SmartDrone Unveils Magellan™: The Future of Surveying Drones at TxDOT Conference

SmartDrone Premiere at the TxDOT Geospatial Conference

SmartDrone Corporation is gearing up to showcase its cutting-edge survey drone, Magellan™, at the upcoming TxDOT Geospatial Conference, scheduled from November 18-20 at Texas State University's LBJ Student Center. This year's theme, "More Than Maps", emphasizes how location-based technology is driving transformations in transportation infrastructure across Texas, inviting professionals from various sectors such as Right of Way, Photogrammetry, Digital Delivery, and Design to converge.

Innovations with Magellan™

CEO Rob Cammack and Co-Founder Taylor Dixon will be present to demonstrate how Magellan™ effectively addresses the compliance, durability, and productivity issues that are currently plaguing surveyors. According to Cammack, "Survey teams face pressures to deliver a higher volume of data within tighter deadlines while navigating stricter compliance regulations. The last thing they need is a complex platform that complicates the workflow. Magellan™ was designed to enhance operational efficiency without adding unnecessary difficulties."

Designed for Efficiency

Magellan™ is specifically crafted to resolve one of the most pressing challenges for survey firms: staffing shortages. Given that many survey crews are overwhelmed, the need for a dedicated drone operator can be prohibitive. The design of Magellan™ eliminates this hurdle—any trained survey technician can fly it confidently within a single day. By fully enclosing its LiDAR and camera payloads, traditional vulnerabilities such as delicate gimbals and complicated setups are removed, allowing survey crews to focus on gathering critical data rather than managing equipment logistics.

Cammack emphasizes, "The staffing crisis is the foremost concern voiced by surveyors nationwide. We ensured that Magellan™ would empower existing teams rather than requiring specialized operators, thereby maintaining workflow speed and reliability."

Robust Performance Attributes

Magellan™ is equipped for operational versatility, functioning in temperatures ranging from 32°F to 110°F and handling winds up to 20 mph. It can simultaneously capture both LiDAR and photographic data during flights lasting up to 39 minutes, enabling standard survey crews—not drone specialists—to map an impressive 1,500 acres in just one day.

Notably, Magellan™ is made in the USA, aligning with NDAA compliance regulations. It guarantees an impressive accuracy of approximately 0.15 feet (or around 4 cm) while utilizing all major GNSS constellations. With a LiDAR system generating a staggering 5.2 million points per second and covering up to 150 acres in a single flight, it significantly minimizes air time and boosts productivity.

A Domestic Solution for Surveyors

The drone's American-made production and NDAA compliance address growing concerns among surveyors regarding the reliance on foreign drone technologies. Every unit comes with direct U.S. technical support, which ensures that when users seek assistance, they receive guidance from the same experts involved in development and assembly, precisely located in Texas. According to Dixon, "This level of support is crucial, especially for firms engaged in significant infrastructure projects where operational downtime cannot be tolerated."

Engage with SmartDrone at the Conference

Attendees of the TxDOT Geospatial Conference will have the unique opportunity to see Magellan™ in action and converse directly with the SmartDrone team about their specific surveying requirements. Additionally, pre-orders for the drone are now available, starting at $49,999 after a $100 refundable deposit, which includes the entire system—complete with a transport case, controller, batteries, and full warranty coverage.

Dixon concludes, "Magellan™ is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s purpose-built for land surveyors who require a dependable, user-friendly tool that their existing teams can operate efficiently. If that describes your needs, we’re excited to demonstrate how we’ve innovated the surveying process."

Conference Details

The 2025 TxDOT Geospatial Conference promises to be an insightful event, bringing together transportation and geospatial professionals to explore the impact of spatial technology on infrastructure development. The event will take place at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX.

For more details about Magellan™, visit SmartDrone's official website.