Quick Facts
- Tulsa men started started XWorks, a company that revolutionizes the way drones are used commercially
- High-tech commercial drones can last about 40 minutes.
- XWorks created a fully automated docking station called RDIST that helps eliminate that timeframe from being a barrier to expanded commercial use.
- One of the first ways they're putting it to use is in the oil industry to inspect well sites
- Drones and docking stations make the inspection process more efficient.
- This docking station can tell the drones what to do, change a battery or camera, charge batteries, and a number of other things, completely robotically.
- XWorks estimates it can save an oil company $1 million a year per 1,000 well sites monitored.
- Right now FAA regulations say you can't fly a drone out of sight of a pilot. XWorks applied for a waiver from the FAA they expect to receive in 2018.
- XWorks will begin a pilot program with an Oklahoma oil company in August
- When they get their FAA waiver they'll be able to expand testing.
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