By: Sean Guerre and Megan Horn
The skies above today’s energy infrastructure grow more crowded, and more strategic, than ever before. Energy companies increasingly deploy autonomous systems to drive faster and better decisions. Use case by use case, these systems have reshaped operations in measurable and replicable ways. From wildfire mitigation to pipeline patrol, the use of drones and robotics, powered by AI, continue to expand and make operations more efficient, safe and effective than ever before. While the excitement is sky-high, the real value lies in grounded results. This snapshot of how energy leaders put drones and robotics to work provides not just an overview of the current industry, but also a glimpse into its future flightpath.
PG&E: Scaling BVLOS Drone Ops with Data Automation
Spanning 70,000 square miles of wildfire-prone terrain, Pacific Gas & Electric has built one of the most mature drone programs in the utility sector. Their success with BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) operations isn’t just about aircraft. It’s about automation. PG&E streamlined a program that once relied on manual entry and disjointed systems. By partnering with AirData, it centralized everything from flight logging to FAA maintenance compliance. The result? Safer pilots, more predictable maintenance and a compliance model ready for audits and expansion.
Read the full case study: How PG&E Scales Safe BVLOS Drone Operations with AirData
Southern Company: Pioneering BVLOS
This year, Southern Company became the first U.S. utility to secure a Part 91 BVLOS exemption from the FAA. This unlocked long-range inspections using SwissDrones technology. While this might seem regulatory, the real impact was operational. With the ability to fly drones over long distances without onsite observers, Southern Company can assess storm damage faster, inspect infrastructure more often and do it all with less community disruption. Southern Company’s success signals that the FAA continues to warm to the concept of scaling BVLOS. It also indicates that operators who navigate FAA BVLOS processes early stand to reap major return on investment (ROI).
Explore the milestone: Southern Company Secures New BVLOS Waiver.
Turner Industries: Replacing Scaffolds with Indoor Drones
Not all drone work happens at 400 feet. Turner Industries took drones indoors, using the Elios 3 to inspect 2,000 feet of elevated piperacks. The payoff was significant: a 60% cost reduction, faster turnaround, zero time spent setting up scaffolding and no worker exposure to fall hazards. Using LiDAR and 4K video, the drone captured corrosion data and insulation damage that would have required days of manual access. The project provides a case study in how small indoor drones punch far above their weight when it comes to industrial ROI.
See how they did it: Cutting Costs and Boosting Safety With Piperack Inspections
Skyways, XER, Phenix and Censys: Heavy-Lift and Long-Endurance Going Mainstream
At the recent Energy Drone & Robotics Summit, leaders from Skyways, XER Technologies, Phenix Solutions and Censys Technologies pulled back the curtain on how high-end drones continue supplanting helicopters across the industry. (See prior AG coverage of the EDR Summit here). Heavy-lift drones that carry sensors (or cargo) over hundreds of miles now operate with increasing autonomy. These drones come with embedded AI, not just for post-flight analysis, but directly onboard. AI powers detect-and-avoid (DAA) systems, automated landings and real-time decision-making. As Skyways’ Andrew Aubrey put it, “We’re trying to start chipping away at that total duty for the helicopter side.” And the chips are adding up.
Dive into the summit recap: How Heavy-Lift and Long-Endurance Drones Are Transforming Energy Operations
Imperial Oil: Advancing Operational Efficiency with a Robotics-First Approach
\Imperial Oil is leading the charge in autonomous operations across Canada’s energy sector, driven by a strategic commitment to robotics. At the Cold Lake facility, Imperial has deployed Spot, the agile robotic dog, to take over nearly 70% of routine operator rounds—including heat exchanger checks and oil-water tank interface monitoring. At Kearl, the automation push continues with Holly, an inspection robot that autonomously evaluates haul truck undercarriages during refueling. Imperial’s integrated robotics strategy reflects a broader trend in energy: leveraging automation not just for cost savings, but to build smarter, safer, and more resilient operations.
Read more about Imperial’s robots: How Chevron and Imperial Are Using Drones and Robotics to Redefine Energy Operations
Oil & Gas Getting a Digital Overhaul
In the oil and gas sector, drones and robotics provide one piece of a broader digital transformation. Companies combine drones with AI, real-time analytics, digital twins and extended reality (XR) training to create predictive remote-first operations. From offshore platforms to desert pipelines, robots now handle tasks that once required costly and dangerous human intervention. This shift isn’t cosmetic. It’s cultural. Energy companies that embrace automation and autonomy build the kind of resilient operations that don’t just survive weather disruption, but rather grow stronger because of it.
See what’s changing: How Oil & Gas Is Reinventing Itself with AI, Drones, Robotics, and XR
The Future: More Scalable, Safer and Smarter Than Ever
These case studies highlight a clear trend: robotics, drones and AI in energy have moved from test flights to full-scale integration. The challenges, whether regulatory, logistical or technological, may be real…but the benefits of digital transformation are simply too large to ignore. With expanding FAA support, deeper AI integration and a wave of purpose-built platforms hitting the market, the energy sector has entered a new era of flight where inspections are proactive, data predictive and people spend less time in harm’s way. Call it transformation. Call it innovation. Just don’t call it optional.