Trimble Applanix’s PX-1 RTX positioning and heading solution has been integrated into Volatus Aerospace’s commercial drone delivery operations to support precise navigation in controlled airspace and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) missions.
The integration provides a turnkey solution for highly accurate aerial data acquisition and fully remote drone operations in real-world conditions. The system uses Trimble’s CenterPoint RTX corrections combined with compact, high-performance GNSS-inertial hardware to deliver real-time, centimeter-level positioning and highly precise inertial-derived true heading, reducing risks associated with poor sensor performance or magnetic interference by adding an additional layer of positioning and heading resilience.
Greg Colacitti, COO of Volatus Aerospace, commented, “Volatus conducts daily deliveries of medical supplies from Edmonton International Airport to the Montana First Nations Clinic, routinely operating beneath an active runway glide path. Integrating Trimble’s PX-1 RTX technology into our Canary delivery drone system has been a game changer. The enhanced positional accuracy within tightly defined delivery zones significantly strengthens the safety case for our operations and further supports the reliability and scalability of our service.”
Volatus must meet strict guidelines addressing airspace entry and exit, altitude and speed, and communication and remote identification when taking off from and landing at the Edmonton International Airport in Alberta, Canada.
The flight corridor approved by Transport Canada and Nav Canada, a non-profit that operates the country’s civil air navigation system, requires the drones to land and takeoff with precision while staying at a 50-feet altitude when crossing airplane arrival routes. The precise positioning capabilities address these crucial accuracy challenges and ensure compliance with controlled airspace authorizations.
Joe Hutton, Director, Inertial Technology and Airborne Solutions at Trimble, stated, “Integrating the Trimble PX-1 RTX into its first commercial application marks a significant milestone for both Trimble and the drone delivery industry. The PX-1 RTX is changing commercial drone package delivery by providing greater precision and reliability, which are essential for reducing costs, minimizing environmental impact, increasing operational efficiencies and enhancing safety.”
