EDS-B
Extended Drone Status Broadcast
A shared airspace
A free and open network for broadcasting live drone and manned aircraft locations.
When several organizations fly in the same area, it can be hard to keep track of who's flying where. Eagle Eyes pools live drone locations and aircraft locations from ADS-B receivers into a live map that everyone can access.
Why sharing drone locations matters
Sharing live drone locations helps teams keep safe separation. Pilots see where other drones are flying and keep clear of them, with fewer radio calls. The air operations director sees every drone alongside crewed aircraft, live on one map.
Eagle Eyes is an extra layer of safety, not a replacement for existing procedures. Pilots still need to stay alert, keep track of where their aircraft is and what else is in the air around it, and follow airspace restrictions, altitude limits, horizontal and vertical separation procedures, and radio coordination.
The more pilots that broadcast, the better it works. That's why EDS-B is free for everyone.
One map for all air operations
Everyone running Eagle Eyes sees the other drones on the EDS-B network, right on their drone controller, or in Eagle Eyes Mirada on a laptop, phone or any other device. Each drone shows its live name, heading, altitude and livestream.
You control access. Sharing is on by default only for people on the same CalTopo map, the same local Wi-Fi, or your own Eagle Eyes team. Public sharing stays off until you switch it on. Others see your drone, not where the pilot is standing.
How it works
Swipe sideways to see the whole diagram
You control access
Sharing is secure and private by default. The pilot chooses who sees their own live location, and any ADS-B or Remote ID detected aircraft they pick up.
Swipe sideways to see the whole diagram
Privacy by default
You control who sees your drone. Local Wi-Fi broadcasts stay on your network. CalTopo channels are private to the people on your shared map. And EDS-B shows the drone's location, not the pilot's.
Used by first responders worldwide
Search and rescue teams, fire departments and sheriff's offices across Canada, the US, the UK, Europe and Australia fly with Eagle Eyes.
Get started with EDS-B
The Eagle Eyes app is what broadcasts your drone to the EDS-B network, and it is free. Share your drone's live location with whoever you want, and see other drones live as you fly.
Installing a third-party app on your drone controller is something you should rightfully be careful about. So here is what it does.
- It runs quietly in the backgroundInstall the free Eagle Eyes app on your drone controller and fly in DJI Pilot 2 or DJI Fly exactly as always. Your piloting app keeps full control of the drone.
- It doesn't connect to your droneIn Companion Mode the app does not connect to the aircraft. DJI's own app makes the drone's live location available on the controller, and Eagle Eyes simply reads it there.
- It rebroadcasts your positionPosition and altitude go out on the EDS-B network, to whoever you have chosen. There is no impact on the control or the safety of your flight.
Companion Mode running
Keep flying in DJI Pilot 2 or DJI Fly. Eagle Eyes runs in the background, and your DJI app keeps full control.
No license, no end date
What you get- Other drones on the map in DJI Pilot 2
- Your drone shared live on EDS-B, with whoever you choose
- Your drone and photo points live on CalTopo
- Livestream your drone video to others
Fly from Eagle Eyes Pilot, with detection and automated search missions.
First device (controller or laptop)
+ USD $150/year for each additional device
Everything in Free, plus- Color and motion anomaly detection
- Transform CalTopo polygons into flight missions with SAR patterns
- Combine our computer vision system with DJI's object detection
- Run detection on high resolution images
30-day free trial, no credit card. See pricing
Works with DJI drones today. Autel is coming soon, and Parrot and Skydio support is in development.
FAQ
Is my drone compatible?
Eagle Eyes Pilot is compatible with DJI drones that support the DJI Mobile SDK 5, and can also run in Companion Mode. To understand the difference between the Eagle Eyes app in Piloting Mode and Companion Mode, see our FAQ here. See the table below for an overview of compatibility with different drones.
The Eagle Eyes app in Piloting Mode also supports autonomous flight missions on the DJI Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro, and Mini 4 Pro drones. See more in our Mini missions FAQ.
Eagle Eyes Mirada (the successor to our previous desktop app, Eagle Eyes Scan) can process recorded images and video from any drone, and can also run real-time detection via HDMI input from controllers that support clean HDMI output.
📋 See our compatibility page for desktop hardware and computer system requirements.
This table shows the compatibility of Eagle Eyes Pilot and Eagle Eyes Mirada for each drone/controller combination. See the legend below the table for what each status means.
📱 Android Requirements: Android 8+ with processor comparable to Snapdragon 855 (Galaxy S10 level), 6GB+ free storage. Not compatible with Google Pixel 6/7 phones due to DJI SDK bug.
Sources:
- DJI Product SDK Compatibility
- DJI SDK Release Notes
- DJI Aircraft Accessory Compatibility
- Customer reports (thank you customers!)
- Trial and error
How does location sharing work?
Each controller sends its drone's live position, plus any manned aircraft the drone hears over ADS-B.
Over the internet: cellular, Starlink or any connection.
Relays each drone to every pilot on
And onto the CalTopo map itself: every drone is drawn live on the incident's shared map.
A Starlink Mini, portable router or phone hotspot. No internet needed.
Devices relay directly to every pilot on
Any one match puts pilots on the same channel. A Starlink Mini gives you both: a network on scene, and internet to the relay server.
When groups from different organizations fly together they are on different team licenses, so it's the shared CalTopo map, or the Wi-Fi at the command post, that puts every pilot on one channel.
What's the difference between Free and Pro?
Companion Mode running
Companion Mode Free
No license, no end date. Runs in the background, similar to apps like Airdata, while you fly in DJI Pilot 2 or DJI Fly.
- Live position sharing with every participating drone around you
- Live drone location and photo points to CalTopo
- Free local streaming (3 viewers); viewing any stream is free
- Mirada on your computer; upload tracks to CalTopo; turn CalTopo search areas into DJI missions
Piloting Mode (Pro license)
Eagle Eyes Pilot as your full piloting app. Everything in Companion Mode, plus:
- Fly the drone from the Eagle Eyes app
- Custom autonomous flight missions
- Full computer-vision detection, real-time and post-flight
- Full Mirada desktop features
30-day free trial, no credit card. From USD $400 a year for the first device.
Position sharing is in the free version. A team that never buys a license still sees, and is seen by, every other participating drone. The license adds tools for the pilots who want them.
Can we try Pro first?
Yes. The trial is 30 days, no credit card. When it ends, Companion Mode stays free.
What is Companion Mode in Eagle Eyes Pilot?
Companion Mode (formerly "Background Mode") lets Eagle Eyes Pilot run alongside the DJI Pilot 2 or DJI Fly app, so you fly with the full native DJI piloting app experience while Eagle Eyes sits quietly in the background, broadcasting telemetry, syncing your drone's live location to CalTopo, and livestreaming what your drone is seeing. It does this with no impact on the control or the safety of your flight, and without interfering with the DJI app while you fly. Detection does not run in Companion Mode. To run detection you have to turn off Companion Mode and use Eagle Eyes Pilot as your main piloting app, which requires a Pro Eagle Eyes license and a compatible DJI drone (see the compatibility overview).
Installing a third-party app on your drone controller is something you should rightfully be careful about. So here is what the Eagle Eyes app does in Companion Mode, and what it does not.
It runs quietly in the background. Install the free Eagle Eyes app on your drone controller and fly in DJI Pilot 2 or DJI Fly exactly as always. Your piloting app keeps full control of the drone.
It never connects to your drone. In Companion Mode the app does not connect to the aircraft. DJI's own app makes the drone's live location available on the controller, and Eagle Eyes simply reads it there.
It shares your position with the people you choose. Position and altitude go out to your team's CalTopo map, your livestream viewers, and the other Eagle Eyes users you share with. There is no impact on the control or the safety of your flight.
Walkthrough video
Two ways to run the Eagle Eyes app
Not to be confused with a dual controller setup. Both Companion Mode and Piloting Mode run on one controller. They are two different ways to use the Eagle Eyes app on it.
The way you are used to flying, with the Eagle Eyes Pilot app as your full piloting app. Custom autonomous missions, and the Eagle Eyes detector running live on your controller as you fly.
Companion Mode running
The Eagle Eyes app installed on your drone controller runs in the background, similar to apps like Airdata, and does not interfere while you fly in DJI Pilot 2 or DJI Fly.
Companion Mode works with a wide range of drones. See the compatibility list for the full picture.
When to use it
- You want to fly in the DJI app while still tracking to CalTopo and livestreaming through Eagle Eyes
- Your drone is not supported by the DJI SDK (e.g. 2-series DJI drones, Mini 5, non-enterprise Mavics, etc.) and you still want CalTopo livestreaming
- You're flying an Autel drone (coming soon)
- You're flying a Parrot drone (integration in development)
Skydio does not allow third-party apps on its controllers, so Companion Mode cannot run there. We are working on an integration for Skydio drones through Eagle Eyes Mirada, our desktop and web app.
How to enable it
When you first download the Eagle Eyes app and activate a free account, it starts in Companion Mode by default.
If you are in Piloting Mode and want to switch to Companion Mode:
- From the home screen, tap ... → Set up controller
- Scroll to the bottom of the list and select Advanced options
- Select Companion mode
- Restart Eagle Eyes when prompted
What works in Companion Mode
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| Detection | ❌ Requires Eagle Eyes as the main piloting app |
| Telemetry broadcast | ✅ Full functionality |
| CalTopo sync | ✅ Full functionality |
| Livestreaming | ✅ Via screen capture |
| Camera / gimbal control | ❌ Controlled by the DJI app |
| Flight missions | ❌ Use the DJI app |
Does the software work offline?
Yes. Eagle Eyes Pilot and the Eagle Eyes Mirada desktop app work completely offline: you can import footage, run the detector, review detections, bookmark, and export without an internet connection. You only need to be online once, to activate your license on the device, and for optional online features such as CalTopo sync and livestream sharing. Location sharing works without internet too: pilots connected to the same local Wi-Fi network see each other's drones on the map on their controllers.
Note that the Mirada web app runs in your browser and needs an internet connection to load. For offline use in the field, choose the Mirada desktop app.
The post-flight workflow is built around this. See how to get your drone footage into Mirada.
How do I connect to CalTopo?
Connecting to CalTopo is optional. Separate from Eagle Eyes, CalTopo (also known as SARTopo) is already a great application for mapping and team situational awareness. If you have not tried it yet, we recommend creating an account and trying it out together with Eagle Eyes.
Connecting Eagle Eyes with CalTopo means everyone with access to the CalTopo map can see the drone's flight tracks and real-time location, and the drone pilot can fly with reference to the CalTopo map.
There are two ways to connect Eagle Eyes Pilot to CalTopo:
Option 1: Browser login. Quick, but temporary.
- Anyone with a CalTopo account can do this. Sign in with your email plus 2FA on the controller.
- The session expires, so you may have to log in again, often right as you are about to fly.
Option 2: CalTopo Service Account. A permanent login (recommended).
- Set up once per team, then every member reuses it. No more signing in.
- Requires CalTopo Teams and an admin to create it (see Requirements below).
Option 1: Logging in with a browser
This gets you onto a CalTopo map for the current session. It is the quickest way to start, but the login is temporary, so you may need to sign in again later.
- Select Fly in Eagle Eyes Pilot.
- Select the three lines at the top right of the screen.
- Select Connect to CalTopo.
- Sign in to CalTopo.
- Choose the map from Your Data in CalTopo (double tap to select).
Option 2: Setting up a CalTopo Service Account (permanent login)
A Service Account gives your whole team a permanent login to CalTopo on the controller, so nobody has to sign in again before a search. You set it up once per team, and from then on a new controller goes from a fresh install to fully set up in under a minute. The video below walks through the whole process.
Requirements
To set up a Service Account, you need:
- Your organization is on CalTopo Teams.
- You have admin access to your CalTopo team (or you work with someone who does).
Not the CalTopo admin yourself? While setting up a controller, you can email your CalTopo admin a setup link straight from the setup flow on your phone. The admin opens it on a laptop and finishes the service account there, with no Eagle Eyes login needed.
This is a one-off. Once it is done, future team members only scan a QR code and pick the existing configuration.
Setting up the Service Account
On the controller
- Set up Eagle Eyes Pilot as usual: name the drone, tap Connect license, and scan the QR code to activate at eagleeyessearch.com.
- At the Configuration step, create a new configuration and set your units and coordinate system. You will then be asked if you want to set up a CalTopo Service Account. You can also add procedures and emergency contacts later in the process.
- Open CalTopo Service Account and leave that page open. Then move to a desktop or laptop for the next part.
On your laptop, in CalTopo (you must be a team admin)
- Go to eagleeyessearch.com/caltopo, which walks you through these CalTopo steps.
- Sign in at caltopo.com, open your team's Admin menu, and go to Details.
- Create a service account with Update permissions. (Update lets the drone add objects to a map and delete its own, but not anyone else's.)
- Copy the credential secret, account ID, and credential ID into the Service Account page.
- Create a connect key for live tracking: go to Access → Trackable Devices, create one, paste it in, and click Verify and connect. This lets your drone appear as a live shared location on the map.
Back on the controller
- Scan the QR code shown on the laptop to load the Service Account onto the controller. (You can also save it as a file or copy the code.)
- Tap Save configuration. After a few seconds the controller reports setup complete, and you are ready to choose a map and fly.
Adding more controllers later
Once your team has a Service Account connected through its license, new team members do not repeat the CalTopo steps. On a fresh install they grant permissions, name the drone, scan the QR code to activate the license, and pick the existing configuration. The permanent CalTopo login comes with it, and they are ready to fly. First time painful, second time not so bad.
What is Eagle Eyes' privacy and data security policy?
You can read our full privacy policy here. In short: your drone footage and imagery are processed on your own device and are not sent to us, unless you choose to, for example by attaching a recording to a bug report or starting a livestream.
Some data does leave the device: the Pilot app shares your drone’s position with your team through our relay by default (you can turn this off in the app’s settings), the apps send crash reports and usage statistics, and we keep the account and billing details you give us.
Your question not in here?
View the full FAQWhy EDS-B exists
Planes and helicopters broadcast their live position over ADS-B, so anyone with a receiver can see them. Drones are not allowed to use it, and Remote ID, the broadcast drones do have, falls short.
EDS-B carries drone positions over the networks we already rely on, like cellular, Wi-Fi, Starlink, or a portable hotspot on scene. Because it travels over the internet, your drone's location reaches as far as you need it to, anywhere in the world, not just as far as its own radio.
Many drones also have an ADS-B receiver on board. When one picks up a manned aircraft, Eagle Eyes puts that aircraft on the EDS-B network too. A connected Remote ID receiver does the same for the Remote ID drones it hears.
So manned aircraft pilots operating near drones can open the same map and see every drone in their area that is broadcasting on EDS-B, live. Drone pilots see the ADS-B aircraft around them on their own map.
This is extra information. It shows only what is broadcasting, and it does not replace a pilot's training, vigilance, situational awareness and safe practice, or an attentive eye on the sky.
How Remote ID detections spread
A Remote ID receiver plugs into a device running the Eagle Eyes app or Mirada and picks up the Remote ID broadcasts of nearby drones. Those detections go onto the EDS-B network, so one receiver on scene puts every Remote ID drone in the area on everyone's map.
A receiver can also relay on its own, with no drone connected. Drones picked up by Dronetag's receiver network can come in through the Dronetag API too.
Your own drone is filtered out. If you fly with a receiver connected, it hears your drone's Remote ID as well, but your drone isn't drawn twice on your map or rebroadcast as a detection.
See the Eagle Eyes Remote ID Receiver
Why not just use Remote ID?
Remote ID is a compliance broadcast. A drone sends out where it is and who is flying it over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the same short-range radios in your phone. Trees, terrain and other radios block it, and it doesn't carry far enough to warn a helicopter coming in fast, especially on a complex operation like an emergency response.
It also isn't required in several countries yet, including Canada, though that is set to change. In many parts of the world most drones are not broadcasting it at all. DJI drones, for example, don't broadcast Remote ID in Canada.
Why drones can't use ADS-B
ADS-B stands for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. An aircraft works out its position from its own GPS and broadcasts it about once a second to any receiver in range. It is why you can open a flight tracking site and watch air traffic move across the sky.
Drones are not allowed to broadcast ADS-B. It shares frequencies with air traffic radar and collision avoidance systems, and there are far more drones than manned aircraft. If every drone transmitted, it would crowd out the system manned aviation depends on.
Drones also fly lower. Most manned aircraft fly well above 500 feet and most drones stay under 400. The aircraft that do come down low, like SAR helicopters, air tankers and police aircraft, are the ones drones are most likely to meet.