Censys Technologies and STRIXDRONES USA have announced a strategic partnership that combines a long-endurance, fixed-wing drone built for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations with a fully autonomous docking station. The collaboration aims to enable continuous, remote inspection of power infrastructure across the United States.
America’s utilities face mounting challenges from wildfire risk, vegetation growth, and aging infrastructure. Traditional inspection methods, such as helicopter surveys and manual ground checks, are expensive, slow, and limited in scale. By pairing the Censys Sentaero 6 with the STRIX Dock, the two companies offer a new way to monitor the grid that is faster, safer, and designed for persistent coverage.
A Complete BVLOS Inspection Network
At the center of the solution is the Sentaero 6, a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing aircraft optimized for BVLOS flight. With long-range endurance and payload flexibility, it can capture detailed imagery and data across large areas without requiring line-of-sight control.
The Sentaero 6 operates in coordination with the STRIX Dock, a rugged, military-grade autonomous docking station. The dock enables remote launches, landings, data transfer, and recharging, allowing for a continuous cycle of inspection missions without on-site personnel. Built to withstand heat, snow, and high winds, the system is engineered for year-round operation in difficult environments.
This integration marks a step forward in automating routine grid inspections. By removing the need for pilots and ground crews at every site, utilities can perform frequent, data-driven assessments of transmission lines and substations at lower cost and with greater safety.
Scaling Infrastructure Monitoring
The U.S. power grid spans millions of miles of transmission and distribution lines. The new system allows utilities to deploy autonomous inspection networks across large territories, permanently stationed in critical regions. These installations can operate around the clock, enabling earlier threat detection and reducing wildfire and outage risks.
John Lobdell, CTO and Co-Founder of Censys Technologies, said the partnership aligns with the company’s mission to improve asset intelligence and resilience. “The launch of Sentaero 6 and EdgeDock marks a transformative step toward realizing that mission, empowering truly remote autonomous operations that deliver meaningful insights at scale,” he said.
Combining Expertise for Scale
- Instead of developing a docking system internally, Censys partnered with STRIXDRONES to bring together proven technologies from both companies. STRIXDRONES has field experience with military and commercial customers and specializes in autonomous infrastructure that supports remote operations.
“We are proud to partner with Censys Technologies to unlock the full potential of critical infrastructure inspection programs,” said Justin Steinke, CEO of STRIXDRONES USA. “By combining the strengths of both companies and with the support of emerging BVLOS regulations, we are delivering a transformative capability for the utility sector.”
Early Deployments and Industry Adoption
The first deployments of the Sentaero 6 with STRIX Dock are expected in early 2026. AEP Texas has already conducted successful trials, and parent company American Electric Power plans to expand use of the system.
These early implementations point toward a new model for infrastructure monitoring—networks of autonomous, fixed-wing drones operating remotely to keep the nation’s power grid safe, efficient, and resilient.
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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.
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