UK-based drone data provider SenSat has completed its first 12km beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flight as part of a test conducted in a complex airspace.

Using BVLOS drone flight, SenSat expects to cover over 1,400km of flight distance in a single day at a reduced cost.

The existing rules allow drone pilots to fly their vehicles up to a distance of 500m from the source, while maintaining direct visual contact.

SenSat plans to provide the results from the latest flight and feedback on policy decisions before they are presented before the UK’s Parliament in the early 2020s.

“BVLOS is often cited as the turning point for our industry, it is the moment from which we can begin to see drones truly making a positive impact on our daily lives.”

SenSat CEO James Dean said: “BVLOS is often cited as the turning point for our industry, it is the moment from which we can begin to see drones truly making a positive impact on our daily lives.

“At SenSat we are using that advantage to make data freely available, with the ultimate goal of driving better decision making that brings transparency and consistency across publicly funded infrastructure projects.”

By using BVLOS flights, SenSat intends to reduce the price of drone data by up to 90%.

The flights are also set to save time and ensure the safety of people working in hazardous conditions.

SenSat uses a new artificial intelligence (AI) solution called Structure from Motion photogrammetry, which uses survey-grade GPS to digitally recreate the world in detail.

The AI is capable of converting real-time complex data into actionable insight, helping companies to make more informed decisions.