Drones

Off-Grid BVLOS Drone Solution HubX from Sphere Drones

After 25,000 Kilometers of Testing, HubX Offers Automation, Safety, and Efficiency for Mining, Construction, and Emergency Services in Australia

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb

Australian drone technology company Sphere Drones recently announced that they had delivered HubX, a trailer-mounted, fully integrated, off grid BVLOS-capable drone deployment solution, to their distribution partner Aptella, bringing their automated drone technology to a range of customers in the resources, mining, construction, and emergency services sectors. 

Following extensive testing in the difficult, austere environment of Western Australia, the delivery represents the culmination of over two years of development for Sphere Drones, including rigorous testing across 25,000 kilometres (almost 10,000 miles) of red dirt desert. 

Paris Cockinos, CEO of Sphere Drones, said: “Delivering this HubX unit to Aptella is a testament to the hard work and innovation of our team. HubX is more than a product – it’s a transformative turnkey solution designed to take business operations to the next level by automating tasks, reducing risk, improving efficiency, and enabling continuous drone operations. Working with Aptella strengthens our commitment to driving innovative change in industries like mining, construction and many more.”

Aptella’s RPAS Business Development Manager Gavin Docherty highlighted the transformative potential of HubX for their client’s operations. “HubX allows clients across industries to integrate drone infrastructure with flexible deployment options. This means 24/7 operations with significant productivity gains, enabling us to meet the evolving demands of our clients in mining, construction and other industries.”

Mr Docherty also highlighted the collaborative efforts between Sphere Drones and Aptella, noting the significant design improvements implemented after the HubX demo days in Western Australia. These updates ensure continued compliance with regulatory standards and operational durability in rugged conditions across Australia.

According to their press release, the HubX system offers several operational benefits for Aptella’s clients, including enhanced safety and improved productivity, while remaining more cost effective than conventional personnel-heavy solutions. 

Sphere Drones and Aptella will host a series of demonstration days across Australia to showcase their new solution. Both companies will continue to gather operational insights to refine the system and explore additional applications across various industries.

More information about Sphere Drones and its range of drone solutions, along with demonstration days, can be found here.

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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry.  Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.

TWITTER:@spaldingbarker

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