Trimble and Volatus Aerospace have announced a new collaboration that advances precision and safety in commercial beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone delivery operations. Volatus has integrated the Trimble PX-1 RTX positioning solution into its delivery drone service, supporting the daily transport of medical supplies to the Montana First Nations Clinic while operating beneath active runway glide paths.
The integration enables Volatus to meet stringent regulatory requirements for airspace navigation, altitude control and communications during operations in controlled airport environments. Trimble’s technology supports precise take-off and landing while maintaining exact flight altitudes within approved corridors, a critical requirement for compliance in complex airport airspace.
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Volatus currently conducts daily medical deliveries from Edmonton International Airport in Alberta, Canada, operating under a flight corridor approved by Transport Canada and Nav Canada. The corridor requires the aircraft to maintain a 50-foot altitude while crossing aircraft arrival routes and to execute highly accurate take-off and landing procedures. Trimble PX-1 RTX provides the positioning accuracy needed to support these requirements and maintain compliance with controlled airspace authorisations.
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The Trimble PX-1 RTX solution combines CenterPoint RTX corrections with compact, high-performance GNSS-inertial hardware to deliver real-time, centimetre-level positioning and precise inertial-derived true heading. This capability enhances positioning redundancy and reduces operational risks associated with sensor limitations or magnetic interference.
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Greg Colacitti, Chief Operating Officer of Volatus Aerospace, said the integration of Trimble’s technology into the company’s Canary delivery drone system has strengthened the safety case for operations in tightly defined delivery zones, while supporting the reliability and scalability of the service.
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Joe Hutton, director of inertial technology and airborne solutions at Trimble, said the first commercial application of the PX-1 RTX represents a milestone for the drone delivery sector, enabling greater precision and reliability while supporting cost reduction, operational efficiency and environmental benefits.
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Trimble said the PX-1 RTX solution is available through its sales channels and is designed to support fully remote drone operations in real-world missions, including BVLOS applications.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: TRIMBLE
