3 Interesting Drone Startups
Photo Credit: Wix Stock Images
Every year a slew of of startup companies come onto the scene with big ideas and even bigger goals. More startups are taking advantage of the rise in popularity of drones and their many applications. Here are a few interesting startups that revolve around drones and drone technology.
Photo Credit: Flirtey
Flirtey is a delivery-based startup founded in 2013 by Tom Bass, Ahmed Haider, and Matthew Sweeny. They are lauded as "the premier independent drone delivery service in the world." Undoubtedly, this is due to the fact that they have provided their drone delivery service outside of the U.S. in New Zealand and Australia. Flirtey also has a reputation for working with a variety of well-known companies and universities. Notoriously, they conducted deliveries for 7-Eleven to deliver Slurpees to consumers in Nevada and Johns Hopkins University of Medicine to deliver medicine and medical samples, demonstrating a diverse client-base.
On their website, they state that they aim to show that "drone delivery is the safe, efficient and personalized delivery method that consumers and companies demand," focusing not only on the convenience of having a drone deliver food and medical supplies, but also safety. Due to this dedication, Flirtey obtained "world first regulatory permissions" in the U.S. and New Zealand. In 2015, they were the first drone delivery company in the U.S. to be approved by the FAA, and they intend to continue developing their safety technology as an added assurance.
Photo Credit: Impossible Aerospace
Impossible Aerospace's founder has roots in Tesla, which is what ultimately inspired the unique design of this drone. The startup was founded in 2016 by Spencer Gore, who is a former Battery Module Design Engineer at Tesla. What makes Gore's drone design unique is his battery-first approach. The drone is designed around the battery which allows it to have significantly longer flight times: an alleged two hours. Gore had this to say about his drone: “It’s the first aircraft designed properly from the ground up to be electric, using existing battery cells without compromise." He describes it has a "flying battery"since the energy source also functions as its primary structure.
Photo Credit: PrecisionHawk
PrecisionHawk is a drone startup that deals primarily in assisting companies with data collection and processing. On their "About" page, they sate that they are “dedicated to changing the way businesses view their assets and manage resources.” In 2014, they launched a cloud application, currently named PrecisionMapper, which automatically processes aerial images into maps, models, and reports. PrecisionHawk began in 2010 as a service that used drones to chase away pest birds in vineyards. At that time, they were called WineHawk. With this initial experience, they learned how to collect aerial images and extract data that was useful to winemakers, their initial clients. Eventually, they expanded their business and changed their name.
I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron
