Hylio Granted Regulatory Exemption to Operate Heavy-Lift Drone Swarms with One Controller

The drone industry is witnessing a recent development as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Texas-based drone manufacturer Hylio a regulatory exemption. This exemption allows Hylio to operate its heavy-lift drones in a swarm with only one operator in control. With this new regulation, one operator can control multiple drones at once, leading to an increase in productivity and a decrease in labor requirements for drone operators applying material to crops.

Hylio’s co-founder and CEO, Arthur Erickson, sees this development as a positive step in regulations catching up with existing drone technology. Previously, if a drone weighed over 55 pounds, it required a pilot and a visual observer for operation. This meant that for three drones, six people were needed, which went against the logic of drones being autonomous. With the new exemption, one operator can now control three drones simultaneously, resulting in a significant boost in productivity.

While the exemption currently only applies to Hylio and its drones, Erickson believes that the FAA will soon establish a general set of requirements that will include other manufacturers producing similar drones. This development is expected to revolutionize the drone industry by allowing operators to control multiple drones efficiently and effectively.