UAS stationed in drone hangars know neither holiday nor shift surcharges, public holidays or overtime compensation. They are always ready for take-off, waiting quietly and patiently for their launch command. Always ready to be activated remotely or to ‘come to life’ at set intervals. Whenever they are needed, and – best of all – without anyone having to be on site. ‘Drone-in-a-box’ solutions like the Optimus system from Airobotics can give unmanned systems a decisive advantage in the battle for market share.
Drone hangars are an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to offering UAS services in a cost-effective way. After all, efficiency increases wherever the human factor can be eliminated from the equation. The Optimus system from Airobotics also makes it possible to tap into further automation potential. With its cooperation and distribution partner HHLA Sky, the Israeli company is now looking to take off in Germany.
When it comes to using drones as flexibly and as needed as possible, in many cases there is no getting around UAS hangars. This could be to respond quickly to alerts in an emergency or to intervene in ongoing processes as the situation demands. From a central control centre such as HHLA Sky's Integrated Control Center (ICC), drones that are waiting in their ‘garages’ at various locations to be deployed can be sent on their way or monitored during their routine missions. However, while this approach can save a lot of time and money, in many cases it is limited in what it can achieve. When the batteries need charging, the drones are grounded until they have enough energy ‘in the tank’ again. If the payload needs to be changed, human intervention is usually required again.
Not so with the Optimus system from Airobotics. Up to eleven batteries and nine payloads can be stored in the 2.5-tonne hangar and changed as needed by a fully automated robotic arm. This reduces the time that the drone has to remain on the ground to just a few minutes. And the term ‘24/7 operation’ is no longer an exaggeration.
> This article was produced in collaboration with Drones, the magazine for the drone economy: www.drones-magazin.de
