How Heavy-Lift and Long-Endurance Drones Are Transforming Energy Operations

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At the 2025 Energy Drone & Robotics Summit, a powerhouse panel gathered to explore the growing impact of heavy-lift, long-endurance cargo drones in energy. Moderated by Michael Hill of the Unmanned Safety Institute (USI), the session featured insights from these leaders:

  • Andrew Aubrey, Skyways

  • Gokmen Cetin, XER Technologies

  • Kyle Miller, Censys Technology

  • Mark Zimmerman, Phenix Solutions

Here is a recap of this future-focused conversation. View this session now and gain access to other EDRS Sessions on demand now.

Defining “Heavy-Lift” and “Long-Endurance”

What qualifies as “heavy-lift” or “long-endurance” isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each panelist brought a unique lens, shaped by the aircraft they design and the industries they serve.

Mark Zimmerman of Phenix Solutions comes from a manned aviation background, so his threshold for “heavy-lift” is high. “We took the approach that heavy lift to us was literally using a drone to do the dull, dangerous work that a current manned aircraft does,” he said. 

Meanwhile, companies like XER Technologies and Censys Technologies focus on lighter aircraft that carry high-value sensors or complete long-endurance inspections.

“We enable carrying heavy lift sensors and carrying them longer than traditional drones out in the market today, coming close to helicopters and replacing them.” said Gokmen Cetin of XER Technologies. This capability helps utilities conduct detailed inspections with helicopter-like results—but at a fraction of the cost and risk.

Kyle Miller of Censys Technologies added that endurance is relative: “Long endurance for us is a little different because we're entirely electric. So long endurance is relative to the use case, to the maturity of the program, and to the size of the problem being solved.” Longer flights enable more comprehensive data collection in a single mission.

Andrew Aubrey of Skyways explained that his company is pursuing a gradual progression toward heavy-lift capacity. “Our latest version can carry 30 pounds for eight hours or 500 miles. We’re trying to start chipping away at that total duty for the helicopter side.”

AI Is Accelerating Autonomy

As the capabilities of drones expand, the real challenge is shifting from collecting data to making sense of it. Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a key role on both fronts: in-flight and post-mission.

Cetin described the growing pressure on end users: “You throw them data and they're like, ‘Hey, do it a little bit slower, please. I need to handle that data somehow.’ And this is where AI comes into picture. ” AI helps by analyzing imagery, flagging faults, and generating reports automatically. This turns hours of inspection footage into actionable insights.

Onboard AI integrated into drones is also advancing autonomy and safety. “We are day in, day out now testing a module to have 360-degree AI detection of other objects,” Cetin said, describing XER’s vision-based detect-and-avoid (DAA) system for safe BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) operations.

Aubrey shared that Skyways is building deep autonomy into its aircraft, including ship landing capabilities and intelligent routing. “When we can define the mission very narrowly and specifically, we are flying that completely autonomously,” he said. “We use a training dataset to identify which vessel we're looking for and do an airdrop or land on the ship itself.” The pilot becomes a safety observer, not an active controller.

Zimmerman emphasized that autonomy is improving mission consistency and operational reliability: “The aircraft just does the same thing every single time. And so the speed of being able to use the automation side has been a great technological advancement because we proceeded very quickly.” Their platform is designed to operate in fleets with real-time fire suppression coordination—each drone adjusting its drop based on changing wind and fire conditions.

Regulatory Friction—And Progress

As always, regulations remain a challenge. Zimmerman noted that Phenix Solutions is certified under manned aircraft rules, but the FAA hasn’t yet assigned a team to move their type certification forward.

For others, public agency use, COAs, and Part 107 exemptions are the current path. Aubrey mentioned participation in Project Ultra in North Dakota: “We'll be doing some deliveries from Grand Sky to Cavalier Space Force Base—10 total round trips.”

Censys is also helping customers navigate the waiver process. “If they can't take the Ferrari out of the parking lot, is it worth buying it?” Miller said, explaining how their support helps clients operate BVLOS flights using shielded operations and DAA systems.

Everyone is anxiously awaiting the next steps of Part 108 for BVLOS operations. 

Power: The Eternal Constraint

Flight duration, payload capacity, and operational range all hinge on power. While battery technology is improving, it remains a constraint.

XER’s aircraft uses gasoline to enable 2.5-hour flights, with built-in engine redundancy and backup batteries. “In order to do that with batteries, we need around 120 pounds of batteries,” Cetin said.

Skyways uses a hybrid approach: a heavy-fuel engine for cruise and batteries for VTOL phases. “We're always in forward flight during the mission, and that’s one reason we’re getting such amazing range,” said Aubrey.

Miller acknowledged that battery-powered systems like Censys’ have trade-offs but also strengths—particularly in reliability and simplicity. “I have a hard time believing we're going to move away from batteries,” he said. “We enjoy a reliability factor that comes with not having an engine.” 

Operational Integration: Training, Safety, and Flexibility

As drone platforms diversify, the panelists agreed that collaboration—not competition—is essential. Zimmerman pointed out: “We have the unique advantage that we’re the ones who give major technologies a ride.”

Beyond technology, integration requires change management. Drone providers help customers understand their goals. “In their utopia, what does it look like?” asked Miller. “Are they seeing every asset every 30 days, every three years, every three months?” Understanding inspection goals helps build the right combination of staffing, outsourcing, and autonomy.

For the larger aircraft, integration is about compatibility. “We work with them to integrate into their existing flight activities. We don't change 'em, we literally just have an aircraft that is absorbable into their normal operations,” said Zimmerman.

Looking to 2030

Each speaker shared a bold prediction for the future:

  • Aubrey: “Sensors first, cargo second, people third.” Maritime cargo delivery will lead the way.

  • Miller: A shared network of fixed-wing and multi-rotor drones serving utilities across regions.

  • Cetin: “Robots will start to make their own decisions based on AI,” leading to true autonomy.

  • Zimmerman: FAA approvals will expand: “I am going to boldly say by 2030 that there are going to be aircraft approved in the NAS [National Airspace System].”

The Bottom Line

From high-altitude data collection to critical cargo resupply, heavy-lift and long-endurance drones are no longer futuristic concepts—they’re operational realities. 

Miller pointed out that the energy sector has moved past early adoption: “This is the best it's ever been when it comes to everything working together in concert under Part 107.” Use cases like vegetation management, storm response, and right-of-way inspections are increasingly mature—and driving tech improvements.

As AI advances, regulations mature, and energy companies embrace these technologies, the future of flight in energy is autonomous, scalable, and transformational.