Airobotics Optimus-1EX UAS Granted Type Cert for Emergency, Survey
Airobotics was proud to have what it calls the "first airworthiness certification for a drone-in-a-box" system, or more specifically, a DiB system used for "emergency response and data capturing applications".
The niche mission reflects a pretty hearty market for UAS developers, with a variety of first responder agencies, law enforcement groups, and emergency response bodies ready to adopt affordable uncrewed aircraft. Even better for them, the drone-in-a-box concept doubles down on autonomy, allowing the placement of a fully autonomous, low-maintenance system that can be called into action at any time. Airobotics said their Optimus-1EX is the "second ever Uncrewed Aircraft to receive this certification and the first Drone-in-a-Box solution, designated for fully automated drone operations for emergency response and digital data capturing to obtain this status from the FAA." The approval follows 4 years of "intensive engineering and operational review processes conducted by the FAA", though the Optimus system has already established a minor operational foothold in the United Arab Emirates. Airobotics says they'll expand operations stateside, deploying fleets of Optimus systems as permanent drone
infrastructure.
"We are thrilled to be the only US company currently to have the capability to deploy fully automated drones with Type Certificate in the US as permanent aerial infrastructures in populated and complex environments," said Meir Kliner, Airobotics' CEO. "Drones without an airworthiness certificate face great obstacles in obtaining waivers to operate over people and active roads, and we believe that our Type certified Optimus-1EX drone will soon be deployed in a broader range of scenarios. The last type certificate given by the FAA was for a package delivery drone and now we have opened the opportunity for more lifesaving applications such as Drone First Responding (DFR), rapid infrastructure survey for disaster relief applications and more."
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