Shop ACSL SOTEN Series Drones, Parts, and Accessories

ACSL SOTEN: One NDAA-Compliant Airframe, Four Cameras, Full Mission Coverage

Enterprise drone programs rarely run a single mission type. Inspection crews need visual and zoom imaging. Public safety units need thermal. Agriculture programs need multispectral. The ACSL SOTEN addresses that operational reality with a single NDAA-compliant airframe and a one-touch swappable camera system that lets fleet managers configure each deployment without purchasing separate aircraft for each discipline. Built entirely in Japan by Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory (ACSL) and certified compliant with the American Security Drone Act of 2023 under the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act, the SOTEN carries AES-256 encrypted communications and onboard recording across all four camera configurations.

Dronefly offers the complete SOTEN ecosystem—mission-specific bundles, standalone cameras, both controller tiers, and the full accessory line. Whether you are standing up a single-operator inspection program or building a multi-unit fleet across departments, the SOTEN platform scales without forcing you to retrain pilots or rebuild workflows between missions.

ACSL SOTEN at Dronefly: Variants, Bundles, and Configuration Options

The SOTEN lineup at Dronefly is structured around a unified airframe with three configuration axes: the camera that defines the mission type, the controller tier that defines operational range and durability, and whether a rapid deployment hard case is included for field transport. All bundles ship with the SOTEN aircraft. Standalone cameras, controllers, the RTK module, and accessories are also available individually for fleet expansion.

Mission bundles available at Dronefly:

• Thermal Bundle Plus with Rapid Deployment Hard Case: SOTEN aircraft, SAMO thermal-optical camera, TAITEN Smart Controller, rapid deployment hard case
• Thermal Package with TAITEN Smart Controller & SAMO Payload: SOTEN aircraft, SAMO thermal-optical camera, TAITEN Smart Controller
• Agriculture Bundle Plus with Rapid Deployment Hard Case: SOTEN aircraft, multispectral camera, TAITEN Smart Controller, rapid deployment hard case
• Agriculture Package: SOTEN aircraft, multispectral camera, TAITEN Smart Controller
• Survey RTK Bundle Plus with Rapid Deployment Hard Case: SOTEN aircraft, standard camera, RTK module, TAITEN Smart Controller, rapid deployment hard case
• Survey RTK Bundle Plus: SOTEN aircraft, standard camera, RTK module, TAITEN Smart Controller
• Inspection Bundle Plus with Rapid Deployment Hard Case: SOTEN aircraft, standard camera, TAITEN Smart Controller, rapid deployment hard case
• Inspection Package: SOTEN aircraft, standard camera, TAITEN Smart Controller
• Mission Package: SOTEN aircraft, standard camera, TENSO Smart Controller
• Basic Bundle with Standard Camera, Hardcase, & TENSO Controller: SOTEN aircraft, standard camera, TENSO Smart Controller, hard case
• Basic Bundle with Standard Camera & Hardcase (No Controller): SOTEN aircraft, standard camera, hard case

SOTEN Platform Specifications and Flight Performance

The SOTEN airframe folds to 162 x 363 mm (6.4 x 14.3 inches) for transport and opens to 637 x 560 mm (25.1 x 22.0 inches) across the propeller span at full deployment. Operating weight with the standard camera and battery is 1,720g (3.79 lbs), with a maximum takeoff weight of 2,000g (4.4 lbs). IP43 ingress protection applies across the full assembly: aircraft, camera, gimbal, and battery installed. The platform operates between 0°C and 40°C (32°F–104°F) and is rated to a 2,000 m (6,562 ft) ceiling.

Maximum airspeed is 15 m/s (33.6 mph). Flight time reaches 25 minutes with the standard camera at an 8 m/s wind speed and 29 minutes without a camera attached. The 94 Wh lithium-ion smart battery is field-swappable, and the triple cradle charger allows three batteries to cycle in series between sorties. GNSS combines GPS, QZSS, GLONASS, and SLAS. Vision positioning holds ±0.1 m vertical and ±0.3 m horizontal hover accuracy. The forward obstacle detection array reaches 10 m, and the downward infrared sensor covers 12 m. An optional LTE communications module extends operational range beyond line-of-sight radio coverage.

Up to three controllers can be paired to a single aircraft simultaneously, and control transfers between pilots in flight without interruption. Video and telemetry stream to all three controllers at the same time, a capability that supports training, dual-operator inspection, and command-level monitoring without additional hardware.

Field-Swappable Camera System, Accessories, and Ground Hardware

The SOTEN camera bay accepts four factory-certified modules via a one-touch mechanical mount with automatic recognition on power-up. No tools, no recalibration. All four cameras share the same 3-axis gimbal with ±0.02° control accuracy, a controllable pan of ±85°, and a tilt range of -115° to +45°. Gimbal speed tops out at 60°/s on pan and 100°/s on tilt and roll. The camera in the bay defines the mission; the airframe, controller, and ground procedures stay constant across configurations.

Standard Camera (Xacti CX-GB100 — High Resolution Gimbal Camera)

• Sensor: 1-inch, 20 MP
• Shutter: Mechanical
• FOV: H64°, V44°, D73° — focal length 28 mm equivalent
• Aperture: F2.8–F11
• Still formats: JPEG, DNG, JPEG+DNG at 20 MP / 15 MP / 10 MP
• Video: 4K/30fps; 2.7K/60, 30fps; Full HD/120, 60, 30fps; HD/60, 30fps; nHD/240, 120, 60, 30fps — MOV/H.264
• Onboard encryption: enabled/disabled by operator
• Weight: 180g (6.3 oz); dimensions: 78 x 82 x 70 mm

Optical Zoom Camera (Xacti CX-GB400 — Optical Zoom Gimbal Camera)

• Sensor: 1/2.3-inch, 12 MP
• Optical zoom: 2.5x
• FOV: WIDE H86°, V64°; TELE H43°, V30° — focal length 18–45 mm equivalent
• Aperture: WIDE F2.0 / TELE F3.0; electronic shutter
• Still formats: JPEG, DNG, JPEG+DNG
• Video: 4K/30fps; 2.7K/60, 30fps; Full HD/60, 30fps; HD/60, 30fps — MOV/H.264
• Weight: 195g (6.9 oz); dimensions: 78 x 87 x 72 mm

Multispectral Camera (Xacti CX-GB300 — Multispectral Gimbal Camera)

• Sensor: 1-inch, 20 MP
• FOV: H64°, V44°, D73° — focal length 28 mm equivalent
• Aperture: F2.8–F11; mechanical and electronic shutter
• Still format: RGB TIFF 16-bit, 2720 x 1814
• Includes triple bandpass filter and solar sensor
• Compatible with RTK and mapping software
• Weight: 200g (7.1 oz); dimensions: 78 x 99 x 93 mm

SAMO — High Resolution Thermal Camera (ACSL SOTEN SAMO Thermal-Optical Payload)

• Thermal sensor: FLIR Boson 640 x 512 radiometric
• Visible sensor: 64 MP, 20x optical zoom
• Thermal FOV: ~32° HFOV; visible FOV: ~67° HFOV
• Thermal accuracy: ±5°C (0–100°C range); sensitivity <20 mK typical
• Frame rate: up to 60 Hz
• Core module: Teledyne FLIR OEM Hadron 640R (ITAR-free)
• Ingress protection: IP54; operating range: -20°C to +60°C
• Weight: ~56g (~2.0 oz); one-touch mount
• NDAA-compliant, ITAR-free

The table below compares all four cameras across sensor, imaging, and operational specifications.

Optional field-attachable accessories:

• Top Mount: repositions the camera bay to face upward, enabling underside inspection of bridges, culverts, and overhead structures
• RTK Module: integrates real-time kinematic positioning into the standard camera workflow for centimeter-level survey and mapping output; available standalone or included in Survey RTK bundles
• Propeller Guard: for confined-space or proximity operations where blade clearance is a concern
  

Ground support and control hardware:

• ACSL TENSO Smart Controller: 5-inch display, IP43, 2.5-mile range, 2.4 GHz, AES256 encrypted, Wi-Fi and LTE, 3-hour battery, ACSL TAKEOFF integrated
• ACSL TAITEN Smart Controller: 7-inch display, IP54, 6+ mile range, 2.4 + 5.8 GHz dual-band (ACSL Fides-Link), AES256 encrypted, Wi-Fi, 8-hour battery, Android 13, ACSL TAKEOFF integrated
• ACSL SOTEN Smart Battery: 94 Wh lithium-ion
• Single Battery Charger
• Triple Cradle Battery Charger: cycles up to three batteries in series between sorties
• Rapid Deployment Hard Case: full-kit protective transport case
• Soft Storage Case (backpack)

Software and ground control:

• ACSL TAKEOFF: the primary ground control application, integrated with both the TENSO and TAITEN Smart Controllers for mission planning, waypoint routing, camera triggering, and telemetry display
• Standard camera EXIF data is compatible with RTK and mapping software pipelines

SOTEN Platform Capabilities and Fleet-Level Features

• AES-256 encryption: covers all wireless communications and can be applied to onboard recording per mission — flight logs, imagery, and video remain encrypted at rest on the microSD card until the operator releases them
• One-touch camera swapping: all four cameras mount and initialize without tools or recalibration; the gimbal self-initializes on power-up regardless of which module is installed
• NDAA compliance: manufactured in Japan with components from Japan and U.S.-allied countries, certified under Executive Order 1398 and the American Security Drone Act of 2023 (FY2024 NDAA)
• Multi-controller pairing: up to three controllers paired to one aircraft simultaneously; in-flight control transfer between operators without interruption to the mission
• Multi-device streaming: video and telemetry output to all three paired controllers at the same time — supports dual-operator and command-monitoring configurations
• Obstacle detection: forward vision array to 10 m, upward vision to 5 m, downward infrared to 12 m, operating at 10–50 Hz depending on sensor direction
• GNSS multi-constellation: GPS, QZSS, GLONASS, and SLAS combined; vision positioning adds ±0.1 m vertical and ±0.3 m horizontal hover accuracy in textured, adequately lit environments
• LTE module: optional cellular link for extended range, remote monitoring, and connectivity in RF-constrained environments
• Dual mounting orientation: top and bottom camera mounting via the optional Top Mount accessory, without modification to the airframe or gimbal
• Remote ID: built-in and FAA-compliant across both controller options
• Scalable fleet architecture: standalone cameras, controllers, and accessories allow fleet managers to add sensor capability to existing aircraft without replacing complete bundles

Deployment Scenarios and Fleet Applications

• Utility and infrastructure inspection programs: the optical zoom camera (2.5x, 18–45 mm equivalent) keeps aircraft at safe stand-off distances from energized lines, towers, and telecom infrastructure while maintaining the image detail needed for defect documentation
• Public safety and search and rescue fleet deployments: the SAMO thermal-optical payload pairs a FLIR Boson 640×512 radiometric sensor with a 64 MP visible camera and 20x optical zoom, giving tactical teams both heat-detection and high-resolution identification capability from a single module
• Agricultural program integration: the multispectral camera delivers RGB TIFF 16-bit imagery through a triple bandpass filter, enabling NDVI analysis, irrigation variance tracking, and crop stress mapping at scale across multiple fields or sites
• Survey and photogrammetry workflows: the Survey RTK Bundle Plus pairs the 20 MP standard camera with the RTK module for centimeter-level geotagging, covering corridor mapping, topographic survey, and construction progress documentation
• Multi-department fleet standardization: because all four cameras mount on the same airframe, a fleet of SOTEN aircraft can serve inspection, agriculture, and public safety departments simultaneously — pilots train once, cameras rotate between departments as needed
• Secure data environments: AES-256 encrypted communications and optional onboard storage encryption make the SOTEN suitable for operations where data must remain on-device and under operator control throughout the mission lifecycle
• Government and public-sector procurement: NDAA compliance under the FY2024 and FY2025 National Defense Authorization Acts, combined with a signed manufacturer compliance statement, simplifies acquisition for agencies subject to federal sourcing restrictions

ACSL TAKEOFF, Controller Comparison, and Workflow Integration

Both the TENSO and TAITEN Smart Controllers run ACSL TAKEOFF, the dedicated ground control application for the SOTEN platform. TAKEOFF handles mission planning, waypoint routing, camera control, and encrypted telemetry across all four camera configurations. The choice between controllers comes down to range, environmental rating, battery endurance, and control customization requirements.

The TENSO operates on 2.4 GHz with a 2.5-mile range, an IP43-rated 5-inch 1080p display, and a 3-hour operating time extendable via USB-C. It supports Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity, includes a SIM card slot, and pairs with compatible Android devices via USB-C for expanded display options. The TAITEN upgrades to a 7-inch display at 1200 x 1920 resolution with 1500 nits brightness, IP54 protection, a 6+ mile range over the ACSL Fides-Link dual-band radio (2.4 + 5.8 GHz), and 8 hours of operating time. Its fully customizable layout—8 programmable buttons, a 5-way hat, 2 dedicated gimbal wheels, and a 3-state mode switch—supports complex inspection and thermal missions where precise camera control matters. Both controllers support up to three simultaneous aircraft pairings with in-flight handoff, and the standard camera's EXIF output is directly compatible with RTK and mapping software pipelines.

Selecting the Right SOTEN Configuration for Your Fleet

• Mission discipline determines camera: the standard camera covers mapping, documentation, and general inspection; the optical zoom handles stand-off inspection of vertical and elevated assets; the multispectral serves agriculture and vegetation programs; the SAMO covers thermal response and public safety
• Controller tier determines operational envelope: the TENSO handles most field operations within line-of-sight range; the TAITEN is the appropriate choice for extended range, high-ambient-light environments, or missions requiring full gimbal control customization
• RTK requirement: centimeter-level geotagging for survey, photogrammetry, or as-built deliverables requires the RTK module — included in both Survey RTK Bundle Plus configurations and available as a standalone add-on for existing fleets
• Bundle Plus vs. standard package: Bundle Plus configurations add the rapid deployment hard case, securing the complete kit for transport and deployment from a single carry; standard packages are suited to programs that already have approved cases or prefer the soft backpack
• Fleet expansion path: standalone cameras, controllers, RTK modules, batteries, and chargers are all available individually — fleet managers can add aircraft and rotate sensors across departments without procuring duplicate complete bundles
• Entry and no-controller configurations: the Basic Bundle (No Controller) is designed for organizations adding a second or third aircraft to an existing SOTEN fleet where controllers are already assigned

The bundle comparison table below maps all eleven configurations to camera, controller, RTK module, case, and primary fleet application.

Dronefly stocks the complete SOTEN camera and controller lineup as standalone items. Fleet managers building multi-aircraft programs can configure sensor coverage across departments without duplicating complete bundles.

Contact Dronefly to discuss fleet architecture, bundle customization, or volume pricing for multi-unit SOTEN deployments.

FAQs

Is the ACSL SOTEN NDAA-compliant for government fleet procurement?

Yes. The SOTEN is entirely manufactured by ACSL in Japan using components sourced exclusively from Japan and U.S.-allied countries. It is certified compliant with Executive Order 1398 and the American Security Drone Act of 2023 under the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act. Section 162 of the FY2025 NDAA has no impact on its status — all critical components already originate from allied suppliers. A signed manufacturer compliance statement from ACSL Inc., dated June 5, 2025, is available to support procurement documentation.

How does the one-touch camera swapping system work across a fleet?

Each of the four SOTEN camera modules mounts via a mechanical quick-lock interface and is automatically recognized by the aircraft on power-up. No tools, firmware changes, or gimbal recalibration are required between swaps. A single aircraft can serve as an inspection platform in the morning, a thermal unit in the afternoon, and a multispectral platform for an agricultural program the following day — with the same pilot and the same ground control workflow throughout.

What is the difference between the TENSO and TAITEN Smart Controllers?

Both controllers run ACSL TAKEOFF with AES-256 encrypted communications. The TENSO is a 5-inch IP43 controller operating on 2.4 GHz with a 2.5-mile range and a 3-hour battery — suited to standard field operations. The TAITEN is a 7-inch IP54 controller with a 6+ mile range on the ACSL Fides-Link dual-band radio (2.4 + 5.8 GHz), an 8-hour battery, and a fully customizable layout including 8 programmable buttons, a 5-way hat, and 2 dedicated gimbal wheels. The TAITEN is standard in Inspection, Survey, Agriculture, and Thermal bundles; the TENSO is included in the Basic and Mission packages.

Can the ACSL SOTEN RTK module be added to an existing fleet aircraft?

Yes. The ACSL SOTEN RTK Module is available as a standalone accessory and attaches to aircraft not originally bundled with it. It integrates with the standard 20 MP camera to deliver real-time kinematic positioning and centimeter-level geotagging compatible with survey and photogrammetry software workflows. Both Survey RTK Bundle Plus configurations include the module as standard.

How does the SOTEN handle data security for regulated or sensitive operations?

AES-256 encryption applies to all wireless communications between the aircraft and the controller as a standard feature across all configurations. Onboard recording encryption is operator-controlled and can be enabled or disabled per mission, keeping imagery, video, and flight logs encrypted at rest on the microSD card. There is no mandatory cloud sync or data relay — all data remains on-device unless the operator explicitly transfers it. Both controllers carry Remote ID compliance built in.

What is the ACSL SOTEN's flight time?

Maximum flight time is 25 minutes with the standard camera installed at an 8 m/s wind speed, and 29 minutes without a camera. Actual endurance varies with payload, wind conditions, and flight profile. The 94 Wh lithium-ion smart battery is field-swappable, and the optional triple cradle charger can cycle up to three batteries in series between sorties for extended multi-sortie operations.

Is the ACSL SOTEN on the Blue UAS Cleared List?

The SOTEN is NDAA-compliant under the American Security Drone Act of 2023 and Executive Order 1398, with all components sourced from Japan and U.S.-allied countries. Blue UAS is a separate DoD-managed evaluation program with its own cleared list and review process. Fleet managers with Blue UAS requirements should confirm current list status with Dronefly or directly with ACSL Inc. before finalizing procurement.

How does the SOTEN compare to DJI enterprise drones?

The SOTEN is purpose-built for operations where NDAA compliance and data security are procurement requirements — markets where DJI enterprise products are increasingly restricted or ineligible. On the hardware side, the SOTEN offers a comparable 20 MP 1-inch sensor, up to 25 minutes of flight time, and a swappable camera system covering RGB, zoom, multispectral, and thermal. The key differentiator is its Japan-manufactured, allied-component supply chain, AES-256 encrypted communications as standard, and the absence of any mandatory cloud dependency — making it the appropriate choice for government agencies, utilities, and contractors operating under federal sourcing restrictions.

Can the ACSL SOTEN fly BVLOS?

The SOTEN supports dual-link command architecture with an optional LTE communications module, providing the connectivity foundation for beyond visual line of sight operations. BVLOS flight in the U.S. requires FAA waiver approval regardless of aircraft capability. The platform's LTE fallback and encrypted telemetry are designed to support BVLOS readiness once the necessary regulatory approvals are in place for a given operation.

Where can I buy the ACSL SOTEN in the United States?

Dronefly is an authorized U.S. dealer for the ACSL SOTEN, carrying the full lineup of mission bundles, standalone cameras, both controller options, and accessories. Dronefly's enterprise team provides pre-sale fleet configuration guidance, procurement documentation support, and U.S.-based service for government and commercial buyers.