French drone company Azur Drones has released the second generation of its Skeyetech model of industrial autonomous drones, which it says is set to take precision drone missions at premises to the next level.

Called Skeyetech E2, the new drone follows on the steps on the first generation Skeyetech, which made waves as a security provider of choice at industrial sites belonging to global players like TotalEnergies, BASF, Orano, ArcleorMittal, Dubai Police and the Paris Fire Brigade.

This new baby, Azur claims, puts the company in the enviable position as a provider of global personnel, environment and asset protection.

“The result of unparalleled experience in the field of automatic drones (25,000 completed flights, 40,000 km covered), Skeyetech E2 has the capacity to take on a payload of up to three systems specific to many use cases, Azur Drones said in a statement announcing the launch.

“An ultra-connected, 5G-operational system, it meets hitherto unknown aviation standards in this market.

“Skeyetech E2 also has a configurable charging time: fast charging for intensive use (20+ missions per day), or slower charging and maximised service life for less frequent use. Finally, for crisis management situations in which longer flight times are needed, it is now possible to hot swap Skeyetech E2 batteries, thereby giving the drone increased flight times.”

Additionally, the new drone is a multi-application platform capable of providing aerial data of all types (video, gas capture, photogrammetry data, etc.) processed accurately and repeatedly using artificial intelligence. This enables it to fulfil the needs of different stakeholders on a same site, making it capable of being deployed for different missions by different departments in a same company.

Whether carried out simultaneously or at different times, Azur says such applications include asset protection (inspection, maintenance), personnel protection (security, civil protection), and environmental protection (gas capture, miscellaneous pollution detection, radioactivity protection in the nuclear industry).

“We are especially proud to present Skeyetech E2, a genuine game changer in the automatic drone market,” said CEO, Jean-Marc Crépin.

“A French solution stemming from expertise recognised by our clients and partners, Skeyetech E2 further positions Azur Drones in an operational value creation approach at its clients’ sites. More than just a drone, Skeyetech E2 is a true shared-use, multi-application platform that meets your clients’ needs for security, industrial operations support, and environmental protection.”

From site studies to operational deployment, including regulatory studies and the use of specific sensors, the drone also reportedly delivers a perfectly integrated solution that can cover missions varying from on-site maintenance and even remote system operation.

Crepin added; “Skeyetech E2 is taking Azur Drones into a new era: the drone service era. We are offering access to an unparalleled level of accurate and recurrent data, but also, and this is where we stand out the most, a complete turnkey service that lets our clients optimise their operations and resource assignments. With Skeyetech E2, Azur Drones has set out to conquer new markets with its new, major ambitions.”