There is a growing global industry for commercial drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). According to Market Research International, the commercial drone market currently amounts to US$609 million in sales and this is set to rise to $4.8 billion by 2021.
There is a growing global industry for commercial drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). According to Market Research International, the commercial drone market currently amounts to US$609 million in sales and this is set to rise to $4.8 billion by 2021. This is helped along, no doubt, by expectations that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will relax their regulations on the commercial use of drones in the very near future.
As such, many start-up companies seem to pop up every day to take advantage of this very promising market. Many reports have even stated that drone funding reached an all-time high in 2015.
But regardless of whether it was publicly funded or self-funded, all start-up companies require a clear purpose in order for them to be able to communicate clearly what their product is and who it is intended for. A clear overall vision will steer the company away from future issues such as a lack of demand for that specific product in the market or releasing one into a market that is already saturated with the product.
Sky Eye Innovations
From the very start, Daniel Sällstedt and Tomas Krejci, the co-founders of Sweden startup Sky Eye Innovations, also known as N.M.M. Innovations Sweden, had a clear vision for their company – to develop and manufacture UAVs for commercial applications other than for media and recreation. "We wanted to find solutions that could replace people in real and dangerous situations. And we saw that by doing so, we could also create return of investment for the industrial segment," said Daniel Sällstedt, CEO of Sky Eye Innovations.
With this in mind, Sky Eye focused on building on its engineering and IT management background to develop a complete unmanned aircraft system (UAS) platform that included both hardware and software applications. Along the way, they developed strategic partnerships with companies specializing in thermal imaging and remote visual inspection such as
FLIR Systems, Termisk Systemtek, Inspectahire, and Viper Imaging.
Sky Eye Innovation's T-Series
The company has now found its niche in the industry, being the only manufacturer in the world that provides solutions that can be integrated with FLIR Systems' A-series, T-series, and OGI camera segment, allowing for the aerial detection of gas leaks. This partnership also extended towards distribution as the company also sells their products through FLIR resellers.
Their UAVS and platforms are widely used in various industries that would require the use of thermal and gas imaging sensors. "Our platforms are being used for risk assessment and inspection purposes in industries like agricultural and forest management, on- and off-shore oil and gas industry, wind turbine, solar panel, etc. Also in projects like wildlife monitoring, inventory, and anti-poaching," said Sällstedt.
As drones become increasingly mainstream, their applications and possibilities in various fields and industries are expected to increase and this will drive future market growth. Start-up drone companies would do well by establishing their position in the market and differentiating themselves from their competitors, things that come with having a clear picture of the future direction of the company.
"The possibilities seem to be limitless. There is no end to application areas and smart solutions coming up. What is important for us at Sky Eye is to stick to our strengths and stay with what makes us different," remarked Sällstedt.