ACSL and Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) have partnered to build a training curriculum and certification program for the SOTEN drone platform. The companies announced the partnership on Tuesday.

USI expects the courses to become available at the end of November or in early December, with a dedicated landing page. Pilots who complete the training will earn a USI Certification for the ACSL SOTEN.

The program will have multiple levels, ranging from introductory overviews of the SOTEN to in-depth modules on mission planning and advanced operations. Courses will be held online, with in-person training available for select levels. The curriculum covers the following areas.

  • Aircraft: setup, normal operations, systems knowledge and emergency procedures
  • Payloads: standard camera, optical zoom and the SAMO thermal-optical payload
  • Accessories: TAITEN smart controller, RTK module and Top Mount
  • Software: ACSL’s TAKEOFF flight application

Cynthia Huang, CEO of ACSL Inc., said the company’s orders rose more than 400 percent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year. ACSL Inc. is the North American subsidiary of ACSL, which describes itself as Japan’s largest drone maker.

“As shipments ramp up, we want every operator to feel confident behind the sticks,” Huang said.

Josh Olds, president and CEO of USI, said the program is built specifically for the aircraft operators fly. 

“We’re giving operators a clear, structured path to proficiency and credentials their organizations can trust,” Olds said.

USI has trained more than 30,000 drone operators since 2014 and works with more than 1,000 organizations. Its offerings range from FAA Part 107 exam prep to multi-level safety and professional operator programs. The organization describes itself as the only ASTM Approved Training Provider in the UAS industry. USI has added a fleet of SOTEN drones to its inventory to support the partnership.