– Elsight has announced its pivotal role in the Phoenix Air Unmanned (PAU) mission completing a 320-mile aerial pipeline patrol in just 7.6 hours using a single Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for Shell Pipeline Company (SPLC).
This milestone achievement was made possible by Elsight’s Halo, a lightweight, highly reliable communications system for BVLOS (beyond visible line-of-sight) missions. Halo offers a secured connection to the C2 (command & control link), via interoperable aggregated multiple IP links. By integrating public and private cellular, satellite, and RF technologies, the Halo ensures uninterrupted UAV communications even in the most challenging environments. Whether in disaster response, surveillance, deliveries or lengthy remote inspections like the PAU gas line inspections, UAV flights empowered by the Elsight Halo complete the mission with continuous transmission of video, telemetry and data to the command-and-control center.
“We saw the difference in our results when using the Elsight Halo for continuous connectivity in the level of precise data we could collect, the distance flown, and in the value of remotely controlling the UAV from an offsite location,” said Will Wheeler, Director of Operations at Phoenix Air Unmanned. “When connectivity is that robust, it becomes a foundation enabling regulatory approvals and significantly scaling our operations.”
For this mission, PAU used the Event 38 E455 UAS, a fixed-wing, vertical take-off and landing system, to complete 16 BVLOS flights. The UAS carried a high-resolution camera for live video feeds, logging 7.72 hours and 332.4 miles of flight. Real-time data was provided to SPLC inspectors and archived for future analysis.
“This achievement surpasses a project goal of proving that 300 linear miles of pipeline can be effectively patrolled by UAS in a single flight day,” added Wheeler.
“Elsight has developed extremely innovative wireless dispersion capabilities to prevent a single point of failure and ensuring mission continuity over difficult terrains and challenging circumstances,” said Yoav Amitai, CEO of Elsight. “We are very pleased to work with these leading UAV manufacturers and operators in the U.S. succeeding in applications that contribute both to society and to the advancement of the UAV industry.”
Source: Elsight