Aug 7, 2024 11:34:34 AM | Our Story The Story of SmartDrone

Rob Cammack, CEO of SmartDrone, became involved in the tech startup ecosystem in 2015, starting as an angel investor. One of his early investments was in a drone robotics startup, which exposed him to the drone industry’s potential and challenges. In January 2020, he decided to form a company to capitalize on these opportunities.

In February 2020, the founding team of Rob Cammack, Taylor Dixon, Al Thead, Drew Whitehurst, and Chris McKulsky moved into an office in downtown Tyler, Texas, and SmartDrone was born.       

Rob noticed the drone industry was dominated by tech enthusiasts with strong engineering skills but weak business plans, leading to quick burnouts. He saw an opportunity to leverage his business experience to address this shortcoming.

Rob identified several critical issues in the industry. The steep learning curve and high costs of existing drone technology made it unappealing to potential commercial users. He envisioned a user-friendly drone platform with low adoption costs and high-value returns.

Another problem was the heavy reliance on Chinese-made drones and components, which posed security risks and potential regulatory backlash. Rob aimed to create an American-made drone to compete with Chinese giants and reduce dependency on foreign supply chains.

With these goals, SmartDrone launched its first product, the Discovery Lidar drone, focusing on technical innovations and reducing dependence on foreign components. Through strategic sourcing, SmartDrone made the Discovery drone as American-made as possible, partnering with emerging US companies.

SmartDrone's journey from inception to its current status has been marked by key milestones and strategic developments:

Timeline and Milestones

• January 2020: Rob Cammack decides to start SmartDrone based on the problems and opportunities he observed in the drone industry.
• February 2020: SmartDrone is officially founded, and the team moves into a cheap space in downtown Tyler, Texas.
• May 2020: SmartDrone relocates to a new headquarters with room for manufacturing, laying the foundation for future growth.
• April 2021: The Pulse Processor is first released, focusing on Lidar only.
• June 2021: SmartDrone begins customer demos and sales of the Discovery Lidar Drone, marking its first commercial outreach.
• April 2022: The Pulse Processor is updated to include camera support, enhancing its capabilities.
• September 2022: The Pulse Processor receives an Instant Ortho refinement, further improving its functionality.
• October 2022: SmartDrone begins shipping the Discovery 2 Lidar and RGB drone, expanding its product line.

• March 2023: The Discovery drone is certified for nationwide shipping, ensuring broader market access.
• September 2023: The Pulse Processor is refined to include image color processing, providing superior data quality.
• October 2023: The Warp Charging Case is introduced, offering enhanced user convenience.
• December 2023: SmartDrone launches the Discovery 3, the latest evolution of its drone technology.
• May 2024: The Customer Data Processing Department is launched, providing additional services to clients.
• June 2024: SmartDrone continues its expansion with products, services, and customers in 18 states. The Professional Services wing sees significant growth, supporting nearly 200 projects and partnerships with 36 companies.

Invest in SmartDrone

I invite you to join us in our journey of innovation and growth by investing in SmartDrone through our StartEngine campaign. As we continue to expand our market presence and develop cutting-edge drone technology, your investment will help us reach new heights and achieve our mission of providing user-friendly, cost-effective, and American-made drone solutions.

Interested in being part of our story?

Visit our StartEngine page to learn more and become a part of the SmartDrone success story.