BVLOS stands for Beyond Visual Line of Sight, and it refers to a type of operation for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones where the operator does not need to maintain direct visual contact with the drone during flight. In BVLOS operations, the drone flies beyond the operator’s visual range, which may be several kilometers away, depending on the environment and regulations.
In contrast to VLOS (Visual Line of Sight), where the operator must keep the drone within their visual range throughout the flight, BVLOS allows for greater flexibility and coverage, making it ideal for applications such as:
- Surveillance and monitoring: For large areas, such as pipelines, power lines, and agricultural fields.
- Delivery services: For transporting goods over long distances.
- Search and rescue: In remote or expansive locations where direct visual contact with the drone is not feasible.
- Mapping and surveying: For large-scale areas, such as construction sites, forests, or coastlines.
BVLOS operations require additional safety measures and typically need regulatory approval. The drone may rely on various technologies to ensure safe and efficient operation, such as:
- Automated flight systems
- Sense-and-avoid technologies
- Communication systems
- GPS and geofencing
In many countries, BVLOS operations are regulated by aviation authorities (like the FAA in the U.S.) to ensure safety, and operators often need to obtain specific certifications and adhere to certain operational guidelines.
