The X10 drone features high-resolution visual and radiometric cameras in modular sensor packages. | Source: Skydio
Axon Enterprise Inc. last week said it has invested $1.2 billion in Skydio Inc., a San Mateo, Calif.-based drone manufacturer. With the investment, Axon gains 20% ownership of Skydio, which is valued at $5.2 billion.
Axon will also become Skydio’s exclusive distributor for public safety in the U.S. and Canada. The companies said they are partnering to bring Skydio drones to public safety agencies across the U.S. Axon is also expanding its Drone as First Responder (DFR) program.
“Within a decade, millions of drones will be working across America. Skydio is positioned to lead in every sector they touch,” stated Rick Smith, the founder and CEO of Axon. “Axon is taking a major stake in one of the most valuable categories in tech, and Skydio stays free to move fast. With exclusive channel rights, Axon will widen its lead in public safety drones as Skydio builds the future of American aerial robotics. Two companies, each the best at what it does, will build something far bigger than either could alone.”
Skydio said it serves more than 1,500 public safety customers. Now, more than 28 million Americans live within two miles of a DFR dock. Founded in 2014, the company claimed that it uses AI-backed autonomy to create drones that are easier to operate, safer to fly, and more capable in complex environments.
-based Axon . Drones arrive before officers on about 80% of the calls where they are deployed.
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