Thumb Drone Expands Thermal Capabilities with DJI Matrice 4 Thermal
Thumb Drone LLC is proud to announce the addition of the DJI Matrice 4 Thermal to our growing fleet of professional unmanned aircraft systems. This expansion marks a significant step forward in our ability to provide advanced aerial data solutions, enhanced situational awareness, and mission-critical support services across Michigan and beyond.
The DJI Matrice 4 Thermal brings high-resolution thermal imaging alongside powerful visual sensors and enterprise-grade flight performance. This combination allows us to deliver actionable insights that are not visible to the naked eye, unlocking new capabilities for safety, inspection, assessment, and public service applications.
Expanded Search and Rescue and Public Assistance Capabilities
Thermal imaging plays a vital role in search and rescue operations, particularly during low-light conditions, nighttime operations, and challenging terrain. The Matrice 4 Thermal enables the rapid detection of human heat signatures, improving response times and expanding effective search areas. These capabilities are equally valuable for lost pet recovery, where thermal contrast can help locate animals moving through fields, wooded areas, or residential neighborhoods.
Thumb Drone LLC is available to assist municipalities, emergency response organizations, and community groups with aerial thermal support when time and accuracy matter most.
Solar, Infrastructure, and Utility Inspections
Thermal data is a powerful tool for identifying inefficiencies and potential failures in solar arrays, electrical infrastructure, and utilities. Using the Matrice 4 Thermal, we can detect hot spots, anomalies, and performance issues that traditional visual inspections may miss. This allows contractors, facility managers, and asset owners to address problems proactively while reducing downtime and inspection risk.
Our thermal inspection services support solar farms, commercial rooftops, utility corridors, and other critical infrastructure where safety, accuracy, and documentation are essential.
Residential and Commercial Building Assessments
The addition of a thermal payload also enhances our ability to support residential and commercial property assessments. Thermal imaging can help identify heat loss, insulation issues, moisture intrusion, and other conditions that may impact energy efficiency or structural integrity. These insights are especially valuable for property owners, real estate professionals, insurance documentation, and post-event evaluations.
All operations are conducted with strict adherence to FAA regulations, safety protocols, and best practices.
Advanced Technology Backed by Experience
With the integration of the DJI Matrice 4 Thermal, Thumb Drone LLC continues to invest in cutting-edge technology that delivers real value to clients. This aircraft complements our existing enterprise fleet and reinforces our commitment to providing reliable, data-driven aerial services.
Combined with our FAA Part 107 certification, insurance coverage, and nearly a decade of UAS experience, this new capability ensures our clients benefit from both advanced tools and proven operational expertise.
Integrated DJI AL1 SpotLight for Enhanced Night and Low-Light Operations
In addition to the thermal payload, our DJI Matrice 4 Thermal is equipped with the DJI AL1 SpotLight, a powerful, gimbal-synchronized illumination system designed to support night and low-light operations. The AL1 SpotLight provides focused, high-intensity lighting aligned with the camera’s field of view, allowing operators to visually confirm subjects detected by thermal imaging. This capability is especially valuable during search and rescue missions, lost pet recovery, public safety support, and infrastructure inspections where clear visual identification is critical. By combining thermal detection with precision lighting, Thumb Drone LLC can deliver safer operations, improved situational awareness, and more confident decision-making in challenging lighting conditions.
Looking Ahead
The addition of thermal imaging further expands the range of services Thumb Drone LLC can offer across industries including public safety, construction, energy, real estate, and municipal operations. As demand for accurate aerial data continues to grow, we remain focused on delivering professional, compliant, and results-driven drone solutions.
For more information about thermal drone services or to discuss a specific project, we invite you to contact us directly or explore our services on thumbdrone.com.
Thumb Drone LLC Receives FAA Waiver for Operations Over People and Moving Vehicles
Davison, MI – August 2025 – Thumb Drone LLC is proud to announce that we have officially received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for expanded operational capabilities under 14 CFR Part 107. Our new Certificate of Waiver (CoW) grants authorization for:
Operations over human beings (§107.39)
Operations over moving vehicles (§107.145)
This waiver, effective through mid-2029, is a significant milestone for our company and clients alike. It allows us to safely and legally capture aerial content in scenarios that were previously restricted, opening new opportunities for event coverage, marketing productions, construction documentation, and more.
What This Means for Our Clients
With this waiver, Thumb Drone LLC can provide expanded coverage and professional aerial photography and videography at:
Community festivals and parades where people are gathered.
Sporting events and outdoor performances with audiences present.
Commercial and industrial sites where vehicles and workers are active.
This approval demonstrates not only the FAA’s confidence in our safety protocols, equipment, and pilot training, but also our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality results while adhering to the strictest safety standards.
Safety First, Always
While this waiver expands what we are able to do, safety remains our top priority. Thumb Drone LLC strictly follows all FAA special provisions, including pre-flight checklists, visual observer requirements, and coordination with event security teams when filming at venues with large crowds.
Looking Ahead
This waiver positions Thumb Drone LLC as one of the few aerial media companies in Michigan with FAA-approved authority for Operations Over People and Moving Vehicles. We are excited to bring this capability to upcoming projects across the state, from local community events to commercial productions.
For more information about how our FAA waiver can benefit your next project, or to schedule aerial coverage, please contact us at sales@thumbdrone.com or visit thumbdrone.com.
Aerial 360° Panorama Tour: Hillsdale College Summer 2025
A Homecoming From Above
As an alumnus of Hillsdale College and the founder of Thumb Drone LLC, returning to campus as a professional drone pilot was a full-circle moment. While I was in town for a commercial real estate project, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to capture the campus from a whole new perspective—above.
The result is a self-initiated aerial tour of Hillsdale College, featuring a series of high-resolution 360° panoramas taken during the summer of 2025. These interactive drone photos offer a fresh way for prospective students, alumni, and curious visitors to explore the college’s architecture, green spaces, athletic facilities, and recent developments.
All of the panoramas are available on our Google Maps profile, but you can also view many of them directly on this page below—no extra clicks required.
Explore the Hillsdale College Campus from Above Using Drones
The tour below features more than a dozen key campus locations—from iconic landmarks to newer facilities that have transformed the student experience in recent years. Scroll through the embedded panoramas or click the links to open each location in Google Maps.
High Altitude View of Central Hall – A sweeping aerial overview of campus from high above, capturing Central Hall, nearby dorms, and even current construction and expansion projects.
Hayden Park – A new addition since my graduation—this outdoor athletic complex includes a track, trails, and green space for cross-country and recreation.
Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center – Hillsdale’s impressive indoor track facility and training space—also home to a 22-foot-tall poster of me from my throwing days.
TFO Partners Field & Hill Stadium – The recently redeveloped home of Charger Baseball, featuring upgraded seating, dugouts, and a clean field layout visible from above.
Muddy Waters Stadium – A classic Hillsdale venue, home to Charger Football. The aerial view includes the historic track oval and surrounding practice fields.
Roche Sports Complex – Captured from the hammer ring—a personal favorite spot—this panorama showcases the entrance, outdoor training areas, and surrounding campus scenery.
Greek Life Houses – Aerial views of Delta Sigma Phi, Sigma Chi, Alpha Tau Omega, and Kappa Kappa Gamma offer a look at fraternity and sorority life on campus.
Lane Hall, Delp Hall, and Central Hall – Three pillars of the student experience—these residence and academic buildings are central to both daily life and Hillsdale’s identity.
Slayton Arboretum – A quiet natural retreat located just off campus. The arboretum is filled with walking paths, bridges, gardens, and now—its own aerial panorama.
The Suites – This upperclassmen dorm was brand new when I arrived as a freshman in 2005. It remains one of the most modern residence options on campus.
Dow Hotel and Conference Center – Popular with visiting families, speakers, and conference attendees, this building is a cornerstone of Hillsdale’s hospitality presence.
Searle Center – One of the college’s largest indoor venues, used for commencement, conferences, and major student events.
Simpson Hall – A well-known residence hall that’s part of many students’ freshman-year experience, now shown from a unique elevated perspective.
Phi Sigma Epsilon Alumni Pavilion – A new scenic gathering space honoring Hillsdale's Phi Sigma Epsilon alumni, now featured from inside in crisp 360° detail.
See Hillsdale College from Above
Whether you're exploring Hillsdale College for the first time or revisiting it years later, this virtual drone tour offers a fresh perspective on a place defined by tradition, growth, and beauty. From the steps of Central Hall to the winding paths of the Arboretum, these 360° aerial views bring the campus to life in a way few have seen before.
Designed for prospective students, alumni, and anyone curious about campus life, this drone-powered virtual tour highlights Hillsdale’s most iconic landmarks, updated athletic facilities, and student housing—all from the sky.
If you’ve enjoyed this experience, feel free to share it with others or dive deeper into the panoramas above. It’s a whole new way to see Hillsdale—without setting foot on campus.
Why Aerial Tours Make Campus Visits Better
Looking to promote your own school, community, or organization? Aerial media can do more than capture beauty—it tells a story from above. If you're interested in bringing this kind of virtual experience to your institution, I’d love to help.
Contact: sales@thumbdrone.com
More Projects: ThumbDrone.com
Aerial Update: Grand Rapids Acrisure Amphitheater Construction Progress
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — June 2025
Thumb Drone LLC recently captured a series of high-resolution aerial photos and a 360° panorama of the Acrisure Amphitheater, a landmark entertainment venue under active construction along Market Avenue SW and the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids. The photos were taken during a inactive window, offering a detailed look at site progress without interrupting operations.
About the Project
The Acrisure Amphitheater is a key component of a $184 million redevelopment plan that aims to reshape Grand Rapids’ riverfront. The completed venue will feature:
Seating for up to 12,000 attendees
A state-of-the-art outdoor stage and event space
Integration with new public plazas, walkways, and riverside park amenities
A vital connection to the city’s Grand River Restoration Project
Construction Progress (June 2025)
Our drone photos, captured using the DJI Matrice 4 Enterprise, show major progress across the site, including:
Stage Framing & Roof Structure:
The amphitheater’s distinctive steel canopy is fully in place, with interior stage space partially enclosed. This is one of the project’s defining architectural elements, now visible from the air.Heavy Equipment on Site:
Excavators, wheel loaders, compactors, and rough terrain forklifts (notably from CAT, JCB, and SkyTrak) are actively working on backfilling, grading, and materials staging. Machinery is concentrated on stage-front development and utility infrastructure installation.Seating Bowl & Retaining Structures:
Curved retaining walls and formwork appear to outline future seating areas and access pathways, signaling progress toward amphitheater terracing and spectator flow planning.Perimeter & Access:
Surrounding infrastructure—road access, walkways, and adjacent staging areas—are beginning to take shape. Utility lines and concrete support structures suggest integration with broader site utilities and performance systems.
Aerial Documentation for Construction Projects
Thumb Drone LLC provides professional, FAA-certified and insured aerial media services for construction, development, and engineering teams across Michigan.
Our services include:
High-resolution aerial photography
360° panoramas for Google Maps and internal use
Orthomosaic mapping and site modeling
Progress tracking and stakeholder documentation
📩 Contact us at sales@thumbdrone.com to schedule your site or request a proposal.
Honoring the Fallen: Memorial Day 2025 at Great Lakes National Cemetery
On Memorial Day 2025, the sun set over Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan, casting a warm glow across the rows of white headstones. The peaceful scene was a powerful reminder of the lives given in service to our country and the enduring legacy of those who served.
Established in 2005, Great Lakes National Cemetery covers more than 770 acres and is one of only two national cemeteries in Michigan operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Located among forests and wetlands, the cemetery serves as the final resting place for over 50,000 veterans and eligible family members, offering a dignified place of remembrance surrounded by natural beauty.
Memorial Day invites us to pause and reflect on the cost of freedom. Each headstone represents a life of service, a story of courage, and a sacrifice made on behalf of a grateful nation. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the quiet landscape stood in solemn tribute to these heroes.
To those who served, to those who sacrificed, and to the families who carry their legacy forward: we remember you.
📍 Great Lakes National Cemetery
📸 Captured by Thumb Drone LLC
📅 Memorial Day, May 26, 2025
“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude.” – Harry S. Truman