Sector Snapshot: Drone-in-a-Box Solutions
By Scott Howe, Commercial UAV News
The global DIB market was valued at $963.1 million in 2022 and is projected to grow from $1,097.3 million in 2023 to $3,483.2 million by 2030.
(Fortune Business Insights)
Increased use of drones in military and defense, photography and film production, and security and surveillance is driving growth in the Drone-in-a-Box sector.
(Allied Market Research)
INTRODUCTION
The top 5 companies account for nearly 70% of the DIB market.
(Frost & Sullivan)
Regulatory restrictions that require pilots to maintain visual contact while operating commercial drones continue to pose the most significant roadblock to DIB market advancement
(Frost & Sullivan)
As the drone industry grows and matures, many innovations are entering the marketplace to make uncrewed technology more effective, safe, and efficient. One of the most promising developments is the advent of “Drone-in-a-Box” or DIB systems.
Adding Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Drone-in-a-Box systems can lead to greater autonomy, enhanced safety, and increased return on investment.
These systems are just what you’d imagine: A drone is housed in a container or “box.” But this configuration offers more than safe storage. A DIB system can charge a drone’s batteries, connect it to remote pilots, act as a home base for repeated flights, take in crucial weather information to enhance flight planning, and much more. Combining these capabilities in one place has opened up endless possibilities for improved operations in delivery, construction, inspection, law enforcement, and other fields.
In this Commercial UAV News “Innovation Snapshot,” we will explore the current state of the Drone-in-a-Box marketplace, examine the many capabilities of these systems, discuss new products that are pushing the technology forward, and look to the future as DIB takes hold in the industry and presents new possibilities for operators.
Skydio
WHAT IS A DRONE-IN-A-BOX?
Simply put, a Drone-in-a-Box system is made up of an uncrewed aerial vehicle and some sort of housing, port, or docking station.
Unmanned Systems Technology explains that a DIB system can deploy a drone “autonomously from a box that also functions as a landing pad and charging base.” In many cases, DIBs also include “a computer management system that allows the operator to interact with the system, including multiple drones.”
With a DIB, drones can be remotely deployed to perform a mission—package delivery, surveillance and reconnaissance, farming, mapping and surveying, security and emergency response, or inspections—and then flown back to the port to be safely stored. At this point, information gathered by the drone can be accessed, and the vehicle can be charged and maintained.
This design offers many advantages. According to an EU Drone Port blog post, with DIB systems, “the pilot will no longer have to worry about charging the aircraft’s battery, nor will he have to worry about the safety of the aircraft due to external manipulations.” Moreover, the post asserted, “the fact of providing means for remote connectivity to the aircraft through secure WAN (wide area network) connections offers the option of being able to manage flights without the need to be next to the aircraft.”
Another advantage of DIB systems is that they can be designed in many ways to serve many different missions. As Unmanned Systems Technology notes, some “may be easily transportable, or fixed in place,” and some “may be designed to operate in challenging environments such as the decks of ships and naval vessels, or moving vehicles, and some may be integrated into the ship or vehicle itself.”
In addition, some DIB systems “may be remotely managed by an operator or provide the potential for fully automated drone operations and workflows, including BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) flights. They may be part of a scalable system that networks multiple boxes together and can be managed by cloud-based software to provide wide-area ondemand services,” Unmanned Systems Technology reports.
THE DIB MARKET
Leading market research firms are predicting a bright future for the Drone-in-a-Box sector. For example, Fortune Business Insights valued the global DIB market at $963.1 million in 2022 and projected the market to grow “from $1,097.3 million in 2023 to $3,483.2 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 17.9%.”
Similarly, Frost & Sullivan stated, “The drone-in-a-box (DIB) market is nascent but will be rapidly transitioning to a growth market.” As the overall demand for drones continues to increase, Frost & Sullivan believe that interest in DIB systems will also grow.
Still, the firm stated, “regulatory restrictions that require pilots to maintain visual contact while operating commercial drones continue to pose the most significant roadblock” to market advancement. Moreover, Frost & Sullivan point out that “More than 30 companies globally are marketing or developing DIB solutions, but fewer than
half have deployed solutions to clients,” and “The top 5 companies account for nearly 70% of the market.” The firm believes this number will decrease as new DIB providers enter the marketplace.
A recent report by Allied Market Research also predicts future growth. The report said that various sectors that use drones for their work, including military and defense, photography and film production, and security and surveillance, are driving increases in the DIB market. However, Allied Market Research cautioned that the “high cost of devices & components and lack of skilled drone operator can hamper growth of the market.”
Advantages of Drone-in-a-Box systems:
• Can be adapted to a wide range of applications
• Protect drones from the elements
• Can operate in challenging environments
• Fast, efficient battery charging
• Reduces travel time to remote sites
• Enables automation
DIB SOLUTIONS: WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?
Challenges of Drone-in-a-Box systems:
• Regulations concerning beyond visual line of sight flights
• Young, undefined market
• High initial costs for components
Drone-in-a-Box systems are helping companies and organizations in fields such as agriculture, law enforcement, mining, package delivery, and more. Some of the most common uses of DIB solutions, however, can be found in the fields that engage in regular inspection and monitoring work.
Recently, Commercial UAV News published a series of articles that looked at the many Drone-in-a-Box solutions tailored for work in industrial inspections, construction, and energy & utilities. Here’s a look at the various options and how they are helping companies identify anomalies, increase safety, reduce downtime, and save money.
DRONE-IN-A-BOX SOLUTIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL INSPECTIONS
American Robotics’ Optimus System: American Robotics’ Optimus System provides a fully automated, comprehensive solution for government, public safety, and critical infrastructure. Designed for critical operations, the Optimus features a flight time of 40 minutes, a range between 5 to 10 miles, and holds up to 11 swappable batteries. Additionally, the dock can store up to 9 swappable payloads, making it a versatile tool for any mission, and it uses edge computing to process data and provide insights in real-time.
American Robotics
Avy: As an autonomous, remotely monitored, and easily deployed solution, Avy’s BVLOS Drone Response Network features the “only fixedwing VTOL-from-a-box” and fast response times with low operational costs for inspections and more. Compatible with multiple payloads, Avy’s drone, the Avy Aera, is a VTOL fixed-wing drone that withstands winds of up to 30+ knots, and flies in “heavy rain and harsh sunshine, in blistering cold or sweltering heat.”
Sphere Drones’ HubX: Sphere Drones’ HubX is an all-terrain, solarpowered, and internet-enabled solution that is also mobile and portable. Suited for several use cases, including critical or remote assets inspections, the HubX provides automated data capture and streamlines repetitive and resource-heavy surveying tasks from site to office. Users can subscribe to Sphere Drones’ Curo software to process collected data or integrate the HubX with existing drone management software via an API.
Energy Robotics: On a mission to relieve humans from dangerous, repetitive, and undesirable tasks, Energy Robotics developed an end-toend solution for autonomous inspections in capital-intensive industries such as oil & gas, chemical, as well as power and utilities. The company’s hardware-agnostic software platform enables other companies to easily manage a fleet of robots and drones for autonomous inspection.
DRONE IN A BOX SOLUTIONS FOR ENERGY & UTILITIES
Exabotix: Germany-based Exabotix’ fully automated DronePorts is a DIB solution for automated inspection and monitoring. Since the company is behind manufacturing the DronePort and its drones, all devices are interconnected, and the ecosystem allows for full fleet remote control. The drones can fly up to around 43 miles from the dock, and by installing an optional module, they can fly from one dock to the next to cover longer distances. The dock is fully air-conditioned, enabling it to operate 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
DJI Dock: In 2022, DJI introduced its DIB as “a game changer for the drone industry and a significant step towards achieving true autonomy in drone operations.” The Dock automates operations and allows for repeatable methods of data collection— capabilities that are critically important for operations such as solar inspections.
RocketDNA: Designed to automate operational workflows using drones and AI, RocketDNA’s DiaB solution, xBot, “creates safer and more sustainable work environments by using our autonomous drone-based, remote geo-data solutions,” said RocketDNA CEO Christopher Clark. xBots allows companies to detect leaks, intrusions and theft along pipelines and critical energy installations, providing pro-active surveillance and inspections.
Avy
Sphere Drones
Energy Robotics
Read the full article here
RocketDNA
DJI
DRONE-IN-A-BOX SOLUTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION
Skydio Dock: Remotely operated and AI-powered, the Skydio Dock allows companies to perform continuous monitoring, recurring inspection, and scheduled patrol, as well as enables remote ondemand visibility. With a footprint of just 4 square feet and weighing only 62 pounds, the Skydio is one of the smallest and lightest docks available, making it easy to deploy in many different environments.
Percepto Air: Industrial-grade, weatherproof, and robust, Percepto’s DiaB offers autonomous visual inspections through the company’s autonomous drones equipped with RGB and thermal cameras. Ready for 2D mapping, 3D modeling, volumetric measurements, construction monitoring, and more, the Percepto Air stands out due to its integration with Percepto AIM, an autonomous inspection & monitoring platform.
Hextronics: Built for various industries, including construction, Hextronics’ DiaB systems facilitate site surveying, progress tracking, and data-driven decision-making, ultimately expediting project timelines and ensuring greater accuracy. The company has developed a couple of DiaB over the years and claims that its latest one, the Atlas, is “the world’s only portable DiaB batteryswapping platform.”
FlytBase DiaB Software Solution: While FlytBase’s DiaB software solution isn’t a docking station, it is a plug-and-play, hardware-agnostic solution compatible with all docking stations. DiaB users and manufacturers can easily pair FlytBase’s Edge Kit with a DiaB system to gain access to the company’s complete software and allow them to automate complete workflows seamlessly. By leveraging FlytBase’s cloud platform, users have the flexibility to add unlimited drones and docks to the system and then schedule missions and monitor them remotely through live stream HD multicam video over 4G/5G.
H3 Dynamics: Designed for mapping & surveying, inspections, construction monitoring, and more, H3 Dynamics’ DBX-G7 automates and digitizes visual inspection processes, creating an accessible layer of information on structures and buildings in any city. From the tallest skyscrapers to remote industrial outposts, the DBX provides an easy way to deploy scanner drones automatically and remotely at any time to refresh construction progress tracking reports. According to H3’s partner SAP, H3’s solution speeds up building inspections, increasing productivity by 70% in some cases
Read the full article here
Skydio
Percepto Air
Hextronics
H3 Dynamics
CONCLUSION: THE FUTURE OF DRONE-IN-A-BOX SYSTEMS
Drone-in-a-Box solutions are now providing real value to organizations and businesses in a wide range of industries, and market experts predict that more and more DIB systems will be deployed in the years to come. Increased use of the technology, however, will depend on several factors, including changes in the regulatory environment and the integration of artificial intelligence and related systems to increase autonomy and efficiency.
On the regulatory front, many DIB-focused companies have recently received permission from state and federal authorities to expand their operations. For example, in late 2023, Percepto received permission from the FAA to operate a full fleet of its UAVs remotely by one operator. That means users can now operate up to 30 drone-in-a-box systems simultaneously.
In addition, Australia’s Sphere Drones received approval to fly BVLOS in its Wagga Wagga, NSW test site, which will enable the firm to further develop its self-sustaining mobile drone platform, HubX. Also, the FAA gave Asylon new BVLOS permission to perform fully automated commercial security drone missions involving its DroneSentry drone-in-abox system.
These and other regulatory approvals highlight the ways drone companies are demonstrating the safety and reliability of their overall drone programs and their specific Drone-in-a-Box solutions. The integration of artificial intelligence into these systems could lead to even greater adoption of drone-based systems by both the public and private sectors.
Already, as reported in a recent Commercial UAV News piece, AI is revolutionizing the way drones are being used in firefighting, traffic control, and environmental management work, and there are countless examples of how AI, machine learning, and related systems are joining with uncrewed systems to make repetitive tasks, like pipeline inspections and warehouse monitoring, faster, cheaper, and safer.
Adaptable and efficient Drone-in-a-Box systems are poised to take these operations—and many others—to the next level.
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