Drone maker Airobotics – a wholly owned subsidiary of Ondas Holdings – has announced a deal with UAE-based Sky So Transport of Goods to provide drone delivery services across the city of Abu Dhabi.

The joint venture will see Sky Go purchase drones and related software and hardware from Airbotics, with an initial purchase order said to be worth $3,5million.

Airobotics expects the initial commercial customer deployment by the SkyGo joint venture in the first quarter of 2023.

“Through the SkyGo JV, Airobotics and SkyGo (subject to the necessary approvals and permits) will deploy Optimus Systems at Industrial and Municipal sites, leveraging the autonomous Optimus System drone platform for various services and capabilities,” Ondas said in a statement.

“Airobotics and SkyGo expect to deploy more than twenty systems across Abu Dhabi over the next few years.

While Meir Kliner, Airobotics founder and CEO added; “We are excited to work with the visionary leadership of SkyGo to deploy valuable drone services to critical infrastructure, logistics and government customers across the city of Abu Dhabi.

“The combination of SkyGo’s market and application expertise and Airobotics robust technology platform enables a powerful partnership. We believe the Smart City drone services go-to-market model with SkyGo in Abu Dhabi will be scalable in many markets throughout the world providing a wide variety of smart cities data solutions in urban environments.”

Airobotics will also take the opportunity to deploy the Optimus Urban Drone Infrastructure throughout Abu Dhabi to conduct various types of missions, including in providing public services in a sustainable and scalable manner.

First launched in November last year, the Optimus Urban Drone Infrastructure is a system designed to operate as a network of smart drones linked to an urban control centre, which will function as a municipal infrastructure providing a variety of automated data solutions.

As explained by the manufacturer, the primary function of the Urban Drone Infrastructure is to shorten response times of security and rescue forces to emergency situations, supporting law enforcement and homeland security activities, and streamlining diverse services provided by the municipality for the public’s benefit.

The company is also examining drone parcel delivery and other smart city applications to be provided by the infrastructure.

“Our partnership with Airobotics will enable us to offer a wide range of services to our customers in Abu Dhabi using their Optimus System, an autonomous drone platform with powerful capabilities,” said Mohammed Al Dhaheri, SkyGo CEO. “Through this partnership, SkyGo will benefit from the technical expertise of the Airobotics team combined with our innovative business model and local knowledge.”

SkyGo offers commercial drone solutions in the UAE and has extensive relationships and experience in aerial licensing and permits in Abu Dhabi.