Fortem Technologies and Southern States LLC have announced a strategic partnership to deliver integrated airspace awareness and counter-drone solutions designed for electric utility infrastructure protection. Southern States, a century-old provider of high-voltage switching and grid-resiliency technology, has integrated Fortem's specialized counter-unmanned aircraft system … [Read more...] about Fortem and Southern States Partner on Grid Defense
Inspection
Generative AI + Autonomy: The Next Leap for Industrial Drone Programs
Generative AI-run systems point to the future of drone applications By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Recent advances in the development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and pending new regulations regarding UAV operations are likely to pave the way for widespread industrial adoption of fully autonomous drones, according to a speaker at the Energy … [Read more...] about Generative AI + Autonomy: The Next Leap for Industrial Drone Programs
From the Floor of Intergeo 2025: Xer Showcases Their Hybrid-Electric X8 Infrastructure Inspection Drone
Swiss manufacturer Xer Technologies presented its Xer X8 hybrid-electric unmanned aircraft system at Intergeo 2025 in Frankfurt, demonstrating the platform's advanced capabilities for large-scale infrastructure monitoring operations. The Xer X8 addresses critical operational limitations of battery-powered drones through innovative hybrid propulsion technology. Xer X8 Technical … [Read more...] about From the Floor of Intergeo 2025: Xer Showcases Their Hybrid-Electric X8 Infrastructure Inspection Drone
Leveraging Point Clouds for Vegetation Encroachment Assessment: A Drone-Enabled Approach
This article from Blue Marble Geographics highlights how advanced point cloud analysis can support vegetation fire risk assessment. Blue Marble is known for its geospatial software, including Global Mapper and Global Mapper Pro, which provide powerful tools for working with LiDAR, photogrammetry, and other complex datasets. These solutions enable users across industries—from … [Read more...] about Leveraging Point Clouds for Vegetation Encroachment Assessment: A Drone-Enabled Approach
Drones Go Underground: Japan’s Toda Construction Uses UAVs to Inspect Tunnel Faces
AI-powered drone system reduces inspection time from 2 hours to 17 minutes, offering a safer, faster solution for subterranean infrastructure projects by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japanese UAS Industrial Development Association. Japanese firm Toda Construction Co. has developed an innovative new application … [Read more...] about Drones Go Underground: Japan’s Toda Construction Uses UAVs to Inspect Tunnel Faces
