US-based drone system developer 3D Robotics (3DR) raised $50m on Wednesday in a series C round led by Qualcomm Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of wireless technology supplier Qualcomm.
Founded in 2009, 3DR produces unmanned aerial vehicles for consumer use. In a blog post announcing the funding, it cited a recent Federal Aviation Authority ruling removing the need for manned pilot licences and aircraft certification to operate a drone as a significant progression in the commercial drone industry.
The company plans to partner with Qualcomm, using the corporate’s Snapdragon processors for its drones, and to establish an ecosystem of commercial drone specialists and operators that will develop products and services based on its technology.
Chris Anderson, chief executive of 3D Robotics, said: “By working with Qualcomm Technologies we can bring advanced computing to the skies at an increasing pace.
“Such multi-gigahertz Linux-based onboard computing platforms, combined with state-of-the-art cameras and other sensors and wireless technologies, will allow us to create next-gen drones that are smarter, easier and safer than ever before.”
The capital increased 3DR’s total funding to $85m. It raised $30m in September 2013 from O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, media company O’Reilly’s corporate venturing fund, as well as Foundry Group, True Ventures, SK Ventures and Mayfield Fund.
O’Reilly had already co-funded 3DR’s $5m series A round in 2012 with True Ventures and angel investor Chris Michel.