SINGAPORE – A Singaporean aerial mobility company has launched what it claims will be the most advanced drone docking station for autonomous drone operations yet.

With offices in Singapore, Austin and Paris, H3 Dynamics says its new DBX-G7, a vertiport system for autonomous drone operations will be smarter, faster, and multi-modal with 5G and 4G connectivity, designed to scale on-going digitisation efforts in safety compliance, maintenance and crisis management.

The prototype has been developed for small drones though, with an average weight of 5kg, which can be used in cities as well as industrial sites worldwide.

But what may give this type of docking station the biggest advantage over all others is that is open to all drones, according to company CEO and Founder, Taras Wankewycz.

“What makes DBX really unique, is its open-architecture philosophy. Unlike other closed environments that restrict users to a single drone type – DBX can host professional drones from different manufacturers, and support multiple communication protocols and operating standards,” the CEO said.

This would enable a broad possibility of use cases and client requirements across geographies – from solar farms to precision agriculture, critical infrastructure maintenance, utilities, buildings, perimeter security, and many more.

“DBX will accelerate the global drone economy and existing solution developers anywhere in the world. Just like with smartphones help deploy the mobile app economy, H3 Dynamics’ DBX will deploy the global drone analytics economy.”

In a statement announcing the launch of the DBX, H3 Dynamics said the vertiport was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a direct response to the new tele-presence and remote work paradigm. “DBX performs all the functions of an on-site drone pilot: navigation, docking, stowing, battery charging, data retrieval, transmission, and cloud-based processing,” added Samuel Chauffaille, head of H3 Dynamics’ robotics systems division. “Autonomous systems such as DBX help reduce the need for on-site presence, and can help alleviate rising labour shortage pressures.

“With accelerating digitisation, the need for structural scans is also growing while pilot availability is limited. We are looking to close the gap with our DBX autonomous drone stations.”

The company added that it was working with global aerospace technology company Thales, on real time airspace integration through a multi-pronged approach around the world, with the DBX vertiport being “the start of autonomous urban air mobility – one that builds immediate commercial experience with lower risk, 5kg drone operations, a living laboratory for cities considering 4-5-ton air taxis designed to carry passengers”.

Meanwhile, H3 Dynamics has also been deploying its AI-enabled digital inspection solutions to address the many thousands of high-rise buildings that require regular inspections in Singapore, most of which use drone operations. The company has expanded its solutions through strategic partnerships, including partnering with enterprise software solution provider SAP, to provide clients with the necessary connectivity to send repair work orders directly from H3 Dynamics’ digital platforms.