AS WORKS
Patented autonomous unmanned aerial systems with docking stations.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
$90.0k | Grant | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
StrobelTEK, which rebranded from AS Works in February 2021, designs and manufactures patented, fully autonomous Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The company is based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and produces all its systems in-house. The core of its product line is the Sprinter UAV, a drone featuring a unique design with a single, ducted fan for propulsion. This design enhances safety for operation near people and allows the drone to switch from vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) to a faster horizontal flight mode for increased speed and range.
The company was founded by Armin Strobel, who holds a PhD in drone swarming. His background and dissatisfaction with the capabilities of existing commercial drones led him to develop his own, focusing on creating a robust, fully integrated autonomous tool rather than a remotely piloted vehicle. The system is designed for end-to-end autonomy, enabling drones to launch, execute missions, return to a mobile docking station, and recharge automatically with a single button press. StrobelTEK has developed docking stations for single drones (Solo Dock) and swarms of up to five (Swarm Dock). The company heavily invests in its own research and development initiatives.
StrobelTEK serves a variety of sectors, including military, security, first responders, and industrial clients in markets like oil & gas, ports, and agriculture. Use cases range from intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to infrastructure inspections, search and rescue, and environmental monitoring. The business model appears to involve direct sales and customization of their UAS products to meet specific client needs. The company has received recognition for its work, including being named an Innovation Leader by the Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association (ACADA) in late 2020.
Keywords: Unmanned Aerial Systems, UAS, autonomous drones, VTOL drone, drone docking station, drone swarming, surveillance drones, inspection drones, military drones, ducted fan UAV, StrobelTEK, Canadian technology, aerospace and defense, robotics, autonomous systems, mobile charging station, reconnaissance technology, hardware startup, asset inspection, perimeter security