Israeli drone start-up raises $30m. to expand US operations
The only company in the world to be granted authorization to fly fully automated drones without a human operator, Airobotics plans to use the money to further expand operations in the United States.
By EYTAN HALONUpdated: NOVEMBER 1, 2018 03:12Optimus, a drone manufactured by Airobotics, the Israeli drone maker that says it has recently been granted the first certificate in the world to fly a fully automated drone, with no human operator, is seen during a demonstration for Reuters near their offices in Petah Tikva, Israel March 20, 2017(photo credit: NIR ELIAS / REUTERS)
Airobotics, a Petah Tikva-based start-up that manufactures automated industrial drones, has raised $30 million in a fourth round of funding, bringing its total capital raised to $101m., the company announced Wednesday.The only company in the world to be granted authorization to fly fully automated drones without a human operator, Airobotics plans to use the money to further expand operations in the United States and Australia.Pavilion Capital led the latest round of funding in partnership with BlueRun Ventures, Charles River Ventures, Jerusalem-based OurCrowd and private investors.Airobotics aims to address the needs of complex industrial environments including mining, seaports, oil and gas by efficiently collecting aerial data in order to gain valuable insights. In September 2017, the company opened a new division focusing on homeland security and defense.“Airobotics is experiencing massive momentum and expanding across geographies,” Airobotics CEO and cofounder Ran Krauss said. “We have a strong business pipeline, and to keep up with demand for our technology, we are continuing to expand operations across the countries in which we operate.”Last month, Airobotics launched its North American headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, where it will manage its growing North American, South American and Central American operations. The company intends for the office to become its global headquarters as worldwide operations continue to expand.Airobotics’ global expansion follows the receipt of a US Federal Aviation Administration waiver authorization for small unmanned aircraft and a commercial license from the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority last year.Named as one of the Wall Street Journal’s top 25 tech companies to watch this year, Airobotics was certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel to fly fully automated drones without a pilot in March 2017, after a two-year testing and product verification process based on international standards for unmanned aerial vehicles.The company’s automatic platform is comprised of three parts: “Optimus,” a high capacity drone capable of flying 30-minute missions with a one-kilogram mission-specific payload; “Airbase,” a fully-automated base station from which the drone launches and lands without human intervention; and “Software,” a dynamic platform enabling users to control and manage missions with one click.
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