DroneUp, a Virginia-based drone solutions provider, has partnered with Iris Automation, a company that develops AI-based vision technology for unmanned and crewed aircraft, to integrate the latter’s Iris Automation's “Casia G” technology into its drones. This uses AI and computer vision to detect approaching aircraft and prevent airborne collisions, particularly during Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.

The technology, which acts like a cellular tower-type service, will be used alongside additional sensors to will help cover large areas and provide situational awareness. This will enable DroneUp to guide its drones to safe zones away from detected aircraft. 

The partnership will allow DroneUp to expand its operations in the US to more populated areas with the same level of convenience and security that it currently offers in rural environments.

Analyst QuickTake: DroneUp is not the first drone-based delivery company to have integrated airspace awareness technology into its drones to facilitate safer BVLOS operations. In fact, peer startups Skyports and SkyDrop have incorporated this technology into their respective software platforms; both in partnership with Kongsberg Geospatial, a Canadian developer of geospatial visualization and situational awareness software.