News&Topics

2022/11/08

A.L.I. Technologies to Begin Distribution and Service with Skydio Products

A.L.I. Technologies Inc. (“A.L.I.”) has begun the distribution of Skydio, an autonomous drone made in the United States of America by Skydio, Inc., which is otherwise an unaffiliated entity to A.L.I. These are available for sale on dronekusatsu.com*¹, A.L.I.’s website dedicated to aerial photography services, and from our Air Mobility 3^rd Department, Civil Engineering Team.

＊¹ Skydio introduction page on dronekusatsu.com:https://dronekusatsu.com/Skydio.html

 

＜Skydio, a U.S. Produced Drone＞

Generally, drones use GPS to estimate their own position and obstacle sensors to achieve stable flight. Skydio, on the other hand, enables the drone to fly safely while avoiding obstacles on its own. This is made possible by a technology called V-SLAM, which uses six cameras mounted on the top and bottom of the aircraft to obtain three-dimensional information on its own position and attitude and the position of objects in the vicinity, based on the video data obtained from the cameras.

Therefore, Skydio is an aircraft that can safely fly in non-GPS environments and in narrow areas that are inaccessible by existing drones. That is why Skydio is attracting attention in Japan as an inspection tool for bridges and other infrastructure structures.

＜The road to Skydio‘s launch＞

In April of this year, A.L.I. established the Civil Engineering Unit directly under the Air Mobility 3rd Business Development Unit. This sub-unit was created in response to the growing demand for inspection work on infrastructure structures. It will serve as a team specializing in inspection and surveying using unmanned arial vehicles (“UAVs”) and drones.  The team consists of not only drone experts but also specialists with knowledge of bridges and surveying. A.L.I. has received numerous inquiries from all over Japan for various infrastructure inspection and surveying services and has been using Skydio at various sites as an end-user, even before receiving agency approval from Skydio.

The inspection guideline for bridges was revised in 1991, making it mandatory to inspect bridges once every five years.  Since there are more than 700,000 bridges in Japan, the average number of bridges to be inspected annually is approximately 140,000.

Drones are gaining prominence in the inspection market as a tool for improving operational efficiency, and the UAV inspection market is beginning to expand rapidly. This makes it difficult for a singular inspection solution provider to meet the rapidly growing needs. Therefore, A.L.I. has decided to increase the number of partners nationwide by selling Skydio aircraft in order to focus more on solving the problems of bridge inspections nationwide.

 

<Introduction Support and Pilot Certification＞

In addition to the sale of the aircraft, A.L.I. also offers Skydio introductory training to customers who purchase the Skydio drone. A.L.I. provides extensive support for customers, from flight applications to classroom training on aviation laws and how to fly Skydio, making it easy for even first-time drone users to get started.

Image description: The flow from Skydio introduction to the point at which the customer can conduct flights.

At the same time as selling Skydio, A.L.I. also offers practical training in bridge inspection using Skydio. This training includes basic inspection site etiquette, such as civil engineering industry attire and behavior, as well as unique training in bridge inspection photography and piloting techniques, collision patterns, and methods of communicating with managers (clients), giving participants skills and know-how beyond those of drone operators. This course is designed to enable participants to become pilots for bridge inspections in the field.

*The Skydio training course

<Future Developments＞

A.L.I. expects that we will continue to create various use cases for Skydio, not only by selling the equipment, but also by taking advantage of its onsite capabilities cultivated at actual work sites. In addition to bridge inspections, A.L.I. endeavors to continue to show the world how Skydio can be used in even more fields, such as slopes and aqueducts, and will also work to create an environment in which civil engineers throughout Japan can make use of Skydio.

Sales Inquiries: info@ali.jp

 

＜Products＞

Skydio 2＋　

・Skydio 2+

Equipped with AI-based autonomous flight technology and 360°obstacle avoidance function.It can fly safely and securely in areas that are difficult for conventional drones to fly.
Thanks to its superior V-SLAM flight technology, structures can be accurately photographed from various angles.
The Skydio 3D Scan™ function makes it easy to generate 3D models.
The lightweight, compact unit measures 223 mm (L) x 273 mm (W) x 74 mm (H) and weighs 800 g. It can capture 4K video and 12-megapixel images and can fly for up to 27 minutes.

Skydio X2　

・Skydio X2

Like the Skydio 2+, this drone is equipped with AI-based autonomous flight technology and 360°obstacle avoidance. The enterprise drone product features a robust airframe design made of magnesium and carbon fiber and a foldable design for easy transport.
Unlike the 2+, the Skydio X2 includes models with highly encrypted communications and thermal cameras. It is useful in the defense and public safety sectors.
The maximum flight time is 35 minutes.

＜About Skydio＞

Skydio, Inc. is a U.S.-based drone manufacturer that develops both software and hardware. The Skydio series, its flagship product, is equipped with obstacle avoidance by image recognition (V-SLAM function) and self-sustaining flight AI. It is easy for anyone to fly and facilitates superior data acquisition. The Skydio 3D series is excellent for flying in non-GPS environments and confined areas, where it has been difficult for conventional drones to capture images. In terms of software, options such as Skydio 3D Scan™ make 3D data creation easy and labor-saving. The company is making great contributions to lowering the barriers to drone use. In Japan, Skydio LLC was established at the end of 2020, and Skydio‘s product line is being used for infrastructure inspections and surveillance.

https://www.skydio.com/

<A.L.I. Technologies Inc.>

Under the mission statement Changing Society from the Top Down, A.L.I. Technologies Inc. has developed and released air mobility platform, C.O.S.M.O.S., and the XTURISMO Limited Edition Hoverbike. A.L.I. will continue to innovate, unbound by existing ideas, to develop and deploy systems that are necessary for the realization of an air mobility society.

■Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond A.L.I.’s control. While A.L.I. believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to A.L.I. on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could be materially different. A.L.I. undertakes no obligation to update these statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Contact

Official site: https://ali.jp/en/

Inquiries (PR): info@ali.jp

Relation File

Download PDF File