A research partnership between Altru Health System and iSight Drone Services could have the latter company’s drone tech making deliveries across the hospital provider’s clinics – if they can find the cash to get airborne.

Grand Forks-based iSight Drone Services is the first commercial drone operator to regularly conduct flights outside pilots’ line of sight, a significant milestone for unmanned flight in the U.S. Using Vantis, the statewide system of sensors and radar supporting unmanned, the company will be able to fly beyond pilots' sight without needing to seek the FAA’s approval each time.