If energy infrastructure such as electric pylons and gas pipelines are damaged, expensive helicopters are frequently used to inspect them. Drones are beginning to replace some of these inspections, but these flight times may be limited. Now, the new company is creating a very long range of drones to fill this task, and although the company has denied “dual use” applications, it is clear that it can be used in a civilian environment to inspect infrastructure damaged by the war.
Based in Hamburg, Germany, Beagle uses long-range drones to capture data on energy infrastructure. It is currently raising a 5 million euro seed round co-led by AENU (via partner Fabian Heilemann) and PT1 (via partner Nikolas Samios). Prior to this, they had raised subsidies and subsidies of 1.9 million euros in pre-seed funds and 2 million euros.
Co-founder Oliver Lichtenstein says he and his team will develop a “winged computer” that comply with strict EU airspace regulations for long-haul flights for five years.
“Our customers pay us for data in the kilometres of the pipeline. We have positive cash flow in Germany with our current team and operations,” he said in an email. “We plan to use this venture funding to accelerate growth.”
Here’s how it works: The operator sends the grid’s geodata to the Beagle and gets an estimate based on the price per kilometre of the Beagle’s product (methane detection or hazard detection).
Certainly, Beagle has competitors like Intero, The Adlares Charm Helicopter (detects methane emissions), and local helicopters or small plane services. Furthermore, close range (US) is similar in terms of business model.
However, the Beagle claims to have 75 times the resolution of the satellite, which is cheaper than the plane, with less emissions, and is allowed to fly repeatedly for long distances.
A “full EU” (“made in Germany”) solution means you have complete control over your data and software. This is advantageous in today’s world where systems created outside the EU could emerge in geopolitical headwinds.
Additionally, Lichtenstein said: “There is operational approval for flights in EU airspace and can cover 80% of the EU region, except for areas with high population density.”
The market that it deals with is clearly large. In the EU, it is worth just 2 billion euros, given that EU methane regulations require methane emission tracking, and the US is planning to follow the same route.
However, the company has now restricted its drones to private applications, but Nikolas Samios, PT1’s managing partner, commented that it could be used in other scenarios.
Liechtenstein previously served on the Drone Advisory Committee of the German Ministry of Transport and is currently vice-chairman of UAV DACH. He was joined by Jerry Tang (Robotics Engineer), Mitja Wittersheim and Bendix Böttger (former head of Trustpilot’s Sales Dach).
While working on implementing EU drone regulations at the Federal Ministry of Transport, Liechtenstein met Tan and spun the ideas for the company.