Blogs

The EU Regulatory Framework 

There are two main regulations that guide drone operations in Europe: Delegated Regulation 945 and Implementing Regulation 947.

‍

Delegated Regulation (EU) 945/2019:

Delegated Regulation 945 outlines specifications for the design and manufacturing processes of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS). It sets requirements to ensure the safety, reliability, and compliance of UAS products within the European Union.

‍

Implementing Regulation (EU) 947/2019:

Implementing Regulation 947 establishes rules and procedures governing the operation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and personnel such as remote pilots within the EU states. It defines the operational requirements to ensure safe and standardized drone activities across member states.

‍

Classification of drone operations

The European airspace categorizes aerial operations into three main types. The regulation in Europe follows the concept of proportionality. These categories are tailored based on the level of risk associated with different drone operations. This regulatory framework applies to both, commercial and non-commercial operations.

Open category
The Open category pertains to low-risk aerial operations with minimal involvement from authorities. However, there are several technical restrictions and flight limitations to consider. Operators simply need to register their drones, check state insurance requirements, and fly within the operational limits set by the subcategory. The manufacturer, who needs to provide drones with a class identification label, handles any technical restrictions. However, these operations are limited to Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) only and cannot be used for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights. 

‍

In this category, the drones are restricted to a maximum altitude of 120 meters above ground level and can weigh no more than 25 kilograms. The Open category is further divided into subcategories A1, A2, and A3.-- which may be summarized as follows:

‍

A1: fly over people but not over assemblies of people 

A2: fly close to people

A3: fly far from people

‍

‍

Specific category

The Specific category involves a higher level of involvement from authorities. Unlike the Open category, drones in the Specific category can fly Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), above 120 meters in altitude, and weigh more than 25 kilograms. Generally, commercial drone operations utilizing docking stations to automate flight operations fall under this category. Operators need to seek operational authorization from the National Aviation Authority (NAA) through the following approvals:

SORA: It is a risk assessment methodology for drone flights in a specific category that aids in classifying risks, identifying mitigations, and setting safety objectives. SORA helps establish operational limitations, training goals, technical requirements, and operational procedures.

PDRA: The Predefined Risk Assessment (PDRA) is an operational scenario for which EASA has already carried out the risk assessment and has been published as an acceptable means of compliance.

‍

STS: STS is a predefined operation described in EU regulations. An operator is not required to obtain operational authorization to conduct an operation covered by a STS. Two STSs have been published so far:

• STS 01 – VLOS over a controlled ground area in a populated environment;
• STS 02 – BVLOS with Airspace Observers over a controlled.

‍

LUC: Light Unmanned Operator Certificate (LUC) is an optional certification that grants privileges, such as starting operations in a specific category without requiring operational authorization. Operators can voluntarily request an assessment from their NAA to evaluate their capability to assess operational risks.

‍

Certified category
The Certified category is designated as high-risk and operates under a regulatory framework akin to crewed aviation. This category applies to operations involving elevated risks such as transporting passengers, carrying dangerous goods, and flying over assemblies of people with drones positioned above three meters.

‍

Understanding Class Identification Label

According to EU regulations, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) are classified into seven distinct categories known as Class Identification Labels. The specifications and physical characteristics of the drone are what determine its classification. These labels range from C0 to C6, with drones in the C0 class weighing less than 250 grams and those in the C6 class weighing less than 25 kilograms. They apply to both the open and specific categories.

‍

Following are the technical requirements and limitations for all class-labeled drones:

‍

These labels provide clarity for drone operators and regulatory authorities alike. They ensure that drones are appropriately matched with the level of risk associated with their operation. By categorizing drones into specific classes, the regulations have been tailored to address the varying levels of risk posed by different types of drones. This approach promotes safety, accountability, and standardization across the drone industry.

‍

The specific category includes class labels C5 and C6. They require the implementation of a geocaging system, enabling remote pilots to establish a virtual perimeter and a programmable boundary for their operations. Additionally, a flight termination system (FTS) must be available for emergencies.

‍

Remote ID requirements

According to EASA, starting from January 1st, operations in the open category require drones with a class label. But, if you have already bought a drone without a label before January 2024, you can still fly it in subcategories A1, A2, and A3, depending upon the weight of the drone. Additionally, from January 1st, 2024, all drones in the specific category and those with class labels 1 and above must have an active remote identification system.

‍

Remote ID allows drones to provide identification and location information while airborne, which can be received through a broadcast signal. This feature is essential for ground safety and security in drone operations. Moreover, Remote IDs help EASA, law enforcement, and regulatory bodies identify whether the drones are operating unsafely or in prohibited areas.

‍

Obtaining operational approvals for the Specific category operations

The Specific category encompasses a wide range of activities, from commercial endeavors to specialized missions that require a higher level of involvement from regulatory authorities. To ensure compliance and safety, operators must undergo a rigorous process of obtaining approvals. By understanding and following these steps, operators can navigate the complexities of the Specific category.

1. Concept of Operations (ConOps): In the drone industry, ConOps outlines how drone systems are used in specific operational environments. It details the roles of drones, user responsibilities, various flight and mission scenarios, as well as maintenance and support protocols, guiding stakeholders through the development, implementation, and usage stages.
   
   
2. Risk Assessment: This assessment helps evaluate potential hazards and assesses the level of risk associated with the proposed drone operation. These assessments could be in the form of Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA), Predefined Risk Assessment (PDRA),  Standard Scenario (STS), or Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC), as mentioned above.
   
   
3. Training: Operators should undergo specific training to demonstrate proficiency in operating drones within the Specific category. These training sessions could cover topics such as flight planning, emergency response, and compliance with regulations. Training ensures that operators have the necessary skills and knowledge to conduct operations safely and effectively.
   
   
4. Approvals: The national aviation authorities evaluate the proposed ConOps and if all the requirements regarding mitigating potential risks are met, they grant approval for the operation to proceed.
   
   
5. Flight: Once the approvals are completed one can conduct the drone operations.

‍

Understanding the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) in detail

According to EASA “SORA is a methodology for the classification of the risk posed by a drone flight in the specific category of operations and for the identification of mitigations and of the safety objectives.” The following 10 steps explain the process of obtaining the SORA approval.
‍

‍

2. Intrinsic Ground Risk Class (GRC): Determining inherent ground risk based on factors like the presence of people or buildings.

‍

3. Final Ground Risk Class (GRC): Assessing ground risk after implementing mitigations to address potential hazards.

‍

4. Initial Air Risk Class (ARC): Evaluating air risk factors before each operation, such as airspace congestion or weather conditions.

‍

5. Strategic Air Risk Mitigations: Applying pre-flight measures to mitigate air risk, like ensuring drones are weather-resistant.

‍

6. Tactical Air Risk Mitigations: Implementing in-flight measures, such as automatic hover or return-home programming.

‍

7. Final Specific Assurance and Integrity Level (SAIL): Determining the overall safety level by combining ground and air risk assessments.

‍

8. Operational Safety Objectives (OSOs): Identifying specific safety objectives based on the organization's SAIL.

‍

9. Adjacent Area and Airspace Considerations: Developing strategies to mitigate risks of encroachment on nearby airspace or ground areas during operations.

‍

10. Comprehensive Safety Portfolio: Compiling all assessment results into detailed safety documentation.

‍

SORA categorizes the risk of an operation into six levels, denoted as SAIL levels, ranging from I to VI. This classification is derived from a comprehensive evaluation that combines both Ground Risk and Air Risk factors. Each SAIL level corresponds to specific requirements that operators must adhere to, meticulously tailored to mitigate the identified risks inherent to the operation. By employing SORA, operators can effectively evaluate and manage the risk landscape associated with their drone operations, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance across the board.

SAIL II operations with DJI Dock and FlytBase

DJI Dock operations can be conducted for SAIL II levels, for which it is essential to achieve a Ground Risk level of 3. It depends on factors like drone and dock size, as well as population density. Currently, the Matrice 30, coupled with the DJI Dock can be easily flown Beyond Visual Line of Sight over a sparsely populated area, while the smaller drone Matrice 3D coupled with the recently released, Dock 2 can potentially fly over a populated area.

‍

However, Ground Risk mitigation, such as parachutes should be integrated to lower the Ground Risk down to a level of 3. Additionally, a Flight Termination System (FTS) is a crucial element to be considered, which might be required to operate the drones close to adjacent areas with a particularly higher level of risk.

‍

EASA's SAIL III compliance, issued on December 18, 2023, provides comprehensive guidance regarding Flight Termination Systems (FTS) in drone operations. It says that drones must be protected from human errors, particularly in situations leading to a loss of control. These situations encompass various scenarios such as crashes with ground, infrastructure, or people.

‍

The compliance emphasizes preventing pilots from selecting parameters that could directly result in a loss of control, including actions such as selecting non-active communication links, deactivating safety functions necessary for operation, and activating flight termination systems during normal operations.

‍

The compliance emphasizes preventing pilots from selecting parameters that could directly result in a loss of control, including actions such as selecting non-active communication links, deactivating safety functions necessary for operation, and activating flight termination systems during normal operations.

‍

FlytBase offers an enterprise-grade drone autonomy platform for streamlined aerial data collection enabling automated BVLOS flights using docking stations. Users can establish custom Geofences and manage No Fly Zones (NFZs) to ensure safety and compliance with regulations. The platform integrates advanced technologies like Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems and ADS-B for airspace awareness, alongside onboard connectivity options and parachute recovery systems. Also, one can access detailed flight logs with automatic PDF reports for safety demonstration and regulatory compliance. 

‍

Conclusion and way ahead

In conclusion, the EU drone regulations provide a comprehensive framework to ensure the safe and responsible use of uncrewed aircraft systems. From the Open to the Specific category, each level is tailored to the associated risk, fostering innovation while prioritizing safety.

Looking ahead, recent updates from EASA bring promising changes. SAIL 3 operations, previously requiring a design verification report, now become more accessible. Manufacturers can declare compliance through means of compliance (MoCs), providing a pathway to broader Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations without the need for extensive verification processes.

^{Phased Approach for Autonomous Drone Operations}

To ensure regulatory compliance and operational safety, Kevin recommends a phased approach to drone implementation for industrial inspections. The approach involves a step-by-step progression in terms of removing human intervention and increasing automation in drone operations. The framework can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each project and it has proven to be effective, particularly in Canada. The four phases of this approach are as follows:

‍

1. Licensed Pilot with a RC and Visual Observer (VO): In the first phase, the drone operation starts with a licensed pilot operating the drone via RC while also acting as a visual observer. This requires no specific licensing and counts as a regular flight. The only difference between this and a regular flight is that the pilot will be operating through the dock, but will essentially be ready to take control with the RC in the event of an emergency.
   
   
2. Dock and Software with VO having Return-to-Home Functionality: The pilot is removed from the drone operation in the second phase, and the drone is piloted remotely using cloud-based software. However, this operation remains within the visual line of sight since a visual observer (VO) is present on the site with a return-to-home functionality to take control of the drone in case of an emergency.
   
   
3. Dock and Software with Complete Autonomy within VLOS: In the third phase, the drone operations are completely autonomous and the dock and the drone are remotely controlled from the command center without a licensed pilot or a VO on site. These operations however are conducted within the visual range and will test the ability of the drone to navigate on its own.
   
   
4. Dock and Software for Fully BVLOS Ops: Drone operations extend beyond the range specified in phase 3 in the final phase, necessitating a waiver from the regulatory authority of the operating geography. These operations require the use of technology such as Detect and Avoid, UTMs, and others.
   ‍

‍

^{Applications of Drones in the Energy Industry}

Let's take a closer look at some of the applications in the power generation industry where autonomous drone operations can generate value or make the most sense: 

‍

Drones in Solar Farm Inspection

The solar industry is constantly looking for ways to streamline solar panel maintenance and reduce the time required for upkeep. A potential answer to this problem is the use of drones. Autonomous operations can make the process more efficient, allowing for faster and more accurate inspection.

‍

"Maintenance personnel still spend far too much time looking for problems rather than maintaining equipment," Kevin points out, "and this is where autonomy and AI applications will provide the most bang for the buck."

‍

‍

The drones can be programmed to autonomously take off from their docks at a scheduled time, follow specific flight paths, capturing images of the solar panels from different angles. The images are then analyzed using AI algorithms to identify any faults or issues, such as damaged panels or vegetation growth. This information is relayed in real time to maintenance teams, who can then prioritize their efforts accordingly. 

‍

Additionally, the same system can be used to track the progress of the solar farm's construction process and conduct security patrols. Designers can identify and correct any issues that may arise during the construction phase. Furthermore, the construction process can be made more transparent by providing regular updates to stakeholders.

‍

‍

Drones for Inspecting Dam Spillways

The use of autonomous drone systems in detecting and responding to dam spillways has been gaining traction in recent years. Energy companies can reduce the risk of personnel injury by monitoring and inspecting the dam spillway from a safe distance.

‍

‍

Kevin shares an account about how they received a BVLOS waiver to conduct drone operations after a fatality occurred during a flood caused by dam water release. Before releasing the water, autonomous drones can perform a quick inspection of the spillway.

‍

He emphasizes that each use-case has its own set of technical requirements. Considerations like whether the drone is below grade or whether an LTE or RF connection is necessary had to be made in the case of the dam spillways.
‍

‍

^{What Lies Ahead}

Implementing autonomous drone operations in industries like power generation could present several challenges such as navigating the complex regulatory frameworks, technical development, and partnerships with third-party providers. Kevin emphasizes that, in order to address regulatory challenges, industry players collaborate with regulatory bodies and use phased approaches to build trust over time.

‍

Technical challenges are addressed through R&D investments and collaborations with third-party providers to integrate complementary technologies. Partnership challenges are addressed by developing integrated solutions through open APIs and software development kits. Through these solutions, the benefits of autonomous drone operations can be realized while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.

‍

He concludes the session by stating the importance to remember that there is “no one-size-fits-all” solution in the drone industry. Different use cases will require different sensors and aircraft, and there will be a variety of hardware and software options available to meet these needs.

‍

When considering partners for proof of concept projects, it's important to find a partner who can take a holistic approach to the project, considering all aspects of the drone solution from regulatory engagement to data hosting and security. With the right partners and solutions in place, drone-in-a-box systems have the potential to greatly improve efficiency, safety, and security across a wide range of industries.

^{How Pampa Energía Conducted Thermal Power Station Inspection with Drones}

In 2017, Pampa Energía integrated drones into their asset inspection operations and have since expanded to a fleet of nine different drones to assist in their large-scale operations. During inspections, they primarily use the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced and Matrice 200 series drones for photo imaging and analysis.

‍

These drones enable them to quickly cover large areas and capture tens of thousands of photographs, which are then stitched together into an orthomozaic to create an accurate representation of the plant. Pampa Energía conducts three types of inspections:

‍

3. Triggered

Triggered inspections are only carried out when there is a specific problem that needs to be assessed, such as the surveillance of oilfields and pipelines.

‍

‍

^{Challenges Faced by Pampa Energía with Manual Drone Inspections}

As the demand for energy in Argentina grew, continuous monitoring and preventive maintenance of the Genelba Thermal Power Plant (CTGEBA) became critical to ensure uninterrupted operations. With a total capacity of 1,253 MW, representing 2.9% of the nation's installed capacity, the plant required frequent inspections to maintain safety and efficiency. However, as the plant expanded, manual inspections became increasingly challenging and time-consuming, leading to two major difficulties:

‍

1. Increase in drone inspection rounds

‍

As the Genelba Thermal Power Plant grew in size, it required a large number of manual visual inspection rounds to be carried out to cover the new equipment. This gradually increased the time required to cover the entire power plant for thermal inspection. The available inspectors were no longer able to cover the entire power plant in a single shift, resulting in a significant gap in the inspection timeline.

‍

‍

^{Optimizing Inspection of Thermal Power Plants with Drone-in-a-Box Solution}

As part of its Digital Transformation strategy, Pampa Energía sought to optimize the inspection routes at the Genelba power plant. Rather than hiring additional employees and drone pilots, they decided to explore the use of autonomous drones to simultaneously carry out maintenance planning, inspections and security operations.

‍

Phased Implementation Process

‍

The deployment has been carried out in several stages, as follows:

‍

• First, a proof of concept test was conducted to evaluate various docking stations, battery recharge technologies, and control software.
  ‍
• The selected technologies were then purchased, and a highly thorough series of tests were run to ensure that the equipment's functionality and how it interacted with one another were both verified.
  ‍
• A determined and tested set of paths were determined for the drone.
  ‍

Additionally, the present and upcoming team members also received training on how to use this technology to carry out drone missions.

‍

The biggest benefit that drone-in-a-box systems provided was the dual functionality. The team at Pampa intended to deploy these systems across their power plants for inspection as well as security. The inspection team could use the docking station to do monitoring and maintenance of the plants during the daytime and in the nighttime they use the same devices for security.

‍

^{Why Pampa Energía Chose FlytNow as their DiaB Operations Software}

As Marcelo Lopez, Pampa Energía's Project Manager, pointed out “We wanted to optimize inspection routes at the Genelba power plant since the area was too large for inspectors to cover in a single shift. We decided to employ the FlytNow-powered autonomous drone-in-a-box solution due to its superior unattended flight technology and affordable price. The FlytNow customer success team has been dedicated to resolving customer issues. They are aware of industry developments, are attentive to their customer's needs, and capable of handling challenges.”

‍

Here’s how they benefited from autonomous drone-in-a-box systems powered by FlytNow:

‍

1. Improvement in inspection rounds:

‍

FlytNow enabled Pampa Energía's operations team and inspectors to schedule and execute repeatable drone missions along pre-established routes, stopping at specific points of interest to view assets remotely.

‍

The remote control of the drone's camera payload allowed for efficient zooming to detect faults or abnormalities in the power plants. Compared to manual inspections, FlytNow resulted in faster and more efficient rounds, significantly reducing the time and effort required to inspect large areas like the Genelba plant. 

Here’s how an inspection routine looked like:

Furthermore, the team utilized drone docking stations to perform security patrols at regular intervals, effectively monitoring the premises for any potential intrusions. By deploying drones to the site prior to security personnel, the team was able to proactively prepare for incidents, while simultaneously saving time and resources in terms of fuel and personnel typically required for routine patrols. The image below depicts a typical security patrol mission:

‍

‍

2. Reduction in accidents:

‍

Given that, in a thermal power station the potential for devastating mishaps due to high pressures and temperatures is very high, it is crucial to ensure the safety of workers while maintaining the smooth operation of the plant. With the ability to send drones autonomously at a click of a button, the team can now access hard-to-reach or dangerous areas with ease, without having to send the local team in harm’s way.

‍

By remotely monitoring the plant's critical infrastructure and systems, the team can quickly identify and address any issues before they escalate into major accidents, thereby reducing the risks associated with human error.

‍

‍

Additionally, FlytNow with a host of security features enabled the safety of the drone & the dock as well. With features such as:

‍

• Failsafes: FlytNow is equipped with various failsafe mechanisms that provide assistance in case of emergencies. For instance, in the event of a lost RC link or internet connectivity, the drone can either pause until the connection is restored or perform a controlled emergency landing at a predetermined safe location in case of low battery alerts. These failsafe mechanisms and timeout settings can be easily customized and configured by the team to ensure optimal safety during drone operations.

‍

• Geofence: The operators also have the ability to create virtual fences around the area of their operation and prevent the drone from entering restricted zones by taking specific actions if the fence is breached.

‍

• Collision avoidance: FlytNow enables collision avoidance by constantly scanning the drone's surroundings for potential obstacles. A real-time radar map with red, yellow, and green indicators is displayed on the operator's screen, allowing them to safely maneuver the drone around obstacles. This feature provides an additional layer of safety and helps prevent accidents, making it easier to navigate through challenging or unknown environments.
  ‍

3. Better precise documentation:

‍

The advanced video and image capture capabilities of FlytNow provide operators with a clear and accurate view of the plant in real-time. Moreover, the cloud media sync feature enabled operators to conveniently upload media from their drone's SD card directly to a pre-configured private cloud storage (AWS S3), without any disruption in their workflow. The archived data can be stored, organized, and shared across various stakeholders directly from the FlytNow dashboard to increase operational efficiency and situational awareness.

‍

‍

^{The Way Ahead for Pampa Energía with Autonomous DiaB Solution}

As the second-highest per capita energy consumer in South America, Argentina faces increasing demand for electricity, driven by the need for space heating. With thermal power plants being the most reliable source of energy generation, their continuous operation is crucial to meet the country's energy needs.

‍

Once the Pampa Energía's deployment of autonomous drones at the Genelba power plant proves to be successful in enhancing operational efficiency and reducing the risk of accidents, the company plans to expand its drone-in-a-box program to several other power plants, ensuring a safer and more efficient operation while maximizing the return on investment.

‍

Achal Negi, Director of Business Development at FlytBase, highlights the potential drone-in-a-box systems hold for the future of thermal plant inspection and monitoring. He concludes by stating that: “Currently, manual inspection of thermal power plants is a time-consuming and potentially hazardous task for workers. By using autonomous drones for these inspections, energy companies can increase efficiency and safety for workers and reduce any potential down-time of the plant. Furthermore, the use of automated drones for thermal power station inspection with drones and docks offer more frequent and thorough inspections and also improve night-time security operations for power stations. We will see more autonomous drone-in-a-box deployments in power plants in the coming years.”

‍

At NestGen ‘22, Marcelo Lopez, discussed their operations in detail. Watch the entire video to learn more:

‍

‍

^{The Current Challenges with Pipeline Inspections:}

Pipelines are vital infrastructure for the transmission of oil and natural gas, connecting producing areas to refineries, chemical plants, home customers, and commercial demands. However, oil and natural gas are combustible and explosive substances that are typically delivered via high-temperature, high-pressure pipeline networks. Hereby, it is critical to monitor these pipelines to ensure that they are operating effectively.

However, traditional pipeline inspection methods have some issues, such as:
‍

Foot Patrols

Once the aircraft confirms an encroachment, foot patrols, typically consisting of two personnel, are dispatched to these remote locations. Such manual site inspections take approximately 8 hours and cost approximately $500 merely to have a closer look and validate the threat.

‍

conducting pipeline monitoring for oil and gas companies with manual methods

‍

Time-consuming method

Traveling from one asset to another is frequently difficult. Operators may need to drive lengthy miles along gravel or dirt roads to visit several inspection sites. The distance and hard terrain may need a significant amount of time.

‍

‍

^{How can Drones with BVLOS Capabilities Help Oil and Gas Companies Secure Pipelines} ‍

Ease of travel between assets

‍

Drone program can help in conducting inspection for oil and gas companies without human intervention

‍

Traveling between assets during inspection operations might become challenging because these pipes can span thousands of meters. The team may be required to travel long distances and to distant regions where there is no adequate road infrastructure.

‍

Operators must travel to the sites, assess the asset, review their data, and then drive to another asset. Furthermore, they must repeat the entire process until all assets have been inspected. This can take a significant amount of time which can be costly for an industry like oil and gas.

‍

However, drones can travel vast distances and reach difficult-to-access locations. Additionally, using drone-in-a-box systems, eliminate the need for continual re-launching, packing, and landing of drones which is majorly faced in manual-led VLOS operations.

‍

Simplify early detection of pipeline leaks

‍

Example of leak in the gas pipeline is affecting the surrounding environment

‍

Drones are increasingly being used in the oil and gas industry for early detection of pipeline leaks. By using advanced drone technology including thermal cameras and visual or infrared cameras, these drones help the operators to identify gas leaks in storage tanks and pipelines with greater accuracy and efficiency than traditional methods.

‍

These drones can easily access hard-to-reach areas and capture high-quality photos and videos of the pipelines and storage tanks. These data can be helpful to conduct image analytics for accurate and early detection of potential leaks or damage.

‍

This allows operators to respond quickly and effectively to potential pipeline failure, minimizing the impact on the environment and reducing the risk of accidents. The use of drones also reduces the potential for human error, as operators can monitor the pipelines remotely, without the need for physical inspections.

‍

^{How FlytNow is Enabling BVLOS Operations}

‍

‍

FlytNow is a cloud-based solution that enables the deployment and management of drones in just a few clicks, allowing you to manage your drone operations via a single web-based dashboard for a seamless experience. It helps you lower travel costs, reduce operation rounds, and increase productivity by saving travel time. It is integrated with ready-to-use intelligent modules, like collision avoidance, and precision landing, and integration with drone-in-a-box systems, which further helps you shorten your time to market.

‍

The FlytNow software solution enables project managers to schedule pre-planned or on-demand flights from a command center located miles away from the base station. The drone takes off from the drone nest autonomously, flies its mission, captures real-time videos and images, and uploads them to the cloud.

‍

‍

Following the flight, the drone returns to the docking station for battery swapping and storage. These stations can charge up to four batteries simultaneously and swap out the existing battery in less than 90 seconds, ensuring minimal downtime. Furthermore, because it is lightweight, it can easily fit on the back of a pickup truck and be moved from one location to another if necessary.

‍

3rd party integrations in FlytNow, such as Casia G system by Iris Automation for detection and avoidance of cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft, Altitude Angel for airspace awareness, and others, assist to increase capabilities for greater insights and seamless BVLOS operations.

‍
‍

^{Leveraging Nested Drone Systems (NDS)}

‍

The Nested Drone Systems (NDS) can significantly improve the data collection process and transform how pipelines are inspected. It lets the drone operator conduct long-duration flights without the need to return the drone to the command center to recharge or swap the battery. With the nested drone system, energy companies would be able to quickly scale up, undergo a digital transformation, run safely, and boost productivity.

‍

Nitin Gupta, Founder & CEO of FlytBase, Inc. concludes by stating that “Nested Drone Solutions are rapidly revolutionizing the way repeatable, high-frequency missions are conducted across use-cases. Maintenance of pipelines, spread over thousands of miles, is a great application of this technology with a significant ROI for the end-user.

‍