Texas-based company expands offshore cargo operations while preparing for the next phase of U.S. BVLOS regulations By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill While many drone service providers like to tout their latest innovations and brag on the abilities of their aircraft to handle a variety of missions, Austin-based Skyways Aviation has spent the better part of the last … [Read more...] about How Skyways Quietly Built a Global Heavy-Lift Drone Business
maritime drones
WaiV Robotics Brings Autonomous Drone Recovery at Sea to U.S. Offshore Operators
As offshore energy assets move farther from shore, operators face growing challenges in inspection, maintenance, and emergency response. This week, maritime autonomous infrastructure developer WaiV Robotics announced its official entry into the U.S. market, bringing its autonomous drone launch and recovery technology to offshore operators across the country. The London-based … [Read more...] about WaiV Robotics Brings Autonomous Drone Recovery at Sea to U.S. Offshore Operators
NOAA Sends Autonomous Surface Vehicles Into Hurricanes to Study Rapid Intensification
Long-running partnership with Saildrone aims to improve hurricane forecasting and rapid intensification models Saildrone announced plans to deploy 10 Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) during the 2026 hurricane season in partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The mission will support hurricane forecasting and storm research … [Read more...] about NOAA Sends Autonomous Surface Vehicles Into Hurricanes to Study Rapid Intensification
WaiV Robotics Debuts Maritime VTOL Landing Pad with $7.5M Seed Round
The London-based maritime startup unveils a gyro-stabilized landing pad that recovers VTOL drones on vessels as small as 10 meters in high sea states. WaiV Robotics has launched the first fully automatic landing and takeoff platform for VTOL drones operating at sea. The London-based company introduced the system on May 5, 2026, backed by $7.5 million in seed funding. The … [Read more...] about WaiV Robotics Debuts Maritime VTOL Landing Pad with $7.5M Seed Round
Strait of Hormuz Tensions Highlight a Growing Role for Small Drone Surveillance
Maritime risk, insurance pressure, and degraded navigation signals point to new use cases for commercial UAV systems Ongoing tension in the Strait of Hormuz continues to shape how commercial vessels manage risk. The region remains one of the world’s most important shipping corridors, handling a significant share of global oil transit. Amid ongoing hostilities between the … [Read more...] about Strait of Hormuz Tensions Highlight a Growing Role for Small Drone Surveillance
