Common Questions About Remote Drone Operations, Answered

Remote drone operations means running drone missions at a site without a pilot or crew on site. Automated drones based at the site launch, fly their missions, land and recharge on their own. Licensed pilots at a central operations centre oversee every flight remotely.

Remote Robotic’s Remote Operations Center is a fully managed drone program. We supply the drones and docks, our licensed pilots run every mission from our Canadian operations centre, and you get the data. You don’t buy equipment, hire pilots or run the program yourself.

• Scheduled inspections of equipment, structures and facilities
• Thermal monitoring and temperature alerts
• Site security patrols and alarm response
• AI detection of people and vehicles
• Corridor patrols along pipelines, lines and roads
• Live aerial video during incidents and emergencies
• Change detection between repeat flights

Missions are automated. The drone follows saved routes, launches on a schedule or from an alarm, and lands and recharges by itself. But it isn’t unsupervised: licensed pilots oversee every mission and can take control at any time.

Yes. Our latest docked drone systems are rated to operate from –40°C to 50°C. Docks heat and cool themselves automatically, drone batteries heat themselves in the cold, and drones use anti-ice propellers.

Docks are rated IP56 and drones IP55 for protection against dust and water. Drones can fly in light rain, up to about 2 mm per hour. Heavy rain, snow and fog can affect flight safety and sensors, so missions hold in those conditions.

Drones can take off and land in winds of up to 12 m/s. Above that, missions hold automatically.

Each dock has its own weather station that measures wind speed, rainfall and temperature. Before every launch, the system checks local conditions and holds the flight automatically if they’re outside safe limits. ROC pilots also monitor conditions and can bring the drone back early if the weather changes.

The ROC tracks every missed mission and makes sure it’s completed as soon as conditions allow.

Sometimes. Fog, heavy precipitation and direct sun can affect visual and thermal imagery. Missions are scheduled to get the most consistent, reliable data, for example at the same time of day for thermal comparisons.

Docked drones are built for permanent outdoor use. They’re weather-sealed, climate-controlled and monitored 24/7. Every mission is overseen by a licensed pilot, and the system checks the aircraft, the dock and the weather before every flight.

Maintenance and repairs are part of the service. Our team handles preventive maintenance, firmware updates, repairs and replacement hardware, backed by OEM-tier hardware support.

Docks include backup power that keeps essential systems running, so the drone can return and land safely. During an outage, the dock can’t charge the drone, so stable power is important for continuous operations.

If the drone loses its link, it follows preset safety procedures, such as returning to the dock. We assess connectivity during the site survey and recommend backup options where needed.

Drones use 360° obstacle sensing that combines vision sensors, rotating LiDAR and millimetre-wave radar. They can detect thin cables, and they work day and night. Routes are also planned around known hazards, and geofences keep drones away from restricted areas.

The drone launches as soon as a mission is triggered. Our latest docks can swap the battery and have the drone back in the air in under 45 seconds, which supports back-to-back missions and repeat alarms.

Yes. The ROC is staffed 24/7/365 by licensed pilots, with service levels from best-effort to guaranteed dispatch.

You do. The imagery, video, maps and reports collected at your sites are your data.

Only the people you authorize. Access can be set by site, team or role, so each user sees only what they need.

Data is managed through a secure fleet management platform. For organizations with strict IT policies, on-premises options are available that keep data on your own servers. We’ll review your requirements during the briefing.

Data is transmitted and stored securely, access is controlled by user permissions, and every mission produces a full audit trail of flight logs and chain-of-custody records.

Yes. Data can be delivered to your GIS, asset management or project systems.

Missions are planned to focus on your sites and assets, and routes and geofences keep flights within defined areas. We follow Canadian privacy requirements in how data is collected and handled.

We understand that some organizations have specific policies on drone origin and supply chains. We’ll discuss your requirements and the options available, including NDAA-compliant platforms where needed.

Yes. Drone operations in Canada are regulated by Transport Canada, and the ROC operates under that framework with licensed RPAS pilots and the required flight authorizations.

No. The ROC team handles flight authorizations, airspace coordination, operational procedures and documentation for your sites.

Yes. Every mission is overseen by Transport Canada–licensed RPAS pilots.

Transport Canada’s rules allow some beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations under specific conditions and certifications. More complex operations need special flight authorizations. We’ll review what applies to your sites during the site assessment.

Every site is checked for nearby airports, controlled airspace and other restrictions. These can affect how and when a site goes live, so they’re reviewed early.

It can. Drone data supports inspections, monitoring, repair verification and record-keeping. Check with your compliance team and regulator which methods count toward your specific obligations.

Yes. The ROC operates with commercial UAV insurance.

No. The ROC takes over the repetitive, time-consuming and risky parts of data collection, like driving to remote sites, walking assets and checking alarms at night. Your people focus on analysis, decisions, repairs and the work that needs their expertise.

Yes. Drones collect the data, but your team decides what it means and what to do about it. Crews still do the repairs, maintenance and follow-up, and they go where they’re needed instead of everywhere on a fixed schedule.

In most cases, yes. The ROC works alongside your security team and cameras. It adds aerial coverage, faster alarm response and fewer unnecessary call-outs, so guards can focus on what needs a person.

No drone training is needed. Your team only needs to know how to view the data, alerts and reports, and we’ll show you.

No. Licensed pilots, maintenance and data processing are all part of the service.

• Fewer drives to remote sites
• Less climbing and work at height
• Less time near energized, hot or hazardous equipment
• No one sent alone to check alarms at night
• Crews arrive knowing what they’re dealing with

Pricing depends on the number of sites, the types of mission, how often missions run and the service level. Most programs are a predictable monthly fee. We’ll give you a quote after the briefing.

No. We supply, install and maintain all the equipment.

• Drones, docks and accessories
• Site assessment, installation and commissioning
• Licensed pilot oversight, 24/7/365
• Mission planning and scheduling
• Maintenance, repairs and hardware upgrades
• Data processing and delivery
• Flight records and compliance documentation

Service fees are generally treated as an operating expense, which usually means faster approval than a capital purchase. Your finance team can confirm the accounting treatment for your organization.

Running your own program means buying equipment, hiring and certifying pilots, managing maintenance, getting approvals, processing data and replacing hardware every few years. The ROC covers all of that in one service, with no capital outlay and no added headcount.

• Fewer truck rolls to remote sites
• Less time spent on routine inspections and alarm checks
• Earlier detection of problems, before they turn into failures
• No capital spending on drones and equipment
• No pilot hiring, training or turnover costs

Yes. Most clients start with one site and one or two missions, then expand once they’ve seen the results.

Typically an open area, a stable power supply, a network connection and a level mounting surface. We’ll provide a detailed checklist.

Most programs launch in weeks, not quarters. We’ll give you a site-by-site timeline after the site assessment.

Book a ROC briefing. We’ll learn about your sites and goals and recommend a program.

Oil and gas, mining and surveying, energy and utilities, construction, and public safety and municipal facilities.

Across Canada, with service points in Mississauga, Ottawa, Calgary, Burnaby and Montréal.