Drones have become huge assets in many commercial industries. By providing an eye in the sky, drones are ideal in securities, inspections, scientific research, logistics, and so much more. For large industrial operations like gas and power corporations, drones have helped plants run more smoothly, efficiently, and safer. However, for many drone users, there is an obstacle holding back their true potential, the ability to be used out of the line of sight from a pilot.

Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations state that a drone pilot must maintain visual contact with an unmanned aircraft at all times. This includes drones that are controlled remotely by a pilot or autonomously through a computer program. In most settings in the United States, because of infrastructure and landscaping, this greatly limits the distance at which a drone can be flown from an operator. In theory, if an unmanned aircraft isn’t visually monitored by a pilot, it can pose too great of a risk of crashing. Most drone advocates, including the FAA, will agree that BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line Of Sight) drone operations are the final hurdle that will enable broad drone possibilities.

This is why many in the drone industry have been working towards developing technology that will enable true BVLOS operations. Based out of Modi’in, HaMerkaz, Israel, Percepto has built a drone with software that allows it to safely navigate complex environments autonomously, BVLOS. The platform, called Percepto AIM (Autonomous Inspection & Monitoring), is an end-to-end, 24/7 data management program for industrial sites. It collects all permanent information on a regularly scheduled basis, saving industrial plant managers time and money while providing accurate results.

In January of 2022, one of Percepto’s clients in the United States was approved by the FAA to begin BVLOS operations with AIM. Delek US Holdings, based out of Brentwood, Tennessee, specializes in the refining of crude oils and the processing of natural gases. With the capacity to refine 300,000 barrels of crude oil a day, between its 4 main locations in the Southwestern United States, Delek has begun to rely heavily on drone data collection from Percepto. As a representative for Delek said, “These drones keep us from climbing high towers; they go inside vessels, check on floating roofs in the tank farm, and observe pipeline routes.”

Delek’s refineries in Tyler, Texas, and El Dorado, Arkansas are set to become the first industrial sites to begin using Percepto AIM, a fully autonomous BVLOS drone operation. “Percepto’s end-to-end system supports our environmental, social, and governance goals to deliver safe and reliable autonomous drones that can be operated remotely while in compliance with US FAA regulations,” said Delek SVP, Business Transformation, Grigor Bambekov. “By working in partnership with Percepto, Delek US is gaining more effective, efficient, reliable, and profitable utilization of its assets through the next generation of Industry 4.0 drone ecosystems.”

The FAA approval goes well beyond benefiting Delek’s operations. It has a great impact on Percepto’s relationship with its other US based customers, like Verizon Skyward and Florida Power & Light. It also sets a precedent for how BVLOS drone operations can be carried out in other fields. With the success of Delek’s BVLOS program, it could be possible for companies to soon use drones as delivery vehicles beyond last mile operations, in extended research operations, and even broader search and rescue missions. By approving Percepto’s BVLOS platform at Delek, the FAA is opening the skies for drones to meet their full potential.

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