DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced Vs Parrot ANAFI USA

Drones are becoming an essential tool for public safety and inspection missions.

While larger aircraft which can carry multiple and interchangeable payloads are important, there is also a place for smaller, lightweight drones; easy to transport and rapid to deploy.  

And two platforms, which have been launched recently, fall into this category: The , and the Parrot Anafi USA.

But how do they compare?

Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced vs Parrot ANAFI USA - Key Specs

Sensor - 4K Drones For Public Safety and Inspection

One of the most important considerations is the capabilitiy of the drones' sensors.

Both aircraft have advantages.

The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is a dual-sensor solution, featuring a visual and thermal sensor, and can capture HD images and 4K video.

Its 1/2" CMOS sensor is able to capture 48MP imagery, and for enhanced data collection, the drone benefits from a 32x digital zoom and 4x lossless zoom.

One of the most impressive features of the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced is its radiometric thermal sensor. The drone can achieve a mighty 640 x 512 px resolution; a huge coup for a drone of this size and on par with larger, more dedicated thermal cameras such as the DJI Zenmuse H20T.

It also has a dedicated 16x thermal zoom, and can save thermal imagery in the R-JPEG format - a compression which contains the thermal tiff images and radiometric information in a separate JPG file. 

In contrast, the Parrot ANAFI USA  is built around two 21MP cameras and a thermal sensor.

Its two visual sensors are smaller than the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced's single visual sensor, both coming in at 1/2.4".

The first features an EO (electro-optical) tele-camera with 32x stabilised zoom, while the second has an EO wide camera.

Operators can capture 4K HDR video in the visible spectrum. The visual imagery can be saved in JPEG or DNG formats, which trumps the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced's ability to save JPEGS only.

The ANAFI USA also has a radiometric thermal camera, but its resolution is smaller than the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced, coming in at 320 x 256 px. There is also no option to save in R-JPEG, and it does not have a dedicated thermal zoom.

DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced Vs Parrot ANAFI USA - Security

Data security is a big part of drone flights these days, and both the DJI and Parrot platforms take measures to protect sensitive information.

When operated with the DJI Pilot App, the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced has Local Data Mode. When activated, Local Data Mode will stop the DJI App from sending or receiving any data over the internet. This provides added security assurances for operators of flights involving sensitive missions.

Meanwhile, the radio link between the aircraft and remote controller features robust AES-256 encryption, keeping your data transmission secure and critical information safe.

The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced also incorporates 24 GB of onboard data storage and password protection. This provides additional security to the drone and its onboard data storage, while protecting the data even if the drone is physically compromised.

The Parrot ANAFI USA has SD card encryption with AES-XTS algorithm and 512-bit key length, offering protection of photos and videos if the drone is lost.

It also has a secure WPA2 Wi-Fi connection to authenticate and encrypt the link between the remote controller and ANAFI USA, while signed firmware prevents any malicious modification of the drone’s software.

Flight Safety

The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced has comprehensive omnidirectional obstacle sensing. It also benefits from DJI’s AirSense system, which receives ADS-B signals from nearby aeroplanes and helicopters to help prevent a collision with manned aviation.

heliguy™'s inhouse R&D team has created a robust to enhance flight safety, especially in complex environments. This lightweight, collision-proof frame is priced at under £500.

DJI drones have enhanced geo-awareness, but operators can apply to unlock the drone's altitude and geo-fencing restrictions, through the Qualified Entities Programme. Restricted zones can also be unlocked via DJI Fly Safe.

The ANAFI USA has a vertical camera and ultra-sonar to detect obstacles, as well as barometer and magnetometer.

No GPS synchronisation is required for take-off and the Parrot ANAFI USA has no built-in limitation for no-fly zones.

Accessories And Modular Add-Ons

The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced can be integrated with modular accessories; perfect for expanding the mission effectiveness of public safety and law-enforcement teams.

RTK Module: Achieve centimetre-level accuracy and enhance flight stability.

Bright Spotlight: 2,400 lumens bright. Ideal for night-time or low-light flights, and search and rescue missions.

Loudspeaker: Plays clips on loop and allows the command centre to speak to ground teams.

Beacon: Bright flashing beacon, visible for 3 miles. Improves safety at night-time or in low-light conditions.

The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced also benefits from Mobile SDK, enabling the creation of a customised mobile app to unlock the full potential of the platform.

The Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced utilises the DJI Smart Controller (pictured); with built-in 5.5” screen, 1080p FHD feed, and ultra-bright display - even in direct sunlight.

During missions, operators can tap to switch between visual, thermal, or split-view feeds for different project needs.

In contrast, the ANAFI USA cannot be integrated with additional modules, and does not have RTK capability. It does have open-source SDK (Software Development Kit) compatibility for application developers.

The Parrot ANAFI USA controller is designed for mobile device integration. Compatible mobile devices can have a screen size of up to 6.5”.

Extra Features

Other features to note on the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced include the Spot Meter and Area Measurement functions, which provide temperature information and enable operators to keep a safe distance from hazardous objects.

The drone also has the ability to create up to 240 waypoints to conduct automated missions in complex environments.

Operators can replay, edit and analyse thermal media from the drone on the device, without downloading.

Meanwhile, operators of the Parrot ANAFI USA can create flight plans with pre-set automatic flights and target-tracking; fly by coordinates in assisted framing or full autonomous flights; and use the editable Return to Home feature.

The drone can also be hand-launched and has an IP53 rating, which means it can be deployed in certain wet-weather conditions, but it is not a complete waterproofing.