10 Drone Startups To Watch

Drones are more than just toys. They are becoming new ways to transport emergency items, manage large plots of land and even handle deliveries.

In fact, the drone market is currently estimated to be around $73 billion USD, and it’s only getting bigger.

How Do Drones Work?

Drones typically run on electrical energy and use sensors to fly and navigate themselves in the right way.

They tend to use airflow generated by propellers to lift themselves and drive forwards. Whilst some drones are driven by a pilot, others are able to navigate independently using AI or with the help of a person on the ground.

As this technology has become more popular, so have the number of options that exist in the sector.

Why Are Drones So Popular?

Drones have become popular because of how adaptable and versatile they are.

Drones can travel by air in a quick and easy way, making them incredibly useful for things like delivering parcels or medical supplies. They also don’t need a runway, meaning they can be deployed even in more rural areas.

For entertainment, drones help capture incredible aerial shots and explore locations from the ground. This ability to navigate difficult terrains is also useful for farming and agriculture, especially when it comes to surveillance.

To see just how much variety there is in the world of drones, here we take a look at 10 companies that using drones in new and innovative ways.

1. Zipline

Zipline is using drone technology to make transport and logistics better. With their small but strong drones, they are able to deliver items 10x faster than traditional car deliveries.

Not only that, but their drones are fully electric, making them emissions free. Usable for sectors like healthcare, restaurants and groceries, they are changing how traditional deliveries could look.

2. Percepto

Percepto is making it easier for companies and land owners to keep an eye on their areas with its analytics and inspection software.

Great for industries like mining, oil and gas and industrial sites, they are able to monitor facilities to keep workers safe and improve operations.

Through using a drone to monitor these key elements instead of a person, stakeholders can make sure they have the most up to date analytics, whenever they need them.

3. Azur Drones

Azur Drones are all about making surveillance easier. The company’s drones are able to patrol areas from above 24/7, alerting owners of any concerns.

With no pilot or visual observer needed, they are great for patrolling large spaces in remote locations, providing companies with advanced and accurate aerial data.

4. Wingcopter

Wingcopter is an aerial drone that was designed to transport lab samples across difficult terrains.

Great for island nations or countries with varying landscapes, it allows items to be delivered over long-ranges, quickly. This not only helps with transporting lab supplies and medical devices, it can also help with general logistics in hard to reach areas.

5. Dronamics

Dronamics is a cargo drone airline, used to transport heavy items over long distances. As cargo flights can be expensive (and bad for the environment), dronamics provides a solid alternative.

Their hero drone, the Black Swan, is able to transport items quickly, boosting economic growth and delivering important supplies worldwide.

6. Mazex

Mazex has developed a drone that is able to spray 1.5 hectares of land with 1 battery. This can have huge implications for the world of agriculture, providing farmers with more effective ways to spray crops with water and important fertilisers.

The drone is able to spray a much larger area than previous models, making it more effective and more energy efficient. This means farmers can now spray large fields without expending too much time and energy.

7. Terra Drone

Terra Drone is able to survey huge areas of land, which can be useful for industries like construction, land monitoring, traffic management and agriculture.

Terra’s drones are able to collect data as they fly, mapping the land beneath them. This not only allows people to get the lay of the land easier, but it also allows them to track changes over time, which can be useful for agriculture and protection.

8. Flyability

Drones have been known to help companies survey the outdoors, but what about confined spaces? Flyability has created a confined space drone that is able to explore tight or inaccessible places.

This not only makes it safer for workers, but it allows inspections to be completed quickly with a much higher accuracy rate.

9. Draganfly

Draganfly is a long-distance, heavy lifting drone that can transport up to 22lb for 5+ hours.

By combining fuel and electricity, the drone is able to life significantly higher amounts for significantly longer times. With a 100km remote range and just 5 minutes to set up, it is making huge strides in improving long-distance deliveries.

10. EHang

EHang is an Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) that has designed a safe and energy efficient way to transport passengers around cities.

Their drone is designed to help cities cut down on road traffic, giving passengers quick, easy and safe ways to travel these highly populated areas by air.