Reliable Robotics raises funding for fully automated aircraft

The Reliable Autonomy System is intended for both civilian and military aircraft. Source: Reliable Robotics

Reliable Robotics Corp. this week announced $160 million in new funding to accelerate deployment and scale production of the Reliable Autonomy System, or RAS, which it said is the first Federal Aviation Administration-certifiable system enabling fully automated operation of an aircraft.

“Aviation is vital to our economy and national security, but to meet demand, it needs to be able to scale safely,” stated Robert Rose, co-founder and CEO of Reliable Robotics. “Automation eases constraints, enabling us to realize greater levels of throughput at even higher levels of safety.”

Founded in 2017, Reliable Robotics said it has designed RAS to work on any aircraft, in any airspace, and to directly address the most common causes of aviation incidents. The Mountain View, Calif.-based company said its certifiable autonomy can lead to safer, more affordable, and more scalable air transportation.

Reliable Robotics works with the U.S. government

“Aviation is the backbone of global mobility, but preventable accidents, infrastructure limitations, and structural challenges around increasing aircraft utilization are constraining future growth,” said Reliable Robotics.

The company claimed that its system can improve aviation safety, accessibility, and connectivity for commercial and military operations. The Reliable Autonomy System will integrate with existing aviation infrastructure and certified aircraft – requiring no changes to the National Airspace System for commercial operations, it said.

Reliable Robotics added that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification progress positions it to respond to calls from across the U.S. government to expand national leadership in aviation technology. Last August, Reliable signed a $17.4 million contract to provide automated air cargo operations for the U.S. Air Force to tackle the contested logistics challenge in the Indo-Pacific theater.

The company is certifying the RAS for commercial operations, with the FAA having accepted certification plans, means of compliance, and closed issue papers. Reliable said it is now delivering on compliance materials, in accordance with the FAA-agreed-upon plan.

“The FAA is building the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world. Advances in autonomous technologies can only be made when they are certified and in alignment with the agency’s safety objectives,” said Lirio Liu, former executive director of the FAA Aircraft Certification Service. “Reliable Robotics has demonstrated its ability to work toward the certification of its autonomy system with the highest levels of rigor.”

In March, Reliable and the city of Albuquerque were selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation for the FAA-led Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) that is intended to accelerate autonomous regional air cargo operations and bring resources from the highest levels of government to Reliable’s certification project. Both that and the Air Force programs will begin operations this year.

“Reliable’s dual-use approach to aircraft autonomy, grounded in leading FAA certification progress, is delivering operational capability today,” said Gen. Richard D. Clarke (ret.), former commander, U.S. Special Operations Command. “Autonomous systems give U.S. forces the agility and freedom of movement needed to execute modern operational concepts, and Reliable is positioned to deliver this mission-critical advantage where it matters most.”

Investment to support continued growth

Nimble Ventures led Reliable Robotics’ latest investment, with continued participation from Eclipse, Lightspeed, Coatue and Pathbreaker Ventures. New investors included Island Green Capital, Socium Ventures (Cox Enterprises), AE Ventures (a strategic partner of The Boeing Co.), RTX Ventures, Presidio Ventures (Sumitomo Corp.), UP.Partners, KAS Venture Partners, What If Ventures, Calm Ventures, Gaingels and Mana Ventures.

“Autonomy is the inevitable requirement for maximum safety and performance,” said John Burbank of Nimble Ventures. He will join Reliable’s board of directors.

The financing follows commitments for over 200 systems from commercial and military customers. Since its last round of funding, Reliable said it has nearly tripled its employee base.

The company plans to continue growing its staff and to expand its production facility footprint.

The post Reliable Robotics raises funding for fully automated aircraft appeared first on The Robot Report.