Inspection

By Dronelife Features Editor Jim Magill When an offshore platform experiences a massive blowout resulting in an oil spill covering a vast expanse of ocean waters, recovery teams require accurate data on ocean currents to quickly initiate the cleanup. In past years, it was often difficult and expensive to collect such data, but over the… Read more: Texas A&M Team Uses Drones to Map Ocean Currents

By Dronelife Features Editor Jim Magill A start-up Houston-based drone and software developer is aiming to serve a large looming market demand for drone infrastructure inspections, which could one day grow to involve tens of thousands of UAV flights every day. Horizon Aerobotics, which recently emerged from stealth mode to begin commercial operations, has targeted… Read more: Drone, Software Startup Looks to Capture Growing Inspection Demand

New MFE Offshore unit expands use of uncrewed systems for offshore and maritime operations MFE Inspection Solutions has launched MFE Offshore, a new division dedicated to subsea and offshore inspection operations, with a strong focus on drone and robotic inspection technologies. Announced January 22, 2026, in Houston, Texas, the division is designed to support offshore… Read more: MFE Launches Offshore Division Focused on Subsea and Drone-Based Inspections

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 (C-UAS) components into its new Airspace Awareness product line. Technical Integration and… Read more: Fortem and Southern States Partner on Grid Defense

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 Drone/Robotics… Read more: Generative AI + Autonomy: The Next Leap for Industrial Drone Programs

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 Specifications and Performance The Xer X8, (available in an NDAA-compliant… Read more: From the Floor of Intergeo 2025: Xer Showcases Their Hybrid-Electric X8 Infrastructure Inspection Drone

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 utilities to forestry—to… Read more: Leveraging Point Clouds for Vegetation Encroachment Assessment: A Drone-Enabled Approach

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 for UAVs- not… Read more: Drones Go Underground: Japan’s Toda Construction Uses UAVs to Inspect Tunnel Faces

Autonomous Drone Solution Enhances Efficiency and Coverage in Rugged Terrain JOUAV, a manufacturer of industrial unmanned aerial systems (UAS), has partnered with the Guangxi Power Supply Bureau to launch China’s first “Fixed + Mobile” UAS autonomous inspection system for power grid operations. This solution sets a new standard in power line inspections by improving efficiency… Read more: JOUAV Introduces Fixed + Mobile UAS Inspection System for Power Grids

Nationwide BVLOS Waiver Enables More Efficient and Safer Inspections for Critical Infrastructure Cyberhawk has received a significant nationwide Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), allowing the company to operate drones without the need for a visual observer. This waiver is set to expand Cyberhawk’s capabilities in drone-based inspection,… Read more: Cyberhawk Receives FAA Waiver for Expanded U.S. Drone Operations

Strong Performance Driven by Regional Expansion and Product Innovation Cyberhawk™, a leader in drone inspection services and visual data management, announced a 55 percent revenue growth for fiscal year 2024, ending March 31. The company’s total revenue reached $28.7 million. Regional Growth and Diverse Product Offerings Cyberhawk’s growth spanned key regions, including the U.K., U.S.,… Read more: Cyberhawk Achieves 55 Percent Revenue Growth in FY 2024

Designed for desert conditions, the Perimeter 8+ WC boasts heat-resistant avionics and the ability to carry heavy payloads in temperatures up to 122°F, making it ideal for government and commercial applications Skyfront, a drone developer focused on long-distance endurance applications in difficult operating environments, recently announced their new water-cooled Perimeter 8+ WC. Designed for desert… Read more: Skyfront Launches Water-Cooled Perimeter 8+ WC for Reliable Drone Operations in Extreme Heat

Flyability and ABS to attend Posidonia 2024 with UT drone Flyability, the market leader for confined space drone inspections, announced today its presence at Posidonia 2024. Flyability will attend the tradeshow in partnership with classification society ABS, who will be at booth 3.101. Posidonia is one of the biggest shipping events of the year –… Read more: Flyability Shows Off Elios 3 Ultrasonic Thickness Payload at Posidonia 2024

Partnership aims to enhance advanced UAS operations in North Dakota Skyfire Consulting, a leading public safety UAS consulting group, has announced a partnership with Thales USA, a prominent global player in advanced technologies, to integrate the Skyfire SF2 drone into Vantis, North Dakota’s advanced UAS operations system. Thales selected the Skyfire SF2 for its versatility… Read more: Skyfire SF2 Drone Selected by Thales USA for Vantis Network Integration

Flyability, a leader in drone solutions for confined spaces, has announced an upcoming event in Denver, Colorado, to unveil its new ultrasonic thickness payload in North America. Scheduled for May 1st and 2nd, the event will showcase the latest addition to the Elios 3 drone series. The Denver launch event is set to offer a… Read more: Flyability to Introduce New Drone Technology at Denver Event

Nearthlab Joins Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies List with Game-Changing Wind Turbine Inspection Solution Nearthlab has been named among Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies for 2024. This recognition places Nearthlab in the esteemed company of industry giants such as Nvidia, OpenAI, and Microsoft, highlighting its groundbreaking work in the Robotics category. Founded on a commitment… Read more: Nearthlab Earns Spot on Fast Company’s Innovator List with Cutting-Edge Drone Inspection Tech

Associate Professor Satoshi Suzuki and Team Pioneer Affordable Solutions with Innovative GNSS-Based Drone, Redefining Precision in Close-Range Powerline Inspection by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb A team of researchers led by Associate Professor Satoshi Suzuki from Chiba University recently announced that they had developed an innovative new low-cost UAV designed for powerline inspection. While… Read more: Cheaper Sensors for Drone Powerline Inspections: Chiba University Researchers Unveil Breakthrough Low-Cost UAV Solution

PG&E Explores Cutting-Edge Drone Technology to Elevate Utility Operations Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) (NYSE: PCG) orchestrated a comprehensive conference today, uniting certified drone pilots, industry collaborators, community partners, and federal stakeholders to delve into the myriad applications of unmanned aerial systems for utility operations. Participants included Advexure, Airdata, Infravision, and Skydio, along with… Read more: PG&E Revolutionizing Utility Operations Through Cutting-Edge Drone Technology: Beyond Inspections

Harnessing UAV Technology for Efficient, Safe, and Environmentally Conscious Infrastructure Operation British company Skyports Drone Services and Norway-based Field recently announced a partnership to provide new services to utility and infrastructure operators, combining Field’s UAV-based infrastructure inspection system with Skyports experience in BVLOS operations across the globe. The new service utilizes Field’s solution, (which includes… Read more: Transforming Drone Infrastructure Inspections: The Innovative Partnership of Skyports and Field

Percepto Receives FAA Approval for Remote Operation of Full Drone Fleet Percepto, a leading autonomous inspection and monitoring solutions provider, has obtained a significant nationwide waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This approval empowers Percepto to remotely operate a complete fleet of up to 30 drones with a single operator, marking a notable advancement… Read more: Percepto Receives Waiver to Operate 30 Drones Autonomously: the “Holy Grail” of Industrial Drone Inspections