Category Archives: News

Quanta Services Gets Patent for UAS for Bonding to Powerlines Safely

Quanta Services has been granted a patent for a remotely controlled unmanned aerial device that can safely operate near high voltage powerlines. The device includes an electrically conductive shield that encapsulates the unmanned aerial vehicle, allowing it to transfer the powerline potential without affecting its components. The system aims to protect the vehicle from electrical charge while in contact with the powerlines. Continue reading →

Mitigating Magnetic Field Dangers for Power Line Inspection Drones

Unmanned aircraft systems  have emerged as a novel method of inspecting power lines, allowing power utility companies to review the health of their infrastructure more quickly and more safely. But drone operators must maintain a delicate balance, flying close enough to power lines to capture highly detailed images while staying far enough away so as not to be affected by the electromagnetic fields generated by power lines, which interfere with drone operations. Continue reading →

Wing Gets FAA Approval for Drone Deliveries in Dallas

The FAA has approved Wing’s detect and avoid (DAA) approach for its beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations without visual observers through a summary grant, which will allow its drones to use Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast-based (ADS-B) DAA inside a major area of Dallas airspace where traditional aircraft are required to continually broadcast their position. Continue reading →