There’s no real way around BVLOS regs right now. The real problem is BVLOS + need to recharge. If you only solve one, you get limited value. Distributed charging without BVLOS is kind of useless. If a human still has to be there to maintain visual line of sight, it doesn't make much of a difference if the drone can recharge itself in the field. BVLOS without distributed charging also hits a value ceiling. You’re still constrained by battery swaps.
So the solution here is a deep understanding of FAA BVLOS waiver processes + a drone/pad network that is actually scalable.
That said, this is another benefit of working with utilities. When you’re inspecting power line corridors, you’re often operating in what the FAA calls “shielded area.” In practice, that just means you’re flying close to infrastructure that other aircraft tend to avoid anyway. That makes deconfliction much simpler, which in turn makes BVLOS waivers more attainable under Part 107.
The bigger shift is Part 108, which is expected to be finalized relatively soon, and should lower the barrier to BVLOS at scale.
Follow up question, why aerial drones? Couldn't crawler drones work and avoid FAA regulations? Though obviously would be limited in speed and where lines have been damaged, though perhaps they could be managed to go around the damage via remote control.
Not all lines are on nice level land. Transmission lines go through some rugged terrain. I've seen some distribution lines that are in pretty rugged areas as well. They also mentioned the top down view was advantageous compared to a ground pounder's view, so a crawler would loose that view as well.
Delivery drones are leaving line of sight and yet they are operating. The Walmart near me started delivery late last year, and they are buzzing my area many times a day. I'd hope with enough testing these guys can work with the FAA to get certified to remove this limit.
Crawler drones are not a bad idea! They're just a bit slow and limiting. Also doesn't drive our long term plan (can't leave power lines)
It's also mechanically complex and there's many line & pole types that make it challenging to build for.
When we let go of distribution line charging, we considered this idea. Off some rough calcs we thought there would be lines that we'd get 'stuck' on so that was hard to overcome...
I quit software, though I never made it very far in it it was my profession for 16 years. I'm a corrections officer now. My new career is drastically less stressful.
When I read about the culture at Google, and similarly YouTube, I am constantly reminded of how (and probably why) their products have stagnated/gotten worse over time despite having top engineers. I believe Google has the talent to build anything in their wildest dreams. So why do their products suck? YouTube sucks from the user POV, Google classroom sucks, the user experience in their office suite leaves a tremendous amount to be desired for even a basic user like me, Android never improves, their voice recognition and assistant are trash. There's so much room for competition, I wonder where it is? What are they spending their money and talent on (besides AI)? I feel like it must primarily be on reliability, speed, and delivering more ads.
The storm is likely within the administration and across governmental departments. Trump will try to drive out whoever doesn't toe his line, even if he legally doesn't have the authority to do so.
Just stop buying Pepsi products. Stop going to Walmart. You don't need either. You don't need potato chips or soda or Gatorade or any of the other poison they produce.
Okay I'll go to Kroger who also has horrible anti competitive practices and buy their store brand which is literally just Nestle but in different packaging
What windows apps do you need? I switched full time to Ubuntu about a month ago and haven't missed a thing. I thought it would be harder, but after some usability configuration changes like how the mouse scrolls, some browser keyboard settings, system font sizes, and logging into a few accounts it has been snag free. Oh and I did install Microsoft fonts. I hate most Linux fonts. The biggest change really is just getting used to new icons. There are several features in Ubuntu I vastly prefer over windows, like window tabs in the file explorer for instance.
So does KDE's Dolphin and many others on Linux. Linux had tabs on file explorers well before Explorer did as well as virtual desktops, app stores, and a few other things that Windows didn't have but later implemented.
Isn't there a website that picks your clothes out for you and you send back what you don't like? If you're not actively paying attention to fashion maybe outsource this one.
