Our Innovation Analysts recently looked into emerging technologies and up-and-coming startups working on solutions for the engineering sector. As there is a large number of startups working on a wide variety of solutions, we decided to share our insights with you. This time, we are taking a look at 4 promising drone-based sensor startups.
Heat Map: 4 Top Drone-Based Sensor Startups
For our 4 top picks, we used a data-driven startup scouting approach to identify the most relevant solutions globally. The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 4 interesting examples out of 130 relevant solutions. Depending on your specific needs, your top picks might look entirely different.
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Inertial Sense – Inertial Measurement Units
As unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) become autonomous, it is essential to ensure adherence to a programmed flight itinerary and air traffic rules. Thanks to multi-axis orientation capabilities, inertial measurement units (IMU) sensors identify and maintain a drone’s location, as well as provide on-the-go positioning calibration. The US-based startup Inertial Sense develops proprietary and small-sized inertial measurement units sensors, equipped with magnetometer and barometer, and enhanced by real-time kinematic (RTK GNSS) and a rugged enclosure. They focus on monitoring GPS, angular rate, linear acceleration, magnetic field, and barometric altitude.
One Silicon Chip Photonics – Gyroscopes
When performing assigned tasks, it is quite important for a drone to maintain a stable hover. Gyroscope sensing technologies assist in detecting any drifting patterns and counteracting malicious factors, while managing general navigation and balance. Canadian startup One Silicon Chip Photonics manufactures low bias drift and low power micro-electromechanical systems-based gyroscopes with no moving parts for drones, aerospace, and automotive sectors. Their solution applies silicon photonics and optical technologies for better heat dissipation and to achieve higher efficiency.
CityGear – Rangefinders
In order to operate precisely, drones have to constantly monitor their altitude. This aspect is solved by range-finding sensors. Intermediated by sound waves, radio, or laser, these sensors set the range, keep an appropriate distance to the monitored objects and take their unique geographic conditions into account. South Korean startup CityGear manufactures two rangefinding solutions for drones: CityGear Solid-100 and CityGear Solid 102. The former uses an infrared LED light with a field of view of 3 degrees and wavelength of 850nm. The latter leverages eye-safe laser with larger than the Solid-100’s detection rate and wavelength of 950nm.
Aerotenna – Collision Avoidance Sensors
Collision avoidance sensors assist in identifying static and dynamic obstacles that occur in a drone’s way, especially in challenging indoor or emergency situations, like firefighting, rescue, etc., by sending signals to avoid crashes with them. The sensors usually operate using stereo and monocular vision, LIDAR, or infrared technologies. The US-based startup Aerotenna creates microwave radar sensors for UAVs. They ensure active sensing and obstacle detection thanks to the small size, high precision, independence of weather conditions, and proprietary algorithms for objects’ detection.
What About The Other 126 Solutions?
While we believe data is key to creating insights it can be easy to be overwhelmed by it. Our ambition is to create a comprehensive overview and provide actionable innovation intelligence for your Proof of Concept (PoC), partnership, or investment targets. The 4 startups showcased above are promising examples out of 130 we analyzed for this article. To identify the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria and collaboration strategy, get in touch.
