this is maybe a dumb question but im trying to figure out if theres a reasonable way to mount a lightweight lidar unit to an Inspire 2 for a survey job we got asked about. the client wants aerial mapping with point cloud data and we usually sub that out but they specifically want us to handle it. payload capacity is around 900g with the gimbal off which in theory gives us a bit of room but im not sure if pulling the X5S and running a third party lidar through some kind of accessory mount is even something people do or if its just asking for trouble with the flight controller not knowing whats hanging under it.

ive seen some rigs where people use the accessory mount on the bottom but the CG shift worries me a bit especially on windy days. anyone tried this or am i barking up the wrong tree and should just tell the client to get a dedicated mapping platform

yeah people do this but its a bit of a faff honestly. ive seen a few operators run a Livox Mid-70 or similar on an Inspire 2 with a custom bottom plate and it works but youre right that the CG is something you have to actually dial in before flying anywhere serious. the flight controller doesnt care whats hanging there as long as the balance is close, it just treats it as mass. what it doesnt do is compensate intelligently for an off-center load so if your mount isnt centered fore-aft youll notice it in the attitude especially in wind. i did one job like this and it was fine but i wouldnt do it on anything with obstacles or tight maneuvering, open fields only basically.

honestly for a proper survey deliverable i'd just tell them to get a Matrice 300 with a Zenmuse L1 or L2, thats what the platform is for and the integration is clean. bodging a lidar onto an Inspire is doable but your point cloud accuracy might suffer from vibration and the IMU sync isnt going to be as tight as a purpose built setup. if they want real mapping data they should be paying for real mapping equipment, thats not your problem to solve on an Inspire.