Energy giants AES partner with Measure to improve worker safety with drones

Measure flies drones to inspect solar panels in a field below. A major power producer The AES Corp. is ramping up the use of drones with an eye towards shielding workers from industry hazards. Rather than buy all their own unmanned aerial systems they’ve engaged D.C.-based drone services provider Measure to get access to a more extensive fleet. Measure recently raised $15 million in venture funding.
According to its Vice President and Chief… Read More Continue reading Energy giants AES partner with Measure to improve worker safety with drones

Blackboard cofounder Michael Chasen takes CEO reins at PrecisionHawk

PrecisionHawk helps drones navigate only where it is safe and legal to fly. Commercial drone tech venture PrecisionHawk has a new CEO—again. Red Hat Inc. cofounder Bob Young, who has served as PrecisionHawk’s CEO since July 2015, is handing over the reigns to another veteran of enterprise software, Michael Chasen, a cofounder and former CEO of education tech giant Blackboard Inc. Verizon Ventures, an investment arm of TechCrunch’s parent company… Read More Continue reading Blackboard cofounder Michael Chasen takes CEO reins at PrecisionHawk

Measure raises $15 million to fly drones as a service for other companies

 Measure may not be building the ultimate flying camera, or drones that drop burritos at your door. But the Washington D.C.-based startup has raised $15 million in a Series B round of funding to fly drones as a service for other businesses that wa… Continue reading Measure raises $15 million to fly drones as a service for other companies

What the drone industry wants from the FAA and Trump

battle-drones The commercial drone industry in the U.S. hasn’t heard much from the President Elect about his plans for rulemaking that will impact their business and global competitiveness. Last month, Associated Press broke the story that Trump is interested in privatizing air traffic control, wresting that responsibility from the Federal Aviation Administration, and handing it to a nonprofit… Read More Continue reading What the drone industry wants from the FAA and Trump

Hangar raises $6.5 million to give companies all the drone data they want without having to fly themselves

Drones and pilots legally permitted to fly them are here in spades. So American businesses are scrambling to figure out how to use drones to gain a competitive advantage. Recent examples saw Travelers Insurance using drones to inspect properties after … Continue reading Hangar raises $6.5 million to give companies all the drone data they want without having to fly themselves

DroneDeploy launches a directory for professional drone operators

 DroneDeploy wants businesses to be able to find a drone services provider as easily as anyone can find a place to eat dinner today, anywhere in the world. So today, the unveiled a new, free Drone Mapping Directory. Take, for example, a real estat… Continue reading DroneDeploy launches a directory for professional drone operators

New AirMap feature helps drones avoid manned aircraft

AirMap's real time traffic alerts help drone operators avoid passenger planes, helicopters and other manned aircraft in low airspace. A Santa Monica-based startup called AirMap today launched a feature that gives drone operators real time traffic alerts whenever manned aircraft such as helicopters, crop dusters or low-flying passenger planes, are about to enter into their air space. The company’s systems, generally, let drone makers and developers of drone apps give users maps and guidance as to where they’re… Read More Continue reading New AirMap feature helps drones avoid manned aircraft

DroneDeploy raises $20 million to help any business put drones to work

 A San Francisco-based startup called DroneDeploy has raised $20 million in Series B funding to grow their drone data management platform. The drone tech startup closed its Series B deal just before the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is sche… Continue reading DroneDeploy raises $20 million to help any business put drones to work

Fixed wing drones not quite taking off in commercial market, a new DroneDeploy study finds

dji-phantom-3-pro-drone DroneDeploy released a new study of the commercial and industrial drones market this week, revealing bad news for the makers of fixed wing drones– quadcopters are far outpacing this type of unmanned aerial vehicle in every industry. Fixed wing drones, like the SenseFly eBee Ag, 3DR Aero-M and PrecisionHawk Lancaster, promise performance benefits including endurance and ruggedness. A… Read More Continue reading Fixed wing drones not quite taking off in commercial market, a new DroneDeploy study finds