The Federal Aviation Administration gave American Robotics the green light this week to become the first company to operate smart drones without the need for pilots or on-site observers, the company announced Friday.
American Robotics, a Massachusetts-based industrial drone developer, will still need a human pilot supervising each flight takeoff remotely, so the process is technically not 100% autonomous, as the Verge grades. Still, the decision leaves the United States a step closer to seeing commercial flights of fully automated drones.
And since companies are able to significantly scale automated drone operations, could “borrow efficiencies for many of the industries that feed our economy, such as agriculture, mining, transportation ”and other manufacturing sectors, the FAA said in its approval documents per wall street newspaper. In a FAA statement released to the outlet on Friday, the agency added that “We carry out complete safety assessments before issuing any approval to operate unmanned aircraft.”
Once on the air, American Robotics’ The Scout drone operates alone. The aircraft autonomously navigates your predetermined Flight Route with the help of an acoustic detection system to alert you to obstacles such as birds or other drones to prevent accidents in the air. And also programmed to quickly Earth What if your systems detect malfunction and can automatically recharge in the company climate-test drone housing and loading seasons. These Scout drones are mainly turned for farmers, security and property personnel market owners for aerial inspections and real-time analytics to complement your property maintenance routines.
“With these approvals, American Robotics is ushering in a new era of widespread automated drone operations,” said American Robotics CEO and co-founder Reese Mozer on Friday. “With this set of approvals, American Robotics can safely start operating our automated Scout platform for the benefit of the vertical energy, infrastructure, agriculture and security markets, helping to unlock the $ 100 billion commercial drone market.”
G / O Media can receive a commission
Some operating restrictions still Apply. According FAA-authorized waiver, American Robotics can only fly its smart drones in certain rural areas of Kansas, Massachusetts and Nevada and cannot exceed altitudes of 400 feet, according to the Journal.
The FAA previously authorized exemptions beyond the line of sight for some selected companies, American Robotics included, for use drones that fly alone to inspect railway tracks, pipelines, and other industrial installations, provided that a human pilot or observer remained in proximity. But this week’s authorization marks a seminal legal framework, which opens the way for drone industry developers to expand operations for pilotless aircraft.