The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the Commercial Drone Data Analysis Software Industry

Disruptive Technologies

Why

• Companies in the global drone industry can achieve a bigger competitive advantage through innovations in software rather than hardware because there are not many attainable technological advancements in drone hardware that can make a significant impact, compared to software.

Frost Perspective

• Companies that do not continually invest in artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance automated data capture, improve data analysis, and train algorithms will likely struggle to succeed in the drone data analysis software market, especially when regulations favor autonomous flights as expected within the next 10 years.

Internal Challenges

Why

• Some companies fail to identify customers’ pain points, preventing them from designing software that effectively solve their problems.

Frost Perspective

• Industry participants should strive to have a customer-centric culture and should avoid ‘falling in love’ with their solutions, without considering customers’ needs.
• Companies should be flexible, in terms of adapting their software to meet evolving needs and technologies.

Innovative Business Models

Why

• Successful companies in this market have shifted from developing mere software for drones to holistic solutions, integrating other data-capture methods, such as fixed cameras, cellphones, unmanned grounds vehicles (UGV), and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV), among others.

Frost Perspective

• Companies should adapt to the industry’s evolving needs and integrate different technologies into their solutions.

Drone Segmentation by Platform Type

Drones

Multirotor

• Multirotor drones may include 3, 4, 6, and 8 propellers and are the most common, the easiest to operate, and usually the most affordable type of drones, making them a great option for recreational use and for simple tasks in the industrial space.
• Given its great stability and precision, this type is ideal for inspecting and surveilling smaller areas.
• Multirotor drones are limited in speed and endurance and can fly between 20 and 50 minutes with a battery, depending on payload weight.

Fixed Wing

• Fixed-wing drones use wings similar to regular airplanes to fly and stay aloft and are more efficient than multirotor UAS.
• Given its high speed and longer flight endurance, fixed wing is the ideal type to cover large areas, making it a good option for such applications as powerline and pipeline inspection, surveying and mapping, and goods delivery.
• Fixed-wing drones can be difficult to operate and require large areas for takeoff and landing.

Fixed Wing/VTOL Hybrid

• This hybrid type combines the stability and versatility of the multirotor, especially for VTOL, and the endurance of fixed-wing drones.
• The major benefit of fixed-wing/VTOL hybrids is the combination of long endurance and the possibility to take off and land in tight spaces.
• These types of drones are more expensive and do not excel in endurance, compared to purely fixed-wing types, nor in stability, compared to purely multirotor.

Single Rotor

• Similar to helicopters, single-rotor drones use a main rotor on top for propulsion and a small tail rotor for direction.
• Single-rotor drones are the least utilized in the commercial space.
• These drones are often used to carry heavy payloads and for aerial LiDAR scanning.
• Similar to fixed-wing drones, single-rotor drones are more dangerous and require more training to use.

Growth Drivers

• The continuous advancement of AI, key in the drone industry for both automated data capture and data analysis, adds value to data analysis software.
• Advancements in the surrounding hardware technology, including improved sensor quality, increased flight time because of developments in power sources, and more accurate and stable drones, enhance the input in drone data analysis software and improve data sets and overall drone solutions.
• The increased use of drones for commercial purposes across different industries, such as construction, agriculture, energy, O&G, and mining, is boosting the use of drone data analysis software.

Growth Restraints

• The lack of a mature and clear regulatory framework hampers the use of drones for commercial use, especially for autonomous and BVLOS operations.
• The lack of awareness of the benefits of drones and data analysis software restrains the market, especially in less digitized industries, such as construction, agriculture, and mining.

Key Competitors

• AgEagle (Measure)
• Airspace Link
• Altitude Angel
• Bentley Systems
• Cyberhawk
• DJI
• DroneDeploy
• ESRI
• Field Group
• Firmatek
• FlytBase
• Optelos
• Pictterra
• Pix4D
• Propeller Aero
• Scopito
• SimActive
• Skycatch
• SPH Engineering
• Trimble
• Unleash Live
• vHive
• Zeitview