FAA has approved VA Tech Drones to flow above the line of sight

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Such a power plant includes many structures that can be safely and efficiently tested. Photo courtesy of Dominion Energy.

VT Drone, which can overcome obstacles, has been granted a new license for an Air Force facility to inspect the facility.

Because it was a Virginia Tech Middle Atlantic Aviation Partnership A.D. Named the official drone test site by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2013, the research helped shape drone integration in the United States.

In the process, it has created new opportunities for companies looking at powerful ways to use the technology that sets the existing rules. One of the most recent successes was the termination of the FAA, which allowed Dominion Energy, one of the region’s largest energy companies, to use drones to explore power plants in seven states.

Drones have become a popular tool for inspecting bridges, buildings and other structures because high-quality aerial imagery is a time-consuming or potentially dangerous option. This special claim makes value to Dominion, which is widely sought after but still relatively rare.

Keeping a drone in the “line of sight” is a standard requirement in drone laws to reduce the risk of collisions with low-flying aircraft such as helicopters and small aircraft. Breaking this barrier and flying above the line of sight is a central priority in the drone industry because an operator has the ability to cover long distances or – more importantly for this type of work – due to the efficiency of turning at an angle or backwards. Obstacles.

Dominion will conduct the investigation on a US-made, unmanned aerial vehicle (SCD) aircraft. That feature allows the drone to fly safely to structures. Virginia Tech Sky and Dominican helped bring the matter to the attention of the FAA. Requirement for the pilot to see the drone or for an additional member of the aircraft to constantly monitor the airspace.

“Two of the main objectives of our research are to help companies like Dominion to develop safer and more effective ways to use drones to improve their operations, and to help drones such as Skyio use their technological capabilities to create new jobs,” said Tombo Jones. , Director of the Test Station. “This termination achieves two things.”

The project was launched under the auspices of the FAA’s BEYOND program, led by the Dominican Aircraft Program, in collaboration with SkyCo Control Team and Virginia Tech. That federal initiative focuses on enabling drone operations beyond the line of sight in situations that, like infrastructure inspections – can provide significant benefits to those much-anticipated drone strikes.

Virginia Tech Medium Atlantic Aviation Partnership will lead the Virginia BEYOND team in partnership with Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation. The Dominion Infrastructure Inspection Project is one of three applications the team is facing: the provision of housing package with Wing and insurance control with State Farm.

The transfer request from the Skydo control team covers more than 40 Dominican facilities in Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. These facilities are subject to regular inspections, which use drones to scaffolding, lowering the walls to lower or higher temperatures, or other hazards. Increasing the ability to fly over the line of sight is a significant increase in safety. To keep the drone in sight.

Dominion Energy launched its first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in 2014 with a focus on identifying power transmission defects. Since then, the Dominion Drones program has expanded its fleet of about 50 drones and unmanned aerial vehicles. Dominion Energy aircraft at power plants take volumetric measurements and evaluate the construction process, provide surveys and mapping, and inspect infrastructure.

“The 20-minute test will ensure the safety of our battery-powered drone aircraft, no longer need to crash into the structure, and save time on control-related events,” said Nati Robbie, Dominion Energy Manual Systems Program Manager. “As a pioneer in the use of drone beyond the line of sight, Dominion Energy will contribute to a safer and greener future, as well as reducing operational and maintenance costs for our customers.”

Instead of being forgiving and free in every way, the efforts in the drone industry are focused on developing regulations that allow for over-the-air flights to be regular and flexible. FAA programs such as BEYOND provide examples of real-world strategies for performing such activities in a realistic, useful, and, importantly, safe way.

“This crucial approval will bring Dominion Energy, Skydi and the entire drone industry one step closer to the next level of unmanned aerial vehicles. “As we expand beyond the line of sight, the presence of intelligent drones makes all the difference, and Skyio is proud to have the support of Dominion Energy to explore vital energy resources.”

The test site Dominion and Skyio have all served on the advisory committee convened by the FAA last year to develop legislation on oversight operations. The committee submitted its resolution to the FAA last spring.

“Most economically viable drones require flying overhead,” Jones said. It is the key to reaching our full potential. Much research and experimentation is still needed to reach that level, but operations that are active in such cases give us a window into what the future holds.



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