection process. I had never experienced that level of assembly efficiency with an aircraft of this size. Battery and payload installation, followed by preflight checks, then proceed in a clear sequence. When moving to another site, we pack the modules separately and reassemble them on arrival, making relocation easier to organize.

What made the purchase worthwhile was that deliveries finally kept pace with construction. There were fewer interruptions while the crew waited for the last batch of materials, and we reduced repeated handling and delivery handovers. Within the same operating window, more time could go toward advancing the project. Our customers spent less time waiting, and I received fewer calls chasing deliveries.

What used to frustrate me most was receiving a low-voltage warning just as I spotted something that deserved a closer look. Before I could examine the issue clearly, I had to bring the aircraft back. When colleagues asked whether I had confirmed the problem, I could only say that we would need another flight.

We inspect infrastructure corridors using a gimbal-mounted visible-light and thermal imaging camera. Much of the work begins after we identify a possible issue: zooming in, viewing it from another angle, and comparing it with nearby equipment in normal condition. How long the aircraft can remain in the operating area directly determines how much time I have to complete those checks.

I first came across KEEL on a video platform and followed it for some time. It stood out to me as one of the few all-electric models on the market with particularly strong endurance, offering up to 100 minutes in a camera-equipped configuration. I now have fewer interruptions for return flights, with less need to land, take off again, and find the position covered on the previous flight. Imagery and inspection sequences are more continuous along each section of the corridor. When we organize the data after landing, my colleagues and I can match our records more easily. There are also fewer points to recheck or images to capture again, which takes pressure off my work.

I still plan for an appropriate return-flight reserve. Within the permitted operating window, having enough time to inspect everything that needs attention makes my work as a pilot much more manageable.

That longer, more continuous operating window is what I value most.

We supply fixed nearshore work platforms. Bulk supplies are generally consolidated and delivered by boat, which works well for transporting large quantities at once. The difficulty comes with unexpected requirements: a platform may be short of just one box of spare parts, yet maintenance can come to a halt because of it.

Previously, we had to coordinate boat schedules, personnel, and receiving times again whenever this happened. In our projects, an unscheduled delivery involves more than the transport itself. There is vessel dispatch, loading and unloading, waiting for the round trip, and the associated docking fees. The consignment may be small, but the cost of organizing the trip remains.

We chose KEEL PRO to handle urgent, ad hoc resupply in the tens-of-kilograms range. Cargo, packaging, and mounting hardware are included in the load calculation, and flights use confirmed nearshore routes and fixed receiving points. Each delivery can be planned around the immediate requirement, without always having to wait for the next scheduled bulk shipment by boat.

Bulk supplies still arrive by boat on schedule, while urgent critical spares can be delivered separately by air. This reduces the need to arrange an extra boat for small consignments and shortens the platform's wait for parts. It also allows us to assess transport costs alongside site downtime more clearly.

I want to keep using it because it addresses a recurring need for small consignments that used to take considerable time and money to deliver.

After-sales support also influenced my choice. From the initial discussion of payloads and operating conditions to feedback on issues during operation, ZHT provides clear points of contact. If a problem occurs, I know which records to submit, who will follow up, and what the next steps will be. That gives me greater confidence.

I am happy to go into the forest and study a single leaf in detail. But the project requires me to understand the entire forest area. Relying only on a few routes we can cover on foot will always leave some places worth investigating beyond our view.

Previously, we collected records along roads and within accessible survey plots. Back at the office, we spent time comparing data collected by different teams at different times. Each follow-up survey meant arranging another field visit to determine where changes had occurred.

We later integrated a multispectral camera into KEEL PLUS and began collecting forest data along planned flight routes. We selected the platform to accommodate the camera, its necessary support equipment, and mounting accessories as a complete configuration, while allowing flexibility for the survey mission. Before each data-collection flight, we check the equipment against the payload configuration and aim to maintain comparable acquisition conditions.

Once processed, multispectral data helps us identify areas showing marked vegetation changes that warrant further investigation. We review these areas alongside our field records and send survey teams to priority plots for on-site verification. It helps us focus our efforts on locations that need closer investigation.

For repeat surveys, we continue collecting data along the established flight routes, making image coverage easier to align and discussions more specific. I still go into the forest, but before setting out we have a clearer idea of where to go and what to examine.

I am responsible for integrating meteorological equipment and deploying it in the field. We are developing a UAV-mounted spraying system to support rainfall enhancement projects. Our previous platform was a larger industrial hexacopter that could carry the complete system for initial validation at an open test site.

The project then needed to move between several temporary operating sites, and deployment became more challenging. The available level ground was limited, while the previous aircraft required more space when fully deployed. Sometimes the spraying system was ready, but we were still looking for a suitable takeoff and landing location, moving equipment, and rearranging the site. Each change of location meant repeating that work.

I needed a more compact platform without reducing the complete payload simply to make it fit. The spraying unit, liquid reservoir assembly, pump, control module, and mounting accessories all had to be carried together. KEEL MINI caught my attention because it could meet both requirements. Its diagonal motor-to-motor distance is just 906 mm, measured between the centers of two diagonally opposite motors. With the confirmed configuration and suitable site clearances, deployment can be planned around a takeoff and landing area approximately 2 m in diameter. In the corresponding configuration, its maximum payload capacity is 8 kg, allowing us to include the complete specialized system in our platform selection assessment.

We also valued KEEL MINI's high-speed maneuverability. Meteorological operations need to be timed according to the professional team's assessment, so the equipment must reach the designated area promptly. If the mission location changes, we want to minimize the wait for the equipment to reposition. The compact airframe makes field deployment easier, while its speed and maneuverability can help reduce transit time between operating locations. This lets us focus more on the mission and spend less time repeatedly resolving site constraints and equipment-handling issues. For this project, KEEL MINI carries the complete system, delivers the required performance, and suits the limited space available on site. It is a strong fit for our requirements.