TECHNOLOGY

Airobotics gets US FAA green light for BVLOS drone use

Airobotics has received a Certificate of Waiver (CoW) from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), allowing it to fly its automated drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) from its remote operations centre in Arizona

Airobotics recently opened its US headquarters in Arizona

Airobotics recently opened its US headquarters in Arizona

The company is the first in the country to receive a CoW that allows three elements, including flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) for automated drone operations, over human beings, and with a visual observer that is not required to keep a visual line of sight on the drone.

Airobotics officials said that the waiver for the BVLOS element will be used primarily for mining industry needs, as well as at other US industrial facilities.

CEO and co-founder Ran Krauss said the certificate is a "gateway" for its capabilities to help American mining companies, as well as ports, contraction projects and other clients, from its newly opened headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona.

"As our unique pilotless drone technology and industrial-grade platform continues breaking new ground, we are able to provide customers with a more accurate and frequent data-driven solution that is the only one of its class in the industry," he said.

The growing company is working to further scale its operations in the US, and recently said its headquarters will ultimately become its global head office as it continues to scale.

It recently received additional funding to progress with that plan and confirmed this week its total investment is now US$101 million.

Airobotics, according to company data, is the first and only drone solution worldwide certified to fly without a human operator, and it is also the only drone company certified to fly BVLOS in the US, Australia and Israel.

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