Micasense

The collection carries five MicaSense sensor kits: the Altum-PT Multispectral Kit, the RedEdge-P Multispectral Kit with DJI Skyport for M200/M210, the RedEdge-P Multispectral Kit with DJI Skyport for M300, the RedEdge-P Dual Multispectral Kit with DJI Skyport, and the RedEdge-P Dual Multispectral Kit (without Skyport). MicaSense sensors are purpose-built for enterprise and research operators who require scientifically rigorous, radiometrically calibrated multispectral and thermal imagery from drone platforms. Primary users include precision agriculture professionals, agronomy researchers, environmental scientists, land surveyors, and crop consultants who need quantifiable, repeatable spectral data and not simply aerial photography to drive data-informed decisions about crop health, water management, yield estimation, and vegetation analysis.

Multispectral imaging captures light in discrete, defined spectral bands beyond the visible spectrum are typically including green, red, red edge, and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths in addition to visible blue and red. Human eyes and standard RGB cameras respond only to visible light; a healthy crop and a stressed crop can look identical in RGB while showing dramatically different reflectance signatures in NIR and red edge bands. Chlorophyll-rich, well-hydrated plant tissue absorbs red light and strongly reflects NIR which is a ratio that drives indices like NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). When a plant is under stress from disease, drought, nutrient deficiency, or pest pressure, this reflectance pattern changes measurably in the spectral bands MicaSense sensors capture, often days before any visible symptom appears in an RGB image. This early-detection capability is the core reason multispectral sensors exist in precision agriculture.

The RedEdge-P is MicaSense's current-generation flagship multispectral sensor, built on the proven RedEdge platform but adding a high-resolution panchromatic (pan) band to enable pan-sharpening which is a post-processing technique that combines the spatial detail of the panchromatic image with the spectral content of the multispectral bands. The result is pan-sharpened output at 2 cm ground sample distance (GSD) at 60 m altitude, which is twice the ground resolution of the RedEdge-MX at the same flight height. The RedEdge-P captures calibrated multispectral and RGB imagery simultaneously in a single camera body with an optimized field of view and capture rate designed for efficient large-area mapping missions. Raw data is open and compatible with leading processing software including Pix4Dfields, Agisoft Metashape, and DroneDeploy.

The RedEdge-P Dual Kit pairs a standard RedEdge-P with a RedEdge-P Blue which is a second sensor unit optimized for blue-spectrum band capture and includes both sensors, a DLS light sensor, a Calibrated Reflectance Panel (CRP), a CFexpress card and reader, integration cables, mounting hardware, USB WiFi dongle, and a hard carrying case. The dual-sensor configuration captures a wider set of spectral bands simultaneously in two synchronized sensor heads, extending the spectral coverage beyond what a single unit captures and enabling a broader range of vegetation indices and research applications. This is particularly relevant for advanced agronomy research, experimental crop trials, and environmental monitoring programs that require a comprehensive spectral dataset from every flight rather than a subset of bands.

The Altum-PT is MicaSense's most advanced sensor in this collection and is an integrated 3-in-1 platform that simultaneously captures five discrete multispectral bands, a thermal infrared image, and an ultra-high-resolution panchromatic image in a single payload. The thermal imager provides twice the ground resolution of its predecessor, the original Altum, enabling plant-level thermal analysis previously not achievable at normal mapping altitudes. The global shutter eliminates the rolling shutter distortion common in sensors used at higher speeds or on vibrating platforms, producing geometrically correct imagery at up to 2 captures per second. All three data streams (multispectral, thermal, and panchromatic) are captured simultaneously, so every pixel location has a complete, time-synchronized spectral and thermal record, eliminating the data alignment step in post-processing that separate-sensor systems require.

Thermal data from the Altum-PT unlocks several high-value crop management and research applications that multispectral data alone cannot address. In irrigation management, canopy and soil temperature differences visible in thermal imagery reveal where irrigation is insufficient (higher temperatures), excessive (lower temperatures), or where lines are leaking or clogged, enabling irrigation managers to intervene before yield losses occur. In plant stress monitoring, canopy temperature is a sensitive early indicator of water stress. The Altum-PT allows periodic thermal surveys to track subtle temperature changes across large fields before visible wilting appears. In yield estimation, the combination of high-resolution RGB, multispectral, and thermal data enables algorithm-based fruit counting and temperature analysis for more accurate predictions than traditional manual sampling. In disease and pest detection, physiological stress signatures often appear in both spectral and thermal data before they are visible to the naked eye.

The DLS 2 (Downwelling Light Sensor 2) is MicaSense's next-generation ambient light sensor, included with every kit in this collection. It continuously measures the intensity and angle of incident sunlight during flight, capturing irradiance data that is timestamped and embedded in the image metadata. Without this irradiance reference, reflectance values in multispectral imagery are not comparable between flights and a cloud passing overhead mid-flight or a change in sun angle between morning and afternoon surveys introduces radiometric variation that makes two datasets incomparable even over the same field. The DLS 2 corrects for these variations during post-processing, producing calibrated reflectance data that is consistent across time, location, and lighting conditions. The integrated GPS in the DLS 2 simplifies setup by eliminating the need for manual aircraft position configuration.

The CRP 2 (Calibrated Reflectance Panel 2) is a small, portable reference target with precisely known reflectance values across all MicaSense spectral bands. The standard workflow is to photograph the CRP at the start and end of each flight (before takeoff and after landing) in the same lighting conditions as the mission. These reference images are then used during post-processing to convert raw digital number (DN) values in the multispectral imagery into absolute surface reflectance values that are independent of sensor variation, lighting differences, and atmospheric conditions. Without CRP calibration, two datasets over the same field taken on different days cannot be reliably compared. With it, a NDVI value of 0.72 on one flight date means the same thing as 0.72 on a flight three weeks later enabling the temporal change detection that makes precision agriculture actionable. The CRP 2 is a more compact version of the original panel with identical calibration accuracy.

MicaSense sensors are designed for integration with a wide range of enterprise drone platforms via standard mounting hardware and electrical connections. Two specific configurations in this collection are pre-integrated for DJI Matrice series aircraft: the RedEdge-P with DJI Skyport for M200/M210, and the RedEdge-P with DJI Skyport for M300. The DJI Skyport is a dedicated accessory port system on DJI Matrice drones that provides mechanical attachment, power, and data communication between the aircraft and payload eliminating the need for separate batteries or complex wiring. The M200/M210 Skyport and M300 Skyport are not interchangeable, so selecting the correct variant for the aircraft in use is essential. The standalone RedEdge-P Dual Kit and the Altum-PT Kit include universal mounting hardware for use with non-DJI platforms including Inspired Flight, Freefly, and other enterprise multirotor and fixed-wing systems compatible with the sensor's interface.

All MicaSense orders ship free to the continental USA, backed by a best-price guarantee. A 30-day return policy and Affirm financing at checkout are available. Shipping on MicaSense products varies from 1 to 6 weeks depending on availability and configuration. Government agencies, research institutions, and agricultural enterprises can submit an RFQ through the dedicated Government RFQ page (DUNS: 13-715-2209, CAGE: 15F67). MicaSense sensor selection involves important compatibility decisions like the DJI Skyport variant, drone platform, single vs. dual sensor, multispectral-only vs. thermal+multispectral and getting it wrong means a sensor that won't integrate with the aircraft or won't deliver the data types the mission requires. Gustavo personally reviews every order and strongly encourages buyers to call or text 617-398-7852 before purchasing, Monday through Friday, 8am–5pm EST.