Enabling the
Future of Air Cargo

UAS Cargo Operations
(Projected U.S. Market Growth)

As a key link between small towns across America and the rest of the world, regional air cargo carriers are under increased pressure to answer the challenges presented by the escalating demand for air freight transportation. In remote and rural areas, economic growth is often limited by poor or non-existent transport infrastructure – a circumstance that highlights a crucial reliance on regional air cargo operators and flyable weather.

UAS Solution

Remotely piloted or autonomous systems can safely increase capacity and operational efficiency for regional air cargo carriers. Controlled from ground stations by pilots intimately familiar with the regional terrain, uncrewed aircraft enable operators to sustain middle-mile freight transport between remote cargo markets and hubs during weather conditions not conducive for crewed flights. Augmenting current air cargo operations with UAV capacity can mitigate supply chain disruptions while laying the long-term foundation for significant reductions in shipping times.

AURA’s Role

The wind beneath UAVs wings – so to speak – is our nationwide network. AURA enables UAVs to safely navigate through national airspace by allowing operators to communicate with aircraft via an FAA-compliant link for command and control that can extend the reach of uncrewed aircraft beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).

AURA’s nationwide network “will help UAS support the wide variety of public safety, commercial and governmental applications … these applications include, for example, inspection of critical infrastructure, aerial mapping and surveillance, emerging regional cargo and urban air mobility operations…”

— General Atomics

Empowering Airborne BVLOS Inspections

Line Inspection Costs Comparison

Some 200,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines serve as the main arteries of the United States electrical grid. Traditionally, utility crews on the ground or using helicopters inspect power lines for corrosion, fraying or other defects, as well as hazardous vegetation encroachment.

UAS Solution

Utilities have started to use UAVs to maintain and assess overhead power assets to increase safety and improve diagnostics. However, such use is currently limited to inspections within visual line of sight (VLOS) due to the lack of an FAA-certified solution to maintain robust command and control connectivity in all operational circumstances.

AURA’s Role

AURA has built a nationwide communications network that enables utilities to use UAVs for BVLOS power line inspections in compliance with FAA performance and safety requirements. By extending the range of UAV inspections from a couple miles to 100 miles, utilities can scale operational efficiencies while significantly reducing safety risks. Whether it is a utility in a state with challenging terrain, such as Colorado, or one with thousands of miles of power lines that require routine assessment, such as Florida, the ability to conduct BVLOS operations is a game changer that will ultimately benefit consumers.

“AURA is well suited for command and control and non-payload communications (CNPC) at low altitudes and a cost-effective nationwide coverage for low-altitude, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), and other expanded operations would be a major benefit towards safe and secure integration of UAV into the national airspace.”

— Edison Electric Institute

Ensuring UAM Becomes a Safe Reality

UAM Air Taxi Operations
(Projected U.S. Growth)

With the ability to use electric power to conduct vertical takeoffs and landings, eVTOL aircraft used as air taxis are an appealing element of a safe aviation transportation system envisioned by the concept of urban air mobility (UAM). It is not surprising that private investments in the UAM industry have exceeded a billion dollars annually in recent years.

UAS Solution

Autonomous eVTOL air taxi operations will reduce transport time for passengers seeking to avoid road traffic or pedestrian congestion while traveling across or between urban centers. However, such UAM applications will need to meet critical safety and performance requirements before being certified to fly safely BVLOS over dense urban areas.

AURA’s Role

AURA’s nationwide aviation network can accelerate certification of autonomous eVTOL aircraft and other UAM technologies. Built to provide FAA standards-compliant command and control as well as ATC voice, the network would empower eVTOLs with secure, interference-free communication links enabling BVLOS flight in controlled airspace.

“In the short term, [AURA] will play a critical role in quickly making possible low-altitude, BVLOS and other expanded operations by UAS; in the longer term, it will make possible
eVTOL vehicle operation.”

— Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Partner With Us

We are seeking partners with expertise in the following areas:

  • Aircraft manufacturers and operators

  • Avionics manufacturers (autopilot, flight computers, navigation)

  • USG programs that seek CNPC solutions for UAS operations

  • Flight-test programs

  • USS providers