Limitations May Impact Ukraine, the U.S., and Europe as Drone Technology Evolves in Wartime The Chinese government plans to implement stricter controls on the export of drone parts in early 2025. This shift is already affecting manufacturers and buyers across the globe. According to reports, Chinese companies have reduced or halted sales of batteries, motors, […]
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Imagine driving along a 92-mile stretch of highway in Texas where industrial-grade drones buzz overhead, autonomously managing tasks like security, traffic monitoring and emergency response. This vision is inching closer to reality on Texas State Highway 130 (SH130). No longer just a road for cars, it’s becoming a Texas superhighway.
This “superhighway” has been increasing its Texas footprint for a while now (in fact, SH130 IIEZ has been developing for over four years), but today it’s adding a drone component. The drone aspect of this Texas superhighway stems from a collaboration between Austin, Texas-based Autonomy Institute and drone company Ondas Holdings, whose subsidiaries include Israel drone maker Airobotics, Inc. The goal? Turning a corridor in the Lone Star State into a high-tech hub for all sorts of 24/7 autonomous drone operations.
The SH130 corridor connects key regions in Central Texas. But besides being a major traffic artery, it’s becoming a proving ground for all sorts of intelligent infrastructure, drones and otherwise. For example, it also supports autonomous cars, trucks and shuttles.
Today, drones enter the mix. Through what’s called an Intelligent Infrastructure Economic Zone (IIEZ), the Autonomy Institute will instal drone “zones” along the highway. That will enable continuous drone operations across a 30-square-mile area per zone for tasks encompassing inspections, security and public safety.
At the heart of this initiative is Ondas’ Optimus System, a fully autonomous drone platform designed for remote operation without the need for on-site human intervention. These drones launch from smart airbases equipped with automated battery-swapping technology, ensuring uninterrupted service for use cases like inspections and public safety. The Optimus System has already been used in the UAE and Israel. Now, its deployment on SH130 marks a major milestone for autonomous drone technology in the U.S.
Texas has earned a reputation as a national leader in drone innovation, particularly in public safety and disaster response. Projects like Wing’s drone delivery service and collaborations between state and local agencies have positioned the state as a hotbed for drones. In fact, some people even riff on the term ‘Lone Star State,’ now calling it the “Drone Star State.”
“Texas is the undeniable leader in the use of UAS by public safety, and the mission sets are as diverse as the state itself,” said Jason Day of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The SH130 IIEZ is also uniquely positioned to support some of the state’s largest employers, including Tesla, Samsung, Amazon and H-E-B, all of which line the corridor. The project’s leaders suggest that businesses along the corridor will benefit from enhanced security, streamlined operations and access to real-time data collected by these drones. Even in Austin alone, city officials have identified more than 100 drone use cases across a dozen departments, including Austin Energy, Austin Fire, Austin Water, City Planning, Police, Parks, Transportation and Public Works.
Dubbed the “modern-day Route 66,” SH130 could redefine what a highway can be. No longer just a physical road for cars, it could support fully autonomous drone zones and Intelligent Infrastructure Economic Zones.
Giving those companies and entities easier access to Ondas’ Optimus System along the corridor could be key in enabling increased drone use. By operating as shared infrastructure, public and private stakeholders can focus on their core tasks without worrying about the logistics of drone operations. For instance, drones can quickly assess fires, accidents and other emergencies, enabling faster response times and reducing costs. Plus, data generated from superhighway drones could contribute to longer-term urban planning and transportation efficiency.
And while the SH130 project is certainly a local initiative, it could be a signal of what’s to come for the future of intelligent infrastructure. For now, it highlights Texas’ role as a leader in drone technology.
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China continues to actively promote its long-range kamikaze drone, the ASN-301 (also known as JWS-01), in the global defense market. This platform has drawn significant attention due to its resemblance to the Shahed-136 UAV. A promotional video released during Airshow China 2024 highlighted the ASN-301 drone’s ability to neutralize radar systems. Unlike typical kamikaze drones, […]
– Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has announced the successful performance of a recent series of flight tests of the United States Marine Corps’ XQ-58A Valkyrie, manufactured by Kratos. These flights and exercises were conducted jointly earlier this year by Kratos, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Autodyne, the United States Marine Corps (USMC), the United States […]
– ABZ Innovation, a drone innovation and manufacturing company based in Hungary, has unveiled an advancement for its agricultural sector machines that incorporates LiDAR-based situational awareness sensors. LiDAR generates a high-resolution 3-D map of the field in real time and is vital to accurately following terrain and avoiding obstacles such as electrical wires, poles, and […]
– SkyDefense LLC of Brighton, Colorado has announced its AI- enabled eVTOL interceptor, CobraJet. CobraJet is an autonomous tactical battery-powered jet that is capable of detecting, tracking, identifying and neutralizing enemy drones at long distances and at high speed (200+ mph). CobraJet provides for the protection of people, infrastructure (power plants, oil refineries, factories, borders) […]New language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) gives U.S. agencies one year to assess security risks of Chinese drones, but the clock is ticking—and the outcome remains uncertain. In this guest post from Matt Sloane of SkyfireAI, the real results of the legislation. DRONELIFE neither accepts nor makes payment for guest posts. The […]
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Chinese Drone Manufacturer Expresses Concerns Over Security and Process Provisions in Proposed Law Background on NDAA Section 1709 The FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes Section 1709, which seeks to evaluate potential risks posed by certain Chinese-manufactured drones. This section mandates a national security agency to assess the risks of communications and video […]
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New Agreement Adds Eight Industrial Drone Systems for Business, Government, and Education Use RobotLAB, a robotics integrator known for delivering solutions across various industries, has announced a partnership with Vision Aerial, a U.S.-based drone manufacturer. The agreement expands RobotLAB’s offerings to include eight of Vision Aerial’s unmanned aerial systems (UAS), such as the Drone Surveying […]
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8,000+ Drones Light Up the Sky in a Stunning Collaboration Showcasing Innovation, Japanese Culture, and Global Creativity by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association. Japanese drone show developer and promoter Red Cliff Co. ltd recently announced that, in partnership with Chinese drone […]
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