NDSCS partners with RDO and Wingtra on advanced drone mapping and research project. The North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program recently partnered with RDO and Wingtra on an advanced drone mapping and research project in the Wahpeton-Breckenridge area. Over the past several weeks, NDSCS students and faculty worked alongside industry partners to test the capabilities of the WingtraRAY drone platform and evaluate how the aircraft and its specialized camera systems collect and process mapping data. The project gave students hands-on experience with some of the most advanced drone technology currently being used in the industry. With support from the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, the flights were conducted with full Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization. The approval allows operations up to 6,000 feet above ground level (AGL) and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) within a 10-mile radius of the Wahpeton airport. The FAA authorization will remain active for the next two years, creating opportunities for future drone testing, research, and advanced flight operations in the region. Wingtra, a Switzerland-based drone technology company, supported the project and may be involved in future research and testing opportunities with NDSCS and industry partners. "This project gave our students an opportunity to work directly with cutting-edge technology that very few people have access to," said Seth Simonson, UAS Lead Instructor. "The experience they gained operating advanced equipment and analyzing real-world mapping data will help prepare them for careers in the growing UAS industry."

ANA Holdings and Wingtra partner to deploy advanced drone services in Japan. 4 hours ago ANA Holdings (ANA HD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Swiss industrial drone manufacturer Wingtra AG to evaluate the deployment of wide-area surveying and inspection services across Japan. The collaboration, which was announced March 16, 2026, aims to leverage Wingtra's vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing aircraft technology to establish an advanced data observation service, enabling efficient infrastructure inspections and rapid disaster assessments. The partnership aligns with ANA HD's Medium-term Corporate Strategy for FY2026-2028, which targets the launch of commercial drone services by 2027. By combining ANA HD's extensive aviation safety expertise with Wingtra's innovative drone technology, the companies seek to overcome the challenges traditionally faced by conventional drones in wide-area surveys and inspections. A recent demonstration project at Mount Unzen-Fugen in Nagasaki Prefecture showcased the feasibility of the technology. The Wingtra drone surveyed approximately 150 hectares (1.5 km2) in a single 30-minute flight, surpassing the performance of conventional rotary-wing drones. The high-precision survey data collected enabled the detection of minute cracks and structural deformations in the surveyed facilities. "We are thrilled to team up with Wingtra to scale our drone solutions across the surveying and inspection landscape," said Yoshiaki Tsuda, Executive Vice President of ANA HD. "Combining Wingtra's innovation with our airline expertise allows us to provide robust solutions for Japan's infrastructure monitoring and disaster response." Following the successful demonstration, ANA HD is discussing a domestic sales agency agreement for Wingtra's latest drone, the WingtraRAY, while also evaluating the provision of comprehensive support services, including aircraft deployment, operations, pilot training, and maintenance. ANA HD is also considering supporting the acquisition of what it calls a "Class 1 Type Certification," Japan's highest national safety standard for unmanned aircraft operations, leveraging its advanced aviation safety expertise. This certification would enable more advanced and extensive services, including future "Level 4" operations, allowing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights over populated areas without visual observers. "Japan represents a robust market with significant potential for industrial drone adoption, and we are eager to partner with ANA HD to accelerate this growth," said Karsten Robbins, Vice President of Sales at Wingtra. "ANA's expertise in safety and operational excellence makes it the ideal partner to expand the use of our high-precision VTOL fixed-wing solutions across multiple industries." As the partnership progresses, ANA HD and Wingtra are poised to revolutionize the surveying and inspection landscape in Japan, offering advanced drone-based solutions that enhance efficiency, safety, and data accuracy.