Orbital Robotics launches autonomous inspection drone and closes $100M Series C

Tech · 5 min read

Orbital Robotics' new drone combines extended-range propulsion, LiDAR mapping, and on-device anomaly detection tailored for high-voltage lines, wind turbines, and petrochemical plants. The system emphasizes operator safety through remote mission planning and automated fail-safes.

The $100 million Series C was led by Industrial Growth Partners and will finance global service hubs, regulatory certifications, and fleet deployment for energy and utilities customers. Orbital Robotics plans to expand its managed inspection-as-a-service offering with subscription analytics.

The product's analytics portal provides automated defect triage, consensus scoring across multiple sensors, and integration with work-order systems. Early pilots with utilities reported faster time-to-issue detection and a reduction in hazardous human inspections.