Image courtesy SwissDrones
US energy provider Southern Company has contracted SwissDrones, a Switzerland-based provider of advanced aerial intelligence solutions and long-range unmanned helicopter systems, to deploy their SDO 50 and enhance aerial intelligence capabilities.
SwissDrones’ SDO 50 is an unmanned helicopter and one of the first unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the category beyond 25kg to be approved in over 30 countries to fly long-range beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) missions, says the tech company in a release.
Its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability, along with heavy payload capacity, offers an alternative to a manned aircraft. Additionally, according to SwissDrones, it’s a more sustainable solution, reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 95%.
Southern Company will deploy the aircraft to modernise maintenance protocol, enable efficient infrastructure monitoring, and conduct swift storm damage assessment.
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Commenting in a release was Ulrich Amberg, CEO of SwissDrones: “Energy companies are dealing with a host of difficult circumstances when it comes to maintaining their critical infrastructure.
“From an increase in extreme weather events to cumbersome inspection practices, companies need new, innovative solutions. Teaming up with Southern Company will enable more efficient aerial surveillance and inspection to navigate those challenges.”
Said Dean Barefield, UAS programme manager at Southern Company: “Partnering with SwissDrones empowers us to bring innovation to aerial inspection and infrastructure maintenance.
“As our first deployment of a large unmanned aerial system (UAS), the SDO 50 will expand our operational reach, allowing us to cover greater distances across our power lines in the Southeast and across our natural gas infrastructure throughout our broader service territory. This technology enhances our ability to gather high-quality data for both electric and gas operations, ultimately helping us better serve all of our customers.”
The contract is the first for SwissDrones with the energy company, driving their expansion into North America.
SwissDrones says that this partnership reflects a broader industry trend toward adopting advanced uncrewed systems for critical infrastructure monitoring and emergency response.
