SkySkopes and Robot Aviation partner to collect long-endurance UAS test data
SkySkopes, one of the top unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) flight operators in the United States, is partnering with Robot Aviation, a major Norwegian UAS manufacturer, for global operations.
The two companies will be using the Robot Aviation FX20 delta-wing aircraft for high-endurance missions to collect thermal and infrared data in a series of test flights around the Western Hemisphere. Flight operations are expected to start in a few months.
SkySkopes and Robot Aviation announced the partnership Tuesday during the annual Norsk Høstfest, a Norwegian heritage festival held in Minot, N.D. SkySkopes recently flew the first commercial UAS operation in Minot and looks to open an office in the city. North Dakota has proven to be welcoming to unmanned aircraft companies and is a leading supporter of industry growth. Both SkySkopes and Robot Aviation’s U.S. operations are headquartered in Grand Forks, N.D.
“Robot Aviation is the most impressive UAS manufacturer in Norway, and we are lucky to have their U.S. headquarters here in North Dakota,” said Matt Dunlevy, President and CEO of SkySkopes. “The opportunities that access to their aircraft will bring to our state economy are considerable and I look forward to seeing their fleet expand. And what better time to announce our Norwegian partnership than at the largest Norwegian festival in the United States?”
“SkySkopes is a highly skilled professional operator that has experience in flying single and multirotor as well as fixed wing air frames. We see them as a national leader that have many certifications. It is a company we appreciate very much working together with, ” Said Per Kristian, CEO of Robot Aviation.
SkySkopes, out of Grand Forks, was the first North Dakotan startup legally approved by the Federal Aviation Administration to fly unmanned aircraft for business purposes, and has grown to the scale of national and international operations. SkySkopes employs over 15 certified pilots with UAS educational backgrounds from the University of North Dakota and flies its large fleet of aircraft for industrial inspection, security purposes, precision agriculture, training certification, and other uses.
Robot Aviation was established in Norway in 2008. Robot Aviation develops and offer unmanned aircraft systems and services for the civilian and military market. Robot Aviation is an international leading company in innovative flying SkyRobot™ technologies focusing on “end to end” solutions to satisfy the highest industry standards and requirements for safety and performance. Robot Aviation delivers complete, integrated commercial drone systems including onboard payloads, operating software, cloud-based planning as well as processing and reporting. It strives to deliver systems with lower cost and with higher performance than comparable systems in the market today.
You can find SkySkopes at http://www.skyskopes.com/ and Robot Aviation at http://www.robotaviation.com/
