SALEM, N.H. — They are small, weigh only a pound, and may soon be seen soaring through the sky over Garbedian Drive.
Some people call them “drones” while others prefer to call them something different.
“I hate to use the D word,” said Richard Guyler, product manager for Physical Sciences Inc. of Andover. “We call them unmanned aerial vehicles or robots because drones have a bad name.”
Physical Sciences recently received approval from the Salem Zoning Board of Adjustment to test its aircraft at 13 Garabedian Drive, allowing the 30-employee firm to expand its operations in New Hampshire.
Although Guyler did not say how many jobs would be created, he did tell the board the drone manufacturing and testing company is looking forward to doing business in the Granite State. The variance request was granted unanimously.
“This facility would give us room to grow,” Guyler said. “I would love to bring that to Salem.”
A variance was needed from the board because zoning prohibited the outside testing of drones at the new location, situated in the town’s Commercial-Industrial C District. The district allows manufacturing and industrial uses but only inside a building.
“They need to be able to test their drones and they need to be outside to do that,” said David Jordan of MHF Design Consultants in Salem, who represents the Andover company.
While Physical Sciences’ InstantEye aircraft may resemble model airplanes, they are much more than that, Guyler said.
These aren’t toys for children to play with.
“Right now, this aircraft is used by every branch of the armed
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