Drone revolution: 180 km above sea level-a milestone for industry!

Drone revolution: 180 km above sea level-a milestone for industry!

A milestone in the offshore industry was reached: for the first time, a drone from Cuxhaven to Helgoland and back, and that over a distance of 180 kilometers, without the pilot being the visibility to the drone. As cnv-medien.de Manufacturing technology and applied material research (IFAM) coordinated and carried out by DRONIQ, which provided the pilot. The drone used by Hanseatic Aviation Solutions weighs 25 kilograms and can achieve speeds of up to 100 km/h.

The inconsistent weather over the sea was a special challenge for the flight, which underlines the need for higher qualifications for long -distance pilots. The planning for this test flight was about a year and a half, with one year to apply for the operating permit. Geographical conditions such as nature reserves and federal waterways had to be taken into account. In Germany there are over 100,000 such areas that flow into the planning.

technical details and security measures

The drone was designed so that it could fly in preprogrammed using an automated system, while the start and landing was carried out manually. In order to ensure a safe return in the event of a crash, the drone was equipped with a parachute. The test flight not only served to check the communication connections and flight radio technology, but also showed that unmanned and mannered air traffic can certainly coexist.

The potential of drones in the offshore area can be seen in various applications such as monitoring critical infrastructures, water sample withdrawal and support in shipping gaps. Drones are currently already being used for visual inspection of offshore systems. Initial approaches to the material transport to wind farms were also tested. Compared to traditional means of transport such as helicopter and ships, drones could be a resource -saving alternative, since their consumption is significantly lower with less than one liter per hour than that of a helicopter that requires about 230 liters per hour.

-transmitted by West-East media