GPS World

Tag: Percepto

  • Percepto granted FAA approval for fully autonomous fleet inspections

    Percepto granted FAA approval for fully autonomous fleet inspections

    Image: Percepto
    Image: Percepto

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Percepto a nationwide waiver to operate a full fleet of its UAVs remotely by one operator.

    Prior to the approval, Percepto UAVs required one pilot per UAV. Now, users can operate up to 30 drone-in-a-box systems simultaneously with one pilot. The waiver aims to improve the capabilities of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) UAV operations across the U.S. By utilizing remote pre-flight checks and advanced automation, this waiver eliminates the need for human interference or expensive radars.

    According to the company, the approval is the final regulatory step to achieve large-scale remote UAV operations, following the recent approval for nationwide BVLOS operations.

    Percepto’s drone-in-a-box systems consist of a UAV that operates out of a docking station, often used in remote or hard-to-access locations. When set up with a power source and internet connection, the docking station charges and autonomously operates the UAV, allowing operations to run 24/7 and reducing reliance on human presence or interference.

  • Percepto receives FAA waiver to scale shielded BVLOS commercial UAS operations

    Percepto receives FAA waiver to scale shielded BVLOS commercial UAS operations

    Percepto has received a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that allows it to operate unmanned aerial systems (UAS) beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) in shielded airspace — without humans onsite, and without ground-based or airborne detect and avoid (DAA) systems — for inspection and monitoring operations at critical and non-critical infrastructure sites nationwide.

    Under the waiver, low risk “shielded” BVLOS operations are authorized 200 ft above and around assets located on critical infrastructure sites. At non-critical infrastructure sites, shielded BVLOS operations are permitted 50 ft above and around the height of the tallest obstruction located within a half-mile radius of the site.

    The operations authorized under this approval build upon recommendations made by the UAS BVLOS Aviation Rulemaking Committee chartered by the FAA. The ARC recognized that shielded airspace near structures and other obstacles where crewed aircraft do not typically operate could be leveraged as a safety mitigation to support safe, scalable, and economically viable UAS BVLOS operations.

    The use of Percepto’s UAS to perform critical infrastructure inspections aims to improve worker safety and efficiency of operations by enabling inspections remotely from anywhere in the United States.

    Percepto is at XPONENTIAL May 9-11, at booth 3409.

  • FAA approves Percepto for an HA BVLOS UAV inspection

    FAA approves Percepto for an HA BVLOS UAV inspection

    Photo:
    Image: Percepto

    Percepto has announced the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the use of its UAV-in-a-box solution to perform highly automated beyond visual line of sight (HA BVLOS) inspections and monitoring operations at a large solar power plant in Texas.

    The HA BVLOS UAV will fly at 200 feet above ground, which is double the altitude of any previously approved operation in the United States. The ability to fly at a higher altitude will enable greater operational flexibility to monitor large areas and tall structures in the future, including mapping and modeling.

    Percepto’s HA BVLOS UAV enables an automated detect and avoid cycle, eliminating the need for remote pilot in command interventions if other aircraft are detected.  Additionally, this capability negates the need for a pilot or visual observer on site.

    The FAA approval for the solar plant deployment serves as a model for other industries including mining and oil and gas, to potentially increase site efficiency through automated remote inspection operation.

  • Percepto drones to inspect Florida Power & Light facilities

    Percepto drones to inspect Florida Power & Light facilities

    Image: Percepto
    Image: Percepto

    Florida Power & Light to deploy 13 autonomous drones, with plans for hundreds more in coming years to monitor statewide power grid

    UAV company Percepto will deploy autonomous drones to monitor Florida power substations and distribution grids across the state.

    Florida Power & Light (FPL) will deploy drone-in-a-box technology statewide, which Percepto claims is the largest commercial autonomous drone project in the world.

    Image: Florida Public Service Commission
    FPL serves the northeast and southern half of Florida. (Image: Florida Public Service Commission)

    Serving more than 11 million people in Florida, FPL uses Percepto’s Autonomous Inspection and Monitoring (AIM) solution powered by drones to perform routine infrastructure inspection and monitoring.

    In the first phase of the project, 13 drones will take flight in the West Palm Beach area this year, with long-term plans to field hundreds of Percepto over the next five years.

    The drone-in-a-box solution was the first to pass Level 5 hurricane testing at a wind speed of up to 155 mph, making it suitable for minimizing incident response times and power outages in Florida.

    Percepto has served FPL since 2018, working closely to develop optimized drone monitoring solutions and build consensus and compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. The FAA issued a nationwide waiver for FPL to fly Percepto drones for surveillance and inspection purposes at sites owned and serviced by FPL.

    As part of its ongoing work with the FAA, Percepto is a member of the Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) that has provided its regulatory recommendations to fully incorporate highly automated BVLOS operations flights in the national airspace.

    The drones in operation across the state will be coordinated on a single platform through Percepto’s AIM solution. With Percepto AIM, drones can be operated remotely to ensure that they work together in sync, providing maximum coverage at the sites they monitor.