Airobotics, which is known for its cutting edge drone technology, has received what has been described as the “world’s first approval” to fly over Singapore, a major metropolis, in May 20, 2020.
As part of Singapore’s response to protect the public’s health during the coronavirus crisis, The Home Team Science & Technology Agency (HTX) of Singapore, has partnered with Airobotics, through its local partner, SJ Defence, the defence arm of Surbana Jurong Group.
HTX, a statutory board of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Singapore, is using Airobotics’ drone technology to supplement Singapore Police Force’s (SPF) efforts in policing during this period by flying above a major industrial estate area to keep track of anomalies, such as people congregating during the Circuit Breaker Period in Singapore.
Airobotics is a completely automatic unmanned aerial system, and the first of its kind in the global market.
Airobotics’ technology will use real-time aerial data to complement police operations by broadcasting Airobotics’ automated drone technology to speed up the feedback process and assist the Singapore Police Force (SPF) to make better informed decisions.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF), with its partner SJ Defence, provides logistics management, operations coordination, and ground safety observers, to support the drone operations.
Ran Krauss, CEO and co-founder of Airobotics, commented:
“We are proud to work with HTX to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. What started off as a vision, has now become a reality. We are one step closer to making drones an everyday reality in cities.”
Cheng Wee Kiang, Director of Robotics, Automation and Unmanned Systems Centre of Expertise at HTX, said:
“HTX is currently trialing the system in real operations, collecting critical operating data, for evaluating the feasibility of using this advanced technology to perform remote viewing of wide and difficult-to-access areas, in a safer and more cost efficient way. The Airobotics system could provide the additional dimension of capability to augment our frontline.”
Because Airobotics is a completely automatic unmanned aerial system, it can help governments and industrial companies to leverage the power of drones without the need for a human operator. Airobotics’ platform provides professionals with the ability to run missions automatically, which includes monitoring, inspecting, surveying, and securing urban areas, as well as large industrial facilities.
The Airobotics’ automatic platform is comprised of three parts:
- “Optimus” is a large, high capacity drone capable of flying 45-minute missions, while carrying a one-kilogram mission specific payload.
- “Airbase” is a completely automated base station from which the Optimus drone launches and lands on its own, without any human intervention.
- “Software” is an integrated, dynamic software that enables users to control and manage missions with one click.
Future
As Ran Krauss, CEO and co-founder of Airobotics, commented:
“What started off as a vision has now become a reality. We are one step closer to making drones an everyday reality in cities.”
HTX and Aerobotics’ partnership made it possible for drones to fly over Singapore, a major metropolis in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. This was the “world’s first” authorization of such a flight, and it gives us confidence that it will soon become “an everyday reality in cities.”
