California-based drone startup TerraView recently unveiled a new UAV model designed to fly for more than an hour with a standard sensor payload.

The RangePro X8P – Pixhawk will be deployed mostly in the first responder and government-enterprise sectors, according to a TerraView press release.

Designed and manufactured in the U.S. with American-made flight control system (FCS) components, the new model meets all defense department guidelines and is the follow-up model to the RangePro X8.

“We designed the RangePro X8P based on U.S. market and federal government demand, aligning with the pending [Senate bill], the American Security Drone Act of 2019,” TerraView president Bruce Myers said.

“If this bill is passed it will ban federal departments and agencies from purchasing any commercial off-the-shelf drone or unmanned aircraft system manufactured or assembled in China or other countries identified for national security concerns,” he added. “We have been working with suppliers in the U.S. and other U.S. partner countries to provide best-in-class technical solutions and components that allow us to manufacture one of the highest-performing commercial drones in the market today.”

According to a company release, the RangePro X8P offers:

• Customization to work in industries such as energy, agriculture, construction, first responders, mining, and government;
• Longer flight times: “Highly efficient design coupled with higher power density  batteries result in flight times that are on average two and a half times longer than the competition, allowing users to accomplish more work with fewer batteries and less time spent on battery swaps and maintenance;”
• Longer service life: “Each battery can support over 500 charging cycles over its useful lifespan; longer flight times, longer service life, and efficient design combine to provide the lowest cost per flight hour, keeping a low total cost of ownership and increasing overall ROI.”

The model will be equipped to handle structural integrity surveys, terrain mapping and modeling, construction site planning, solar panel inspection, pipeline inspection, tower inspection and power-line surveys.