Welcome to the Skybot Labs Official Company Blog!
Who or what is Skybot Labs, and what problem(s) are we trying to solve?
Skybot Labs, Inc. is a Washington D.C. area-based racing and experimental drone manufacturing company founded by myself as CEO and fellow co-founder/CFO in August 2018. At the time of our founding we were looking to take my original creative design approach to solving a key pain point to drones — safety. More to the point on how to prevent or reduce the collateral risk incurred during motor failure in traditional quad-rotor UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) through our experimental intellectual property and technology. Fast-forward to now we’ve pivoted recently in early 2019 to also designing and making unique, one-of-a-kind FPV (First Person View) drones drone racing components, and software in addition to the experimental drone technology in our business model to give users, pilots, and builders more openness, personalization, modularity, and customization in their builds and flight experiences.
Our Origin Story: The Idea and Aha Moment…
It started during a random R&D brainstorming session on a whiteboard while I was doing research on how a drone could stay in the air longer if one motor or more motors failed. I figured with so much interest in how drones can be used and the benefits society there must also be concern how to best ensure and protect the drone, itself, people and property if such an event took place— a concern continuing to be felt by many at a global scale. Taking inspiration from both my love of science fiction and some daydreaming on practical applications of drone technology, I hypothesized that if a drone UAS could be aware of it’s own damage and could continue flying using it’s ambient environment and its own on-board components instead of falling then there could be a way to reduce the collateral risk of a falling UAS/drone overall. As I discovered no one was looking at this glaring problem from a different lenses and perspective — the opportunity became something that could be actionable towards a realistic solution.
My idea slowly turned into building experimental drone design concepts and prototypes, drafting IP, and potential products; and then the list of applications of this technology towards solving ancillary problems faced by or could be resolved by the drone industry in the form of a new type drone made sense to be a business model. From there Skybot Labs, Inc. was born…
The Pivot to Drone Racing
In terms of the applications of our technology were concerned as we were developing IP and prototypes I discovered that there was a market that was so cool and was open to adopting new drone technology overall— the drone racing industry. Growing up tinkering, building things with my hands, solving puzzles, and having the need to customize things like my car I felt drone racing could be the place where our designs and technology could live and be introduced to those who personalize, have great user experiences, willing to augment their drones with the latest and greatest, and have fun flying doing it. Needless to say I converted to being drone racer and builder, but I also saw that there was a way to introduce Skybot Labs’ technology to an audience who would not only see it’s value, but would be willing to integrate it circumstances and use cases not yet thought of with respect to a level customization and enjoyment in their flight experiences; which is something that trickles down in other consumer applications and products when you look at other racing industries — for example the car or motorcycle racing industry technology that does get incorporated in everyday consumer vehicles.
For Skybot Labs drone racing and other applicable drone industries creatively have become a channel and opportunity to deliver our technology to those who want to solve the big problem of flying drone their builds with engineering options to enhance their drones overtime. The products we will be rolling out over time both in the short and long-term are aimed at doing so in a way that offers unique design, expandability, and giving more personalization for pilot.
Be on the look out for the latest info in terms of our drone racing products via our “From the Lab” product blog section or via our company site.
Our Technology
Although daily operational portion of our startup DNA is drone racing the goal at the core of our technology, and the catalyst for starting the company, reduces risk to drones — and people and property — through an easy to use open drone platform of modular components that allows drone pilots to fly with an on-board safety standard regardless of the activity or industry.
Be it needing a drone for filming your next stunt, drone racing, or package delivery etc. we want to give you (the hobbyist, the pilot, the researcher, or drone user, the cinematographer, or that leisurely flyer) the ability build and fly the drone you need for what you’re trying to do without the fuss of worrying about the technical details in a customer experience. This means endless possibilities to make the type of drone for whatever you’re doing off of a few common parts, replace damaged parts instead of an entire drone, and quickly to fly withing seconds!
In terms of here a taste of some of our first initial products you can expect from us:
- X-Blur FPV Racing Drone Frames (Freestyle (Type-F), Racing (Type-R) versions); Coming soon the Type-M…
- Skybot Labs Drone Builds and Drone Kits
It’s been an incredible journey to build a company and products that solve problems in the drone industry and creatively are to fun!
Be sure to follow our publication and website for the latest company news and our products, and when you’ll be able get your hands on a Skybot Labs product.
