Real Talk from Energy Asset Owners and UAV/Drone Operators
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Some of the most popular sessions at every Energy Drone & Robotics Summit are the roundtables where we have real asset owners and operators share their insights. We get to hear what’s working for them, how they overcame common challenges, what their programs look like, and what they think is next for drones and robotics in energy.
Want to hear this year’s roundtables live? Join us for EDRS 2025, June 16-18 in Woodlands, Texas.
Two roundtables from our 2024 event were:
Energy Asset Owners and Operators Roundtable
Panelists:
Shankar Nadarajah, ExxonMobil
Dustin Waller, Oxy
Marty Robinson, Dow
Heath McLemore, Florida Power & Light Company
UAVs/Robotics Operator Roundtable
Panelists:
Scott McGowan, NetZero Aerial
Dustin Waller, Oxy
John Fowler, Cyberhawk
Genevieve Dacambra, Suncor Energy
Both panels were moderated by our own Sean Guerre.
Let’s take a look at what these two groups of experts had to say about their programs, as well as insights and advice they had to share.
Scaling Requires Repeatability and Structure
Both panels discussed scalability as a common challenge and shared their approach for scaling drone and robotics programs in an energy organization. Several panelists pointed to the importance of standardizing and centralizing drone programs.
Genevieve Dacambra of Suncor Energy said, “We have a centralized UAV program. We've spent the last five years building that up—it is a hybrid, so we own some of our own assets.”
Shankar Nadarajah of ExxonMobil said, “Being able to deliver a consistent standardized program and approach—that strategy has paid dividends for the corporation.”
As operations grow, so does the need for strong frameworks—putting the right structures in place via SOPs, training, and quality control. This standardization and repeatability is what allows small POCs to scale into fully integrated enterprise tools. Without it, even the most advanced drone fleet risks becoming a patchwork of isolated efforts that don’t deliver sustained impact.
The Drone Is Just the Beginning
Throughout both sessions, speakers emphasized that drones and robots are only one part of the equation. What really matters is what you do with the data they collect. And that process—from capture to processing to analysis to decision-making—has to be as seamless and standardized as the flight itself.
Nadarajah pointed out that even if you have the best, most advanced, shiniest tools, if you don’t know how to ingest and analyze that data to extract insights, you don’t get the value you need at the end of the day.
Waller spoke on keeping it simple, saying, “It doesn't have to be this ridiculous technology to give you value on drone data."
Data Overload and Ownership
As drone programs expand, data becomes both the greatest asset and the greatest challenge. Getting data from the drone to decision-makers in a seamless, actionable way is still a pain point—especially at scale.
Nadarajah said, “We built early on a robust standardized platform. So whether I'm Baytown, Texas, or I'm in Australia, we're all looking at the same kind of format of how we bring in that robotic visual data.”
Fowler said, “...bringing all that data in and having everybody play nicely in that data repository, I think that part gets forgotten when we're trying to get these programs off the ground."
Some organizations want to own their data while others prefer to bring in partners to help with data management. But most work with third party vendors and partners.
Dacambra said, “Suncor wants to own the data. So guess what? That means that it has a place to put all the data.”
She also pointed out their program isn’t done in isolation, “Having a vendor partner that you can work with that is willing to adapt and actually identify items they can do to be helpful… those conversations allow everybody to get value out of that relationship.”
McLemore highlighted Florida Power & Light’s progress in consolidating data in its own ecosystem: “A team of data scientists and programmers are building an in-house application on top of AWS. So now we have this one all-encompassing application for all visual imagery and data for the entire company. It's helping us eliminate the need to fly the same routes twice, reducing a lot of the costs out of data collection.”
Robinson discussed how Dow puts an emphasis on trusted partners: “We work with traditional inspection vendors who have added robotics and drones to their portfolio. Because they have existing relationships with Dow, it expedites the approval process and accelerates implementation.”
As a vendor themselves, NetZero Aerial’s McGowan said, "I think one of the main things that we can provide is I would say that 90% of the folks that are our clients, we provide work acceleration"
Learning from Other Operators
As more energy companies turn to UAVs and robotics to boost efficiency and safety, the lessons from these operators—on communication, governance, and data—are invaluable for building lasting impact. And you get this type of access only at the Energy Drone & Robotics Summit.
Watch these two roundtables, and more sessions from EDRS 2024, on demand here. And get registered for 2025.
Playbook for Energy Drone and Robotics Programs
The experts shared their strategies for scaling UAVs and robotics in real-world environments, now it’s time to put them into action. The message was clear: it’s not about flying more drones—it’s about building repeatable, valuable, and standardized programs.
Standardize Before You Scale
Why it matters: Without common standards, growth becomes chaos. A pilot at one site can’t easily translate to another without shared procedures and expectations.
Action Steps:
Develop and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) for flight planning, safety, reporting, and data handling.
Use consistent technology stacks, sensors, and workflows across regions when possible.
Build repeatability into your program from the start—don’t let innovation outpace structure.
Build a Scalable Data Management Framework
Why it matters: Drones and robots capturing data is only the beginning. True value comes from turning that data into decisions. Without a robust data pipeline, drone and robotics programs hit a wall.
Action Steps:
Define your data flow from the start: collection → processing → storage → analysis→ validation → delivery.
Choose platforms and data formats that can integrate with your existing systems.
Set retention policies and metadata standards so information can be found and used years down the line.
Automate where possible—manual downloads, click-and-drag file transfers, and siloed spreadsheets won’t scale.
Tie Technology to Tangible Value
Why it matters: Cool tech won’t survive long without a clear business case. Stakeholders need to see the return—whether it’s faster inspections, reduced emissions, or better asset visibility.
Action Steps:
Identify high-impact use cases early—like inspections, preventive maintenance, or emissions monitoring.
Benchmark your UAV/robotics work against traditional methods to show time, cost, and/or safety improvements.
Create quick wins and share the results internally to build momentum.
Treat Vendor Partnerships as Strategic Extensions of Your Team
Why it matters: Whether you outsource flights, fleet management, or data processing, your vendors influence your program’s reliability, safety, and success.
Action Steps:
Vet vendors on more than price—look for experience in your sector, safety record, and integration ability.
Create vendor playbooks with clear expectations for deliverables, formats, reporting, and communication.
Treat strategic vendors as collaborators. Involve them in planning, share roadmap insights, and gather feedback.
Build in checks for data quality, compliance, and communication—not just technical performance.
Don’t miss out on all the energy/utility asset owner roundtables this year at the Energy Drone & Robotics Summit, not to mention those always key hallway impromptu meetups to discuss best practices, tech and know-how, all happening June 16-18 at the Woodlands Marriott.
