Aerospace & Drones

In June 2020, investment and acquisition activity picked up a bit for autonomous vehicles, mobile robots, healthcare systems, and industrial automation.

As the COVID-19 pandemic slowed global manufacturing and trade, investments in robots, drones, and self-driving cars continued in March 2020, with both more shutdowns and an eventual recovery to come.

Drone providers AeroVironment and Draganfly are widening distribution of the Quantix Mapper system, just in time for planting season in the Northern Hemisphere.

Field robots, industrial automation, self-driving vehicles, and healthcare systems received funding in February 2020.

AeroVironment, which claims to be the largest supplier of drones to the U.S. military, is also an example of a pure-play robotics company that is profitable.

The Robot Report, sibling site to Robotics Business Review, tracked $1.9 billion in robotics transactions in December 2019, including funding for aerospace, logistics, and healthcare applications.

Made in the U.S., the RangePro X8 offers commercial and industrial applications across several markets for inspection, surveying, and first response scenarios.

Company releases new UAV and updated aerial methane inspection package.

UAS Integration Pilot Program partners achieve milestone during pipeline inspection operation.

Participants battle tropical heat to conduct live UAS flight drills including maritime aerial reconnaissance, damage assessment, force protection, and other disaster simulations.

New research predicts $10 billion market by 2030, with a $101 billion overall market for drone services.

PX4 developers gather in Zurich to discuss new enterprise drone OS features.

Expanded services planned for long-range deliveries to remote areas.

Operating underground aerial robotics for mining the first step in a broader journey.

Drone-stabilized system offers real-time tracking, object identification and data harvesting features.

European nations consolidate rules for commercial and personal drone usage.

CMU becomes a space-faring university with payloads aboard an astrobotic lander.

The FAA is offering new partnership opportunities to validate key drone technologies.

The FSTAR robot can quickly transform from aerial to ground mode and adjust its width to get into tight spaces.

Optimism abounded at last week’s AUVSI-sponsored event in the unmanned systems space, but they also acknowledged challenges ahead.

Drone delivery company Wing is the first to be granted an Air Carrier Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), opening up commercial flights to the company.

More than 8,500 attendees to gather in Chicago next week to discuss all things unmanned.

Safety and security options tested in Netherlands competition where drones battled each other.

New platform facilitates customizable implementations of real-time visual intelligence technology, extending operational capabilities for industrial and commercial uses.

Currently, commercial drone usage primarily contained to energy, construction, and agriculture.