Orbital Robotics Raises $140M to Launch Camera Drone for Live-Event Cinematography

Tech · 5 min read

Orbital Robotics’ OR-1 is a beyond-visual-line-of-sight cine-drone built for broadcast teams, featuring onboard AI for subject tracking, collision avoidance, and real-time image stabilization. The drone pairs with a cloud control plane to integrate camera feeds into live production workflows.

The funding round, led by Broadcast Ventures and a consortium of media companies, will scale manufacturing, certify flight paths in major markets, and expand support for customers in sports and live events. Orbital says the system meets current aviation safety rules through geo-fencing and encrypted remote piloting.

Test deployments at two international sports events demonstrated smooth handoff between remote operators and broadcast directors, minimizing camera gaps while keeping athletes’ privacy and safety top-of-mind. Orbital plans certification trials with regulators this summer.