The Warren County Commission has approved a zoning change that will allow a high-tech antenna producer to set up a testing and distribution site on the North Service Road east of Warrenton.
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The Warren County Commission has approved a zoning change that will allow a high-tech antenna producer to set up a testing and distribution site on the North Service Road east of Warrenton.
Hoverfly Technologies Inc., owned by Top Floor Investment Partners, will use the site to test, configure and ship what it calls “variable height antennas.” Rather than a traditional pole-and-wire antenna, Hoverfly’s systems consist of a ground-based power unit tethered to a flying drone that serves as a wireless communication point for a large surrounding area.
The company will use the former location of the Jackie O’s auction house and storage at 17467 N. Service Road for its operations. The Warren County Commission voted 3-0 on Nov. 30 to rezone the property from agricultural to commercial use, allowing the operation to proceed.
Hoverfly CEO Rob Topping said his company has its products manufactured in St. Louis County, but needed to find a location where the communication equipment could be tested and configured before shipping.
Unlike a normal commercial drone, the flying portion of HTI’s antenna is attached to a fixed power unit on the ground. The systems are sold to the U.S. Department of Defense and other agencies for use in areas with communication challenges.
“All it does is it goes up, and it stays up, and it gives really long range communication possibility to places and user groups who need persistent communications, but have trouble with terrain and other complicated communications scenarios,” Topping explained.
He added that the latest versions of the communication equipment can also facilitate data transmissions for phones and smart devices.
Topping said the business hopes to eventually employ 50 people, mostly engineers and logistics staff. Topping estimated average salaries at the facility will be in the ballpark of $70,000.
Topping added that he hopes to engage the local community in developing talent for the business, and potentially mentoring young people interested in engineering. Commissioners said they were pleased to hear that could be part of the business model, and encouraged the company to seek local recruits as much as possible.
Checking on one concern, Commissioner Dan Hampson asked if the flying units will cause any noise disturbance to surrounding neighbors.
“Well, if you’re under it, you can hear it,” Topping replied. “From anywhere outside the ‘cone of noise,’ you can’t hear it. ... Compared to highway noise, I don’t think anyone’s going to ever hear it.”
Correction: A previous report in The Record incorrectly described the variable height antennas as motorized, telescoping poles, rather than aerial units attached to a ground-based system. We apologize for this error.
