Robots Blog | Solectric shows why fully automated drone flight is revolutionizing aviation

Ubstadt-Weiher, May 25, 2023 – Astonished faces at the company site Solectric: One of Europe’s first automated drone flights caused a stir on the evening of May 23, 2023. Specially invited media representatives have just witnessed how the DJI Matrice drone The 30T independently manages pre-programmed routes. The press presentation provided the first glimpse of the future to come. Because there are many possibilities, especially in the industrial and official sectors. From regular observations over larger areas to planned flights for maintenance of large systems to operations in hard-to-access areas – fully automated drone flight will revolutionize the aviation of the future.

The DJI Dock enables permanent flight operations

With the DJI Dock, Solectric already offers the technical tools needed for the revolution. The robust docking station from DJI, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of camera drones for civilian use, is perfect for 24/7 operation.

The small power pack fulfills three important functions:

• It protects the drone installed in it.
• It serves as the takeoff and landing area.
• This nearly fully charges the drone in just 25 minutes.

Wind and weather couldn’t damage the docking station, which weighed about 100 kilograms. Even in extreme heat or freezing cold, the Matrice 30T drone, equipped with a high-resolution camera, is ready to fly.

With the help of the DJI FlightHub 2 software, routes can be planned precisely in advance. Additionally, the drone transmits images, video, data and information to the software during flight. These can be viewed and controlled in real time via a cloud connection.

A long start to official Go

Solectric pilot Kevin Dillmann, who is certified for fully automated drone flight, planned such a route ahead of the press event. “With the DJI FlightHub 2 software, I can program specific GPS points, pivot points or flight maneuvers. I can also pre-determine which images or videos the drone should provide me with. The camera can give me thermal images of surfaces or objects if I want.”

Solectric had come a long way before this maiden flight in Europe. Planning for one of the first automated drone flights started more than two years ago.

With support from the Federal Ministry of Transport, Solectric is the first German company to receive all operating permits for fully automated drone flights. Solectric benefits in particular from the support of the German Dynamic Drone Center GmbH (GDDC GmbH).

With wise foresight, GDDC GmbH, as a specialist for industrial use of drones in Europe, immediately trained Solectric pilots for use throughout Europe. Therefore, Kevin Dillmann and Volker Wild can now officially call themselves remote pilots for fully automated drone flights in Europe.

At the premiere of the flight, the pilot sat in a building 200 meters away. Commercial pilot Horst Zell supports the Solectric team for the press presentation. This is how the pilot, with 30 years of flying experience, describes the moments before and immediately after takeoff: “It was impressive to experience the amazed faces as the DJI Dock opened, the Matrice 30T slowly took off, flew over various geographical points and fulfilled mission. It will be a revolution in aviation.”

A revolution begins in industrial use

Wind turbine and propeller experts should know. When it comes to maintenance of wind turbines on the high seas, drones that fly automatically are far more suitable than humans.

Flying assistants also work more reliably than anyone else in any other area and at the same time do their part to protect the climate:

• Prevent forest fires or deal with them early: Germany has had a scorching summer with record temperatures and longer periods of drought in a shorter amount of time. This has doubled the risk of forest fires. Fully automated regular drone flights allow fire sources to be identified at an early stage.
• Aviation research in glacial areas: Many of the glaciers in the Alps are dying from rising temperatures. Temperature changes can be documented with the help of self-flying drones. The results can be used to find solutions to slow the melting of glaciers.
• Creation of new habitats: Autonomous flying drones are also suitable as flying seed helpers. In this way, the barren and arid regions of Australia have been transformed back into vital green oases. The new forest serves as a natural habitat for many animals.
• Further applications such as solar panel inspection, company site monitoring and technology. Facility, DLRG support for shore monitoring

With the DJI Dock and DJI FlightHub 2, Solectric is marking the future of aviation. The powerful docking station and intelligent software will soon be available for purchase from Solectric, Europe’s largest distributor of DJI drones.