Uncovering the Functionality of Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS): Its Mechanisms Explained
In the realm of drone technology, Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) operations are revolutionizing commercial missions. These operations allow drones to fly beyond the pilot's direct visual range, enabling tasks such as infrastructure inspections, disaster monitoring, and deliveries over large distances without continuous human visual contact.
To ensure safe and reliable BLOS operations, advanced navigation, communication, and safety systems are essential. Technologies like Detect and Avoid systems, backup communication links, GPS-independent navigation, and fleet management tools are crucial components of this ecosystem.
Currently, only enterprise-level or government-approved drones can perform BLOS flights under existing regulations. Command and Control (C2) links transmit flight commands and receive data in real-time during BLOS operations. These operations require strong connectivity, detect-and-avoid systems, and automated flight control with failsafes.
For commercial use, BLOS drone operations are transitioning to new regulations under the proposed FAA Part 108 rule. This rule will replace individual case-by-case waivers with standardized authorizations, introducing two main categories: operating permits for low-risk missions (e.g., package delivery, surveying) and operating certificates for higher-risk or larger scale operations involving bigger, faster drones or fleets.
Operators must preregister flight sites and comply with airspace restrictions, including flying below 400 feet and limiting speed, while adhering to population density-based limits on flights over people. Additional regulatory requirements include authorization by the FAA before flights, use of Remote ID technology, accountability shifting from individual pilots to operating companies, and potential certification of automated data service providers (ADSPs) that monitor flight plans and help avoid collisions.
A utility company is currently using a long-range drone for inspecting a transmission line across mountains, where access by foot or vehicle is limited. The drone follows a pre-approved flight plan, capturing thermal and visual data along the route. In this instance, BLOS operations are essential for the drone's operational range, allowing flights miles away from the pilot.
Jacob Stoner, CEO of Flyeye.io, is a licensed commercial drone operator in Canada and conducts drone inspections frequently. He is a highly respected figure within his local drone community and has a keen interest in the societal impact of drone technology advancements.
During BLOS operations, pilots operate the drone from control centers, viewing live data and video feeds for situational awareness. If something goes wrong during BLOS operations, the drone returns to home automatically. This safety feature is a testament to the robustness of BLOS technology.
In conclusion, the evolving regulatory landscape aims to enable broader adoption of commercial BLOS drone applications by standardizing safety requirements, pilot training, aircraft capabilities, and operational oversight. BLOS significantly increases a drone's operational range, making it essential for various commercial missions such as inspection, delivery, agriculture, and emergency response.
- Data-and-cloud-computing technologies are integral to the effective management and analysis of the vast amounts of data collected during Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) drone operations, allowing for real-time monitoring, decision-making, and improved mission outcomes.
- In the expansion of commercial drone applications, technology plays a pivotal role, particularly in developing autonomous systems and artificial intelligence capabilities that facilitate BLOS operations, ensuring their safe and efficient use in various industries such as infrastructure inspection and delivery services.
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