Drone program on SH 130
New, innovative technology is coming to SH 130. The Autonomy Institute says the intelligent infrastructure will focus on traffic control, security and public safety using drones.
AUSTIN, Texas – New innovative technology is coming to State Highway 130.
The Autonomy Institute says the intelligent infrastructure will focus on traffic control, security and public safety using drones.
“About four years ago. State Highway 130 jumped to the top of the list because of its uniqueness,” said Autonomy Institute chairman Jeffrey Decoux.
The SH 130 corridor is home to several companies, including Tesla, Amazon, Circuit of the Americas, H-E-B and dozens of commercial developers, and is the future home of intelligent infrastructure.
“We are right now naming them the Intelligent Infrastructure Economic Zone LLC. So, think of these as being new corporations that are established within a region that are supported by both public and private institutions, and that would become the organization that would be the one responsible for maintaining and operating and managing the infrastructure,” said Decoux.
The partnership was announced Tuesday between the Autonomy Institute, Ondas, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The technology will use autonomous drones to provide around-the-clock security, inspections, traffic monitoring, and assistance for emergency responders.
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“It is real time access like if a fire breaks out, fire breaks out often especially in the Bastrop area and down [the] SH 130 corridor, being able to get dispatch and get eyes on the scene to know where to bring fire trucks where they can actually contain is a perfect example of what they mean by real time,” said Decoux.
Ondas says this will allow faster responses to fires, accidents, and other public safety and disaster incidents.
“There is $60 billion dollars of active projects on SH 130 and has become one of the fastest growing corridors in the region to date,” said Decoux.
According to Ondas, there will be ten active drone zones to support the high traffic areas of Central Texas.
According to the Autonomy Institute, the earliest the drones will be installed will be around April 2025.
The Source: Information in this report comes from reporting and interviews by FOX 7 Austin transportation reporter Tan Radford.