Southern Company (SO) Gets Aviation Waiver for Drone Operations
Southern Company SO, in association with Skydio, a U.S.-based drone manufacturer, announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) granted a waiver that allows remote-based, autonomous beyond line of sight (“BVLOS”) dock operations across the Southern Company system.
The Power of Autonomous BVLOS Dock Operations
Enhanced Efficiency and Reliability
The primary objective of the BVLOS waiver is to improve the efficiency and reliability of remote-based infrastructure monitoring and inspection at SO's plant sites, substations and other fixed locations. By leveraging autonomous drones, the company aims to conduct more efficient inspections, mapping and monitoring, thereby strengthening the resilience and reliability of its energy infrastructure.
Dean Barefield, Southern Company's UAS program manager, expressed his enthusiasm about this advancement in autonomous and remote operations at scale. He emphasized that the BVLOS waiver will unlock the potential of autonomous and remote-based operations, while significantly improving efficiency and reliability.
Empowering Autonomous Drone Operations
Southern Company will leverage the power of Skydio's state-of-the-art technology, including the Skydio X2 and Skydio Dock, to enable autonomous drone operations. Skydio's AI technology enables operators to safely inspect infrastructure, even in complex or difficult environments that would pose challenges for less advanced drone systems.
Scope of Approval
Jenn Player, Skydio's senior director of aviation regulatory affairs, stated that the nation-scale approval has enabled the Southern Company system to conduct remote operations at critical infrastructure sites, extending from Georgia to California.
She added that this collaboration between SO and Skydio showcases the immense importance of intelligent drones in scaling beyond visual line-of-sight operations. Player also expressed her pride in supporting Southern Company's efforts to obtain this approval that facilitates efficient inspection and monitoring of important facilities.
Previous Achievements
In November 2022, the Southern Company system received a waiver that enabled state-of-the-art BVLOS operations using drones to map and inspect stacks, transmission lines and basins at Plant Barry in Bucks, AL. This waiver already proved instrumental in improving the safety and efficiency of recurring inspections of SO's critical infrastructure. The company continues to explore innovative solutions to drive progress in infrastructure monitoring and inspection.
Prospects and Industry Impact
The FAA's approval of the BVLOS waiver for remote-based, autonomous dock operations represents a significant step forward in the field of infrastructure monitoring and inspection. Southern Company’s adoption of autonomous drone systems sets a powerful example for the industry, showcasing the potential of technology to revolutionize the way energy infrastructure is managed.
By leveraging cutting-edge technology and advanced monitoring capabilities, the company demonstrates its commitment to providing top-notch services to customers across its service areas.
SO’s collaboration with Skydio and the BVLOS waiver will undoubtedly inspire other companies in the energy sector to explore similar autonomous drone solutions. As the industry witnesses the positive impact of these advancements, it is expected that more organizations will embrace autonomous technology to enhance their infrastructure monitoring and inspection practices.
Zacks Rank and Key Picks
Southern Company is an American utility firm that provides electricity to customers across the southern United States. It is one of the country's largest energy companies, focusing on clean energy and sustainability.
Currently, SO carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Investors interested in the utility sector might look at some better-ranked stocks like Veolia Environnement VEOEY, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and MYR Group MYRG and E.ON EONGY, each holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Veolia Environnement: VEOEY is worth approximately $22.92 billion. It currently pays a dividend of 46 cents per share, or 2.89% on an annual basis and
Veolia Environnement is a global company providing environmental services in the water, waste management, energy and transportation sectors. Its shares have risen 40.3.% in the past year.
MYR Group: MYRG is worth approximately $2.22 billion. Its shares have rallied 62.2% in the past year.
MYR Group is a holding company of specialty contractors, providing comprehensive electrical infrastructure services in Canada and the United States. It offers design, engineering, procurement, construction, upgrade, maintenance and repair services for transmission and distribution networks, and substation facilities of any size and type.
E.ON: EONGY is valued at around $32.86 billion. In the past year, its shares have risen 40.9%.
E.ON is the world's largest investor-owned energy service provider with operations in energy, chemicals, real estate, oil, telecommunications, distribution/logistics, aluminum and silicon wafers.
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