NSK Ltd. has released a new gas turbine generator bearing for eVTOLs including large drones, which is expected to extend drone flight range. The new product was used for the gas turbine generator of a large drone (high payload emergency supply delivery drone equipped with a gas turbine generator) equipped with an 80-kw hybrid drive system for a regional reconstruction and practical development promotion project in fiscal 2023 and delivered to Fukushima Prefecture on February 21, 2024. 

While the factory has received a modern makeover in recent years, it’s no surprise various industrial segments are taking advantage of digital tools to promote efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. The farming and agriculture community has embraced automation, robotics, IIoT, drones and autonomous vehicles to address global food demands and production limitations.

After reading Senior Editor Matt Jaster’s article this issue (“Advancing Technology for MRO,” p. 18), I have visions of the maintenance engineer of tomorrow. He’s not wearing a hard hat and steel-toe boots. No, he’s wearing ripped jeans and a ball cap (backwards), and he’s holding a game controller, because he’s operating the drone system your company is using to do visual and thermal inspection of your equipment, saving you enormous time and effort in your predictive maintenance routine.