Trimble® announced that Volatus Aerospace Inc. has integrated the Trimble PX-1 RTX™ solution into its commercial delivery drone service to achieve accurate and robust positioning and heading. This provides Volatus’ clients with a turnkey solution for highly-accurate aerial data acquisition and fully-remote drone operations in real-world missions, including beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).
The Trimble PX-1 RTX utilizes Trimble’s CenterPoint® RTX corrections along with compact, high-performance GNSS-inertial hardware to deliver real-time, centimeter-level positioning and highly precise inertial-derived true heading measurements. This technology reduces operational risks associated with poor sensor performance or magnetic interference by providing enhanced positioning redundancy.
Volatus must meet strict guidelines addressing airspace entry and exit, altitude and speed, and communication and remote identification when taking off from and landing at the Edmonton International Airport in Alberta, Canada. The flight corridor approved by Transport Canada and Nav Canada requires them to land and takeoff with precision, while staying at 50-feet altitude when crossing airplane arrival routes. Trimble PX-1 RTX’s precise positioning capabilities address crucial accuracy challenges for takeoff and landing, while supporting an exact flight altitude and positioning within the flight corridor. This capability is essential for enabling Volatus to remain compliant with the controlled airspace authorization from Nav Canada, a non-profit that operates the country’s civil air navigation system.
“Volatus conducts daily deliveries of medical supplies from Edmonton International Airport to the Montana First Nations Clinic, routinely operating beneath an active runway glide path,” said Greg Colacitti, COO of Volatus Aerospace. “Integrating Trimble’s PX-1 RTX technology into our Canary delivery drone system has been a game changer. The enhanced positional accuracy within tightly defined delivery zones significantly strengthens the safety case for our operations and further supports the reliability and scalability of our service.”
“Integrating the Trimble PX-1 RTX into its first commercial application marks a significant milestone for both Trimble and the drone delivery industry,” said Joe Hutton, director, inertial technology and airborne solutions, Trimble. “The PX-1 RTX is changing commercial drone package delivery by providing greater precision and reliability, which are essential for reducing costs, minimizing environmental impact, increasing operational efficiencies and enhancing safety.”
The Trimble PX-1 RTX solution is available through Trimble sales channels.
