Navigating the Challenges of Autonomous System Scaling

Yoav Amitai, the CEO of Elsight, a company specializing in technology for uncrewed systems across different environments, shares insights on the growing importance of supportive infrastructures in scaling autonomy.

Lessons from Recent Failures

In 2025, U.S. Navy unmanned vessels faced a significant challenge off the coast of California. A global Starlink outage severed their connections, demonstrating that while the vessels operated effectively, they were hampered by the failure of the systems they relied on.

Similarly, in Wuhan earlier this year, over 100 Baidu robotaxis experienced a system breakdown during rush hour, stranding passengers as authorities worked to manage the resulting traffic chaos. These cases highlight a critical lesson: autonomous systems can only scale effectively when supported by robust infrastructures.

Identifying Infrastructure Bottlenecks

As autonomous operations grow, they have encountered significant hurdles related to regulations and airspace management. Currently, the FAA is processing over 2,000 individual drone waivers, which are necessary for operations like Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights. While this system worked for limited operations, it is proving to be unsustainable amid increasing demand for routine flights.

Pilot projects may adapt to these constraints, but commercial operations require a more resilient framework. Once fleets engage in extensive missions across various jurisdictions, the supporting infrastructure transitions from a secondary element to a pivotal factor shaping the scalability of autonomy.

Foundation for Effective Scaling

A proactive approach is essential to circumvent potential bottlenecks in scaling autonomy. This necessitates establishing a comprehensive support system prior to expanding autonomous operations.

Take the case of Phoenix Air Unmanned (PAU). Before undertaking the ambitious task of inspecting over 300 miles of Shell pipeline in one day, PAU successfully completed more than 16,000 miles of infrastructure inspections. They laid essential groundwork such as nationwide authorizations, detailed operational procedures, electronic airspace monitoring, and offsite command systems.

This infrastructure enabled them to accomplish the Shell pipeline mission efficiently. They executed 16 flights covering 332 miles in approximately eight hours, transmitting high-resolution video in real-time to inspectors. However, it was the groundwork of 16,000 operational miles that made this achievement possible.

Building an Integrated Ecosystem

Successful autonomous operations depend not just on vehicles but also on a network of components including communications, sensors, software, and command systems. As these elements often come from various suppliers, ensuring interoperability becomes crucial.

The U.S. government's Blue UAS program exemplifies this need. Instead of approving entire drone units, the program evaluates individual components, allowing purchasers the flexibility to integrate approved parts while incentivizing vendors to ensure compatibility.

As deployments grow more complex, vendors who facilitate easier integrations stand to gain a significant advantage in the marketplace.

The Key to Successful Autonomy

While many autonomous initiatives begin with selecting the latest robotic technology or drones, effective scaling requires a foundational focus on operations. Businesses should carefully consider the environments in which autonomous systems will operate, the connections required, response strategies for communication failures, regulatory requirements, and data flow.

By aligning operational needs with suitable autonomous systems, companies can minimize the risk of outages and ensure that their advanced technologies function optimally within the environments designed to support them. This proactive approach is vital to maintaining the balance between autonomy and the necessary supporting frameworks, fostering successful scalability.