A camera drone can see an emergency. It cannot, on its own, light it up or talk to the people in it. A drone spotlight and speaker fix both halves of that problem: a light that points where the camera looks, and a loudspeaker that carries instructions to people on the ground. The DJI AL1 Spotlight and DJI AS1 Speaker are DJI’s two quick-release payloads for exactly that job.
Here is what each one does, how they work as a pair, and where they earn their keep for police, fire, disaster-response and security teams.
Why a camera drone is only half a public-safety tool
Most public-safety drone work starts with a camera, and often a thermal one. Thermal finds a heat signature in the dark, but it cannot always confirm what you are looking at. Is that a person, an animal, or a hot engine? You need visible light to be sure.
The other gap is communication. A drone circling a flooded field or a crowded ground can spot a problem and still have no way to tell anyone what to do. The ground team has to relay instructions by radio, on foot, or not at all.
Light and sound close both gaps. The aircraft stops being a flying camera and starts acting as a platform that can find, illuminate and address a scene.
The drone spotlight and speaker at a glance: AL1 vs AS1
The two payloads are built on the same idea: bolt on in seconds, work in hard conditions, add one capability. Figures below are from DJI’s published specifications as listed on the XBOOM product pages.
| DJI AL1 Spotlight | DJI AS1 Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Illuminate | Broadcast |
| Reach | Up to 100 m | Up to 300 m |
| Headline figure | About 2,200 m² lit at 100 m (wide mode) | 114 dB at 1 m |
| Modes | Always-on and strobe | Live broadcast, text-to-speech, media import |
| Special feature | Gimbal-linked aiming | Echo suppression |
| Mounting | Quick-release | Quick-release |
| Operating range | −20°C to 50°C | −20°C to 50°C |
| XBOOM price | ₹39,999 | ₹34,999 |
DJI AL1 Spotlight: light that follows the camera
The AL1 throws usable light up to 100 metres. In wide mode it covers roughly 2,200 square metres at that distance, the difference between spotlighting one person and lighting a whole clearing or a stretch of riverbank.
The detail that matters most is gimbal integration. The beam aligns with the camera’s view, so when the operator slews the camera across a rooftop, a stalled vehicle or a search grid, the light goes with it. There is no second control to fly.
Always-on and strobe
Always-on gives a steady wash for inspection, search sweeps and night patrols. Strobe is for signalling: marking a position for a ground team, or drawing attention to the aircraft during an incident.
DJI AS1 Speaker: a voice from the air
The AS1 puts out 114 dB at one metre and carries up to 300 metres. That is enough to issue an instruction over wind, traffic and crowd noise, or to guide a lost hiker toward a rescue team.
Three ways to send audio
- Live broadcast: the pilot or incident commander speaks directly through the controller.
- Text-to-speech: type a message and the speaker reads it out, useful for standard warnings and announcements in more than one language.
- Media import: load a recorded clip and loop it, so one operator can keep a message playing while flying.
Built-in echo suppression is what makes this work outdoors. At distance, reflected sound turns speech into noise; the AS1’s processing keeps the message intelligible.
Where the pair earns its keep
Fitted one at a time, or one after the other between sorties, the AL1 and AS1 cover a wide range of public-safety work:
- Night search and rescue: light the area the thermal camera flagged, confirm the target, then guide it toward help.
- Flood and disaster response: broadcast evacuation instructions to people stranded beyond the reach of a ground team.
- Crowd management: clear, repeatable announcements over a large venue or event.
- Perimeter security: illuminate an intrusion alert and issue a warning without sending a guard into the dark.
- Accident and incident scenes: light the site and direct traffic or bystanders from above.
- Missing persons: a strobe to mark a position and a voice to reassure.
One airframe, two payloads: the pair together lists at ₹74,998 at current XBOOM prices, far less than a second aircraft. Swapping payloads, not drones, is what keeps a public-safety fleet affordable.
Using lights and loudspeakers responsibly
Capability is not permission. Flying a drone over people, at night, or broadcasting to the public involves airspace rules and the agreement of the authority running the operation. Government and public-safety teams should work within their own protocols; private operators should confirm what DGCA rules and local permissions apply before using either payload.
Practical points matter too. A strobe can disorient people and animals, so use it deliberately. A loudspeaker message should be short, calm and repeated, since people in an emergency remember less than you expect.
Regulation is also moving towards certified enterprise operations, so it pays to standardise on a multi-payload platform. Our guide to India’s BVLOS drone rules explains what to expect.
Choosing the right drone to carry them
The AL1 and AS1 are enterprise payloads, so they need an enterprise airframe. Exact aircraft compatibility is listed on each product page, and our team will confirm the fit before you order.
If you are planning a larger programme, the DJI Matrice 400 is XBOOM’s flagship multi-payload platform, with up to 59 minutes of flight time, 360° obstacle sensing and an IP55 rating. Not sure where to start? The Drone Finder narrows the choice in a few questions.
Frequently asked questions
How far does the DJI AL1 Spotlight reach?
Up to 100 metres. In wide mode it lights roughly 2,200 square metres at that distance, and it has both always-on and strobe modes.
How far can the DJI AS1 Speaker be heard?
It broadcasts up to 300 metres, at 114 dB measured at one metre. Echo suppression helps keep the audio clear at range.
Can the AS1 play a recorded or typed message?
Yes. It supports live broadcast, text-to-speech from typed text, and importing an audio file to play or loop.
Can one drone carry both the spotlight and the speaker?
Both are quick-release payloads, so you can swap them between sorties on the same aircraft. Whether a given drone can carry both at once depends on its payload ports, so check the aircraft’s specification or ask us.
Do the AL1 and AS1 work in cold or hot weather?
Both are rated for −20°C to 50°C, which covers most Indian field conditions, from a hill-station night call-out to a summer industrial site.
Equip your drone to find, light and speak
Tell us the missions you fly and the aircraft you already have, and we will recommend the right payload set. Explore the DJI AL1 Spotlight and DJI AS1 Speaker, browse our enterprise drone range, or talk to the XBOOM team.
