Autonomous Drone Gets Unprecedented Approval

Autonomous Drone Gets Unprecedented Approval

autonomous drone

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Large drone markets are currently restrained by the complexity of common drone solutions implementation, due to various considerations regarding risk to the public. For the first time in Europe, the Directorate-General for Civil Aviation (DGAC) which regulates drones uses in France, has approved a fully-automated drone with no pilot, an unprecedented approval since any authorized flight scenario in France requires a qualified pilot. The system will be directly operated by a security guard with no pilot license. The drone will thus be used to patrol an area or provide valuable aerial insights in case of an alarm.
Azur Drones, the manufacturer of surveillance UAVs, has received the approval for a fully-automated drone – Skeyetech system – which takes off from a docking station and requires no remote pilot.

The significance of this move is that these drones can fly over private areas, Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS), day or night, in urban areas, under simple supervision of a remote operator.
The drone is designed to strengthen security over sensitive sites and enhance critical infrastructures safety. Fully autonomous, it provides around-the-clock service and security, without human intervention.
This system can be connected to any security network to provide real-time HD video to security HQ. It allows situational assessments in a matter of seconds, without jeopardizing operators safety, according to the company website.
“We are very proud of this approval which rewards an 18-month close collaboration with DGAC services. Our system had to comply with the civilian aviation authorities’ requirements in terms of safety, reliability and quality. A process that was obviously very demanding due to the fully automated character of our system,” explains Stéphane Morelli, the company’s Managing Director.
The company said that unlike standard piloted solutions, their systems are easy-to-use, operational 24/7, precise and reliable, according to prnewswire.com.
The company aims to make autonomous drone a standard in the security market, in France and overseas, and it is already under discussions with other authorities in order to get similar approvals in several other countries.