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Aerologix has bought a Brazilian tech company that turns data collected by drones into high-resolution maps.
The deal to purchase Mappa came alongside news the Australian Uber-style platform had raised a further $2 million in a fresh funding round.
Aerologix hopes integrating the new tech into its existing software will aid its pilots in using drones to examine tall structures.
The business was formed in 2019 by Tom Caska, an ex-airline pilot, and Rakesh Routhu, a technology consultant. It uniquely connects drone pilots directly with people or clients seeking drone imaging, much like a taxi app.
It’s now signed up more than 29,000 pilots and hopes acquiring Mappa will help accelerate its global expansion.
“Mappa has a strong presence in South America and, under Aerologix’s management, will continue to operate as usual servicing its roughly 185 customers while its technology will also be incorporated into Aerologix’s offering under AerologixMaps which launches globally today,” said the business in a statement.
“This integration provides pilots with access to patented Aeropath software, offering an automated flight solution specifically designed for inspecting vertical asset structures through the pilot app.”
Co-founder Routhu called Mappa’s tech the “missing piece in our plan” to build a global drone ecosystem.
“This acquisition not only supercharges our growth in South and North America but also provides a platform for a software as a service [cloud] model, along with additional revenue streams derived from monetising our extensive drone pilot network,” he said.
Aerologix’s technology supports 135 drone types, catering to diverse industries, including renewable energy, construction, real estate and infrastructure.
The company is one of a handful of drone companies onboarded into CASA’s digital sky platform, meaning its Aerologix iOS and Android apps ingest CASA weather updates, location-based information and maps showing where pilots can and can’t fly.
It comes after Australian Aviation reported last year how Aerologix secured $4.2 million in a previous funding round.
