Valmont announced it completed an industry-first, unmanned 77-mile beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operation, enabled by T-Mobile 5G. The accomplishment preceded the 2023 NATE UAS Expo being held yesterday and today at Valmont headquarters in Valley, NE. BVLOS flights have gained in popularity, due to their ability to reach remote or inaccessible areas during natural disasters and quickly collect and share data. Valmont stated it is one of the first companies in the U.S. to receive a waiver for BVLOS drone operation from the FAA.
Taking under three hours, the drone traveled non-stop on a 77-mile route from Childress to Aspermont, TX, inspecting vital infrastructure like power lines, railroads, bridges and other structures along the way. The test used a Harris Aerial H6E drone equipped with a T-Mobile 5G connected Sony A7RM5 camera. This test flight was reportedly three times faster than conventional methods, while using less than two gallons of fuel.
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