Unmanned aircraft systems, better known as drones, have gained popularity in recent years. During the 2015 Christmas season, the Consumer Technology Association estimated that 400,000 drones would be purchased for the boys and girls who made Santa's nice list.
The applications for drones extend beyond consumer goods, however, as the government has been using the technology since 2010. In 2017, the government's fleet of 563 drones (with 378 certified drone pilots) cost $1.67 million. Some government uses of UAS systems include 3D mapping, reconnaissance, and help with disaster relief.
The FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, believes the drone market will triple by 2023. Currently, there are 900,000 drone owners registered with the FAA and an estimated 1.25 million drones in operation.
To help navigate the newest players in the drone industry, BostInno has compiled a list of Boston-area UAS startups.
Raptor Maps
Winner of the 2015 MIT $100K business competition, Raptor Maps combines drone technology with AI software to collect aerial data and convert it into high-value system analytics for solar companies. With its AI solutions, the company is able to localize abnormalities within the energy production. Raptor Maps was originally created to help the agricultural sector by using drone technology to measure crop quality to maximize crop yield. The company pivoted in 2018 to partner with EGP North America to create solar asset management technologies that will optimize the field operations and maintenance of solar assets. Founded by Eddie Obropta, Forrest Meyen and Nikhil Vadhavkar, Raptor Maps is located in Somerville. On June 7, Raptor Maps raised a Series A round of funding led by Blue Bear Capital. The amount raised has not yet been released.
American Robotics
American Robotics, located in Marlborough, has developed a fully automated drone system called Scout. The Scout system includes an AI drone, a weatherproof charging and data station and analytical software. You don’t need a remote control for this drone—the autonomous machine runs missions and analyzes data. Missions can be scheduled or conducted as needed. American Robotics' drone system is specifically designed to benefit the agricultural, security and energy sectors. The company was founded in 2016 by Eitan Babcock, Reese Mozer and Vijay Somandepalli. In January, American Robotics raised $3 million in a funding round.
Hydroswarm
Hydroswarm, an MIT spinoff, is taking high-flying drones and putting them underwater. The company’s drones have both government and commercial applications. Hydroswarm can be also be used to collect data on remote marine areas in order to preserve our oceans. The company was founded in 2015 by Sampriti Bhattacharyya. That year, Hydroswarm raised $50,000 in a grant round.
SICdrone
Veteran-founded SICdrone produces drone aircrafts that can reach 100 mph and contain a 360-degree tilt rotor and an all-weather aerial flight system. The applications for SICdrone include aiding the police and military in confronting unidentified drones, completing energy asset surveys for wind farms, capturing images and videos for photographers and assisting first responders with search and rescue. Dan Bosch, a former aviation structural mechanic in the U.S. Navy, founded the company in 2016. SICdrone’s unique unmanned aircrafts feature enhances flight distance capability and active stabilization. In February 2018, the company raised a $120,000 in a seed round.
Selfly
Imagine a world where you can keep your drone in your pocket. With Selfly, an autonomous detachable flying camera, anyone can turn their cell into a drone holder with a 9-millimeter phone case. Once the drone detaches from the phone, users are able to control its movements through the Selfly app. Some features of the pint-sized drone include stabilization technology, reinforced carbon fiber body and live 720p video streaming. Selfly was founded by Hagay Klein in 2016. The Selfly camera did both a Kickstarter and an Indiegogo campaign to raise money for pre-orders. Selfly beat its campaign goal of $125,000 by raising over $2 million on the two crowdfunding sites.
AirWorks
AirWorks combines drone data collection with proprietary AI software to create CAD models for engineers and construction companies. With Boston FAA certification, AirWorks is one of the only companies authorized to fly within Boston. AirWorks' proprietary processing claims to decrease processing time for full-line detail. The startup was founded by Adam Kersnowski and David Morczinek in 2017; its last round of funding was a seed round in April, in which it raised $250,000.
Cleo
Part of the 2019 class of the Techstars-Powered Air Force Accelerator, Cleo Robotics has invented a compact drone specifically designed for indoor operations. At 5.5 inches in diameter, Cleo can livestream and record videos during its 15-minute flight time. Cleo can be used during reconnaissance and inspections to investigate the safety of a room before entering or to discover potential problems within a confined space. The company was founded in 2016 by Omar Eleryan. A Cleo drone retails for $9,800. Techstars invested an undisclosed amount in the company during a seed round.
GreenSight
GreenSight's drone hardware and analytics software collects data autonomously for remote sensing and mapping. Founded in 2015 by James Peverill and Joel Pedlikin, GreenSight’s aerial intelligence has various applications, from the agricultural sector to the oil and gas industry. With GreenSight’s platform, users can schedule their data collection operations on a recurring basis or as needed. Users can also specify locations and data type. After missions are completed, data is transferred to GreenSight’s software platform at approximately 100 acres per hour. The startup, which counts NASA and DoD among its clients, raised $2.6 million in a Series A round.
