Hylio, Inc.
"Autonomous, Precise, Swarm-Enabled, USA-Based"
US maker of NDAA-compliant agricultural spray drones and AgroSol ground control software, serving crop spraying and vector control from Richmond, Texas.
Hylio, Inc. is a Richmond, Texas-based manufacturer of agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and supporting ground control software, founded in 2015. The company was started by aerospace engineering students at the University of Texas at Austin, including Arthur Erickson (CEO), Nikhil Dixit (CTO), Mike Oda (CFO), and Nicholas Nawratil (COO).
Hylio designs and manufactures a line of spray drones under the AgroDrone brand, currently offering four primary models ranging in size and payload capacity. The smallest model, the AG-110, is a quadcopter measuring approximately 4 feet across with a 2.6-gallon (approximately 10-liter) liquid tank and a 2-meter spray boom fitted with four nozzles. It is capable of spraying up to a 20-foot swath. The largest model, the AG-272, is an octocopter measuring 14 feet across with an 18-gallon (approximately 68-liter) tank, capable of spraying up to a 40-foot swath and covering 15 to 100 acres per hour depending on application rate. The AG-272 has a maximum recommended takeoff weight of 400 lbs, maximum thrust of 272 kg, and is powered by two 14S 42 Ah intelligent LiPo batteries.
All Hylio AgroDrones are designed and manufactured in the United States and comply with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), meaning their critical electronic components are approved by the US Defense Department's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and do not include components from China, Russia, or Iran. This positions Hylio drones as compliant with US federal procurement requirements and eligible for use by government agencies and federally funded programs.
Hylio's proprietary ground control software, AgroSol, provides mission planning, drone command-and-control, and application data analysis for agricultural operators. The software is designed to be accessible to non-expert users, enabling farmers to map fields, plan spray missions, and execute crop treatments without requiring advanced piloting skills.
In 2024, Hylio became the first company in the United States to obtain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for swarming UAS exceeding 55 pounds. This approval allows up to three heavy-duty drones to operate simultaneously under a single pilot without a visual observer, including during nighttime operations. Hylio drones are used for aerial application of liquid pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and biological agents, as well as solid materials such as seeds and granules. Application markets include row crops, specialty crops, wetlands, forestry, and public health vector control (mosquito abatement).
The company completed a new 40,000-square-foot purpose-built drone manufacturing facility on its Richmond, Texas campus in 2025, expanding annual production capacity from approximately 500-1,000 drones per year to a projected 5,000 drones annually by 2028. As of 2025, the company employed approximately 65 people. Hylio has raised $7.15 million in total funding.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
AgroDrone AG-110
Compact quadcopter spray drone with 10L tank and 20-ft spray swath for precision crop applications.
AgroDrone AG-272
Heavy-lift octocopter spray drone with 18-gal tank covering up to 100 acres/hour for large-scale commercial agriculture.
AgroSol
Ground control software for planning, commanding, and analyzing agricultural drone spray missions.
Contact Hylio, Inc.
WEBSITE
https://www.hyl.ioPHONE
1-832-219-6778HEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
2015
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
Certifications & Memberships
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