Exyn Technologies Reaches New Heights in Aerial Autonomy

Exyn Technologies has declared Tuesday the day it attained the most advanced degree of aerial autonomy currently available in the industry. A core element of this accomplishment is the drones’ resilience to GPS signal loss; all spatial calculations and mapping processes are performed directly on the drone itself, as stated by the company.

Level 4A Autonomy Achieved

Based on autonomy definitions mirroring standards used in the automotive sector, Exyn’s drones have reached Level 4A autonomy. This signifies the drones’ capacity to explore a specified 3D environment without the need for a remote operator, according to Exyn.

This achievement represents a substantial advancement over the prior Level 3 autonomy, which necessitated a human operator’s presence to potentially intervene – a requirement that previously hindered drone operation in areas lacking reliable signal coverage.

Beyond Point-to-Point Navigation

Level 3 aerial autonomy typically relies on point-to-point navigation, where an operator predefines a series of waypoints for the robot to visit. The robot then attempts to reach these locations. For example, the self-flying aircraft developed by autonomous aviation startup Xwing will function at this level, adhering to predetermined flight paths.

However, in practical applications, an operator may lack detailed knowledge of the operational environment, and the robot might not have access to pre-existing maps for guidance and informed movement.

Exploring Challenging Environments

“We’ve engineered an autonomous system capable of navigating into dark, hazardous, and confined spaces,” explained Jason Derenick, CTO of Exyn, in an interview with TechCrunch. “The system can be deployed at the threshold of danger and tasked with gathering essential information, often in areas beyond both communication and visual range.”

Introducing "Scoutaunomy"

Exyn’s drones are equipped with a capability termed “scoutaunomy,” which involves defining a “bounding box volume” within which the drone can operate. Utilizing lidar sensors, the drone distinguishes between explored and unexplored areas within this volume, enabling self-navigation and the creation of a precise, high-resolution map of the surroundings.

These drones, designed to be hardware-agnostic, can also integrate additional sensors to collect supplementary data for inclusion on the generated maps.

Rich Data Sets for Comprehensive Analysis

“Consider the creation of a three-dimensional map, and then overlaying it with RGB data from a camera, resulting in a photorealistic 3D depiction of the space,” stated Nader Elm, CEO of Exyn Technologies, to TechCrunch. “Furthermore, if equipped with sensors for heat, humidity, radiological readings, gas detection, or ventilation checks, a remarkably comprehensive dataset can be obtained – a dataset currently unavailable in many underground mining operations.”

Applications in Mining and Beyond

The majority of Exyn Technologies’ current applications are within the mining industry, serving clients such as Rupert Resources and Dundee Precious Metals. The ability to map unknown areas enhances miner safety and supports more informed business decisions.

Recently, the company announced a collaboration with Sandvik, a Swedish mining and construction leader, to integrate Exyn’s mapping software with Sandvik’s mapping analytics capabilities.

Exyn is also collaborating with governmental entities for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, as well as serving the nuclear energy, construction, and logistics sectors, according to the company.