A few years ago during an election cycle, while working on a security detail, I was operating a DJI M300 equipped with a dual gimbal setup, an H20T camera, and an IR spotlight. An unattended vehicle had been parked near the elections building, so I deployed the drone to investigate. I was able to clearly view the interior of the vehicle and determine that it was unoccupied.
The IR spotlight performed well—slightly finicky at times, but overall very effective. It’s worth noting that the area was completely dark, and the spotlight itself was invisible to the naked eye. For covert surveillance, an IR spotlight is definitely a valuable tool to have available. I hope that in the near future, IR technology will be integrated into newer enterprise drones with a smaller footprint, as the dual gimbal setup can be somewhat bulky.