Airobotics Provides Drone-data Platform for Japanese Insurance Carrier

Israeli drone provider Airobotics is partnering with one of Japan’s largest non-life insurance companies to optimize the insurer’s drone-based inspection and disaster-management efforts.

Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance will use the Airobotics platform to digitize multiple sites, enable detailed change detection, and optimize current workflows. TMNF became aware of the need for better disaster-data management following several devastating hurricanes and earthquakes over the past few years across Japan.

“We are honored to provide TMNF with full visibility across their portfolio, automating much of the manual work, to deliver a seamless experience as well as actively identify and predict hazardous situations,” said Ran Krauss, Airobotics CEO. “Integrated directly into TMNF’s workflow, we are making aerial data a standard and integral part of their routine inspection and disaster recovery practices.”

Rick Baker, Airobotics’ CRO added, “Airobotics and TMNF are closely aligned in our joint vision that data is the driver for predictive analytics. We are excited that Airobotics’ AI-driven data platform will enable TMNF to shift from traditional inspection and disaster management practices to proactively plan and operate using near real-time, accurate data.”

Airobotics has developed a first-of-its-kind pilotless UAV solution with an end-to-end, fully automatic solution for collecting aerial data and processing key data points. The industrial-grade platform is available on-site and on-demand, enabling industrial facilities to access premium aerial data in a faster, safer, more efficient way.

In March, the company announced the integration of LiDAR payload with its Optimus drones. The use of LiDAR reduces the time it takes for aerial data to be collected, even at night or in low light, and allows for rapid turn-around time on data processing.

Last year, Airobotics received the FAA’s first ever three-prong certificate of waiver for “flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) for automated drone operations, over human beings, with a visual observer that is not required to keep a visual line of sight on the drone.”

The waiver will allow the company to operate drones from its Remote Operations Center in Scottsdale, Ariz. In September, Airobotics launched its North American headquarters in Scottsdale and will operate all North and South American operations from the facility. BHP, the world’s largest mining company, is Airobotics’ first customer in the U.S.