Essential Aero
"Autonomous Airfield Operations"
Autonomous airfield robotics company deploying FOD detection and removal robots for airports and US Air Force bases.
Essential Aero, founded in March 2020 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, automates airfield ground operations using autonomous robots, computer vision, and AI. Its flagship product, the FOD-BOT, is a self-driving robot that detects and collects foreign object debris (FOD) on aircraft aprons and runways, enhancing safety and reducing damage to aircraft engines. The company has secured contracts with the US Air Force (4 awards, ~$2.5M since Feb 2023), the FAA (3 awards, ~$400K since 2022), and commercial airport operators including ADR (Italy's largest airport operator), with daily operations at Montgomery-Gibbs Airport in San Diego.
Additional products include the Blower-BOT for high-velocity debris clearing, selected by the USAF in collaboration with Edwards AFB and Plant 42. Backed by Village Global (Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos) and angel investors. CEO and Founder: Steve Boyle.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Blower-BOT
Autonomous high-velocity blower robot system for clearing debris from airfield surfaces, selected by the US Air Force.
FOD-BOT
- Model: FOD-BOT
- Launch Year: 2022
Autonomous debris-removal robot for airfields with self-charge and disposal.
Supply-BOT
Autonomous ground vehicle for airfield supply operations.
Essential Core
Onboard edge autonomy stack fusing LiDAR, radar, GPS and cameras.
Essential Commander
Browser-based fleet management and mission control dashboard.
Contact Essential Aero
WEBSITE
https://essentialaero.comHEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
2020
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
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