Steadicopter today announced that development of its pilotless helicopter is complete.
The autonomous robotic helicopter has full flight capabilities including hovering, flying and landing, all while shooting video footage in real time.
Steadicopter CEO Tuvia Scgl told ''Globes'' that Steadicopter intends to raise $1.5 million for marketing the system, and for development of applications for the security and civilian markets, such as traffic authorities, local government, infrastructure companies, and media outlets. The price of a single unit is expected to be $150,000.
The company wishes to bring in a strategic partner and is currently readying itself for a presentation to potential customers, including persons from the defense establishment, and major defense aerospace industries interested in robotic flight.
Steadicopter business development director Amir Rochman told "Globes" that the potential market was estimated in the billions of dollars.
The company was established in 1999, under the auspices of the Technion Entrepreneurial Incubator Company (TEIC) in Haifa. To date, Steadicopter has raised $1.5 million. The company's owners are TEIC, Rosh Ha'Ayin-based ITES - Imaging Technology Enterprise Systems, Renault importer Yoel Carasso, and businessman Yossi Kabiri.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on Thursday, August 05, 2004