Drone ‘Swarms’ Increase Capacity

Drone ‘Swarms’ Increase Capacity SPECIALTY/SERVICES Drone aircraft are rapidly becoming common tools for checking on crops and livestock A recent FAA ruling has increased their utility Currently drones larger than 55 lbs require a pilot and a line-of-sight spotter Texas-based Hylio received an exemption to fly up to three 165-lb drones in a “swarm” under the oversight of a single pilot The FAA is not only developing a rule allowing others to do the same but the regulator is also considering changing the line-of-site rule Drone operators may soon be able to send even larger drones over 200 lbs in swarms and out of sight to spread seed or spray crops The technology to do so already exists Hylio estimates that with even three of the 165-lb drones they’ll be able to spray 200 acres per hr at a much lower cost than ground equipment

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