Semiconductor process technology advancements have enabled extreme miniaturization of electronic devices. Coupled with battery technology breakthroughs and AI algorithm maturity, these developments have given rise to increasing popularity of unmanned vehicles. In particular, the market of unmanned aerial vehicles is of the largest scale.
According to the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone market is projected to reach US$140 billion in ten years. Aside from drones, unmanned vehicles are being designed and used for a wide range of application scenarios. For example, governments around the world are investing into autonomous driving vehicles as part of their efforts to improve public transportation. Automated guided vehicles (AGV) are also widely used at warehouses and factories to raise efficiency and reduce labor costs.
DROXO CEO Chun Lin Liu noted that drones are used to do many things, for example, spraying pesticides, shooting videos and delivering packages. There have been a multitude of successful use cases. However, drones have limitations such as inability to navigate confined spaces. For the routine maintenance or repair of industrial equipment made of carbon steel such as petrochemical storage tanks, large vessels and wind turbines, purpose-built unmanned vehicle solutions are required.
This market segment currently does not offer a lot of choices. Existing solutions are mostly provided by foreign device suppliers and generally do not deliver satisfactory results. DROXO is among the few suppliers capable of providing complete smart storage tank maintenance solutions. Its products have been used to successfully address customer needs in Taiwan. DROXO is also in talks with overseas partners to expand its footprint worldwide.
DROXO builds special-purpose solutions to overcome challenges in large storage tank maintenance
Starting out its business developing drone technologies, DROXO chose to endeavor on agriculture drones with a lower entry barrier when it was first established in 2019. It was able to commercialize its agriculture drones and made significant progress within a short period of time. On the foundation, DROXO independently developed wall-climbing intelligent vehicles which received the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Business Startup Award - Innovative Traditional Industry Category 2023.
On the basis of the outstanding achievements, DROXO continues to fulfill customer needs by integrating all types of sensors, mechanical designs and automation accessories while staying committed to technological advancements and innovations. On top of that, DROXO leverages its robust hardware mechanical design and software/firmware development capabilities accumulated over time to develop smart vehicles for industrial applications. Not only has DROXO had its R&D results validated but it has also mastered critical technologies.
According to Liu, DROXO's wall-climbing intelligent vehicles enable the maintenance work on storage tanks to be performed without the need for scaffolding. Leading chemical suppliers have approached DROXO for the labor cost savings its solutions can bring when they are used to inspect or service large storage tanks. Multiple leading Taiwan-based manufacturers including China Steel, LCY Chemical and Chang Chun Chemical have adopted DROXO's solutions for the purpose of eliminating the risks and uncertainties when using human workers to service or inspect storage tanks.
AAROW series of storage tank maintenance solutions. Credit: DROXO
Foraying into Japan and the Middle East, DROXO taps immense maintenance opportunities
DROXO has recently introduced a whole-new and complete range of intelligent storage tank maintenance solutions, including AAAROW Scan, AAROW Blast, AAROW Coater and AAROW DECK. Among them, AAROW Scan adheres to the tank wall using neodymium magnets and checks the wall and coating thickness with non-destructive inspection equipment. The inspection results are presented in 3D visualization on ARROW DECK. DROXO's unique product received the 2024 Taiwan Excellence Silver Award.
Liu commented that the traditional approach of using human workers to perform storage tank maintenance is very risky. First of all, workers might fall from a scaffold or inhale harmful fumes when doing coating. Furthermore, workers manually measuring tank wall thickness might make mistakes and fail to discover weak spots that will soon crack. The traditional approach also does not allow manufacturers to build 3D models of the tank. Each one of these challenges can be addressed with DROXO's intelligent storage tank maintenance solutions. DROXO operates by providing services instead of selling products. Apart from Taiwan, it is also working with partners in Singapore, Japan and the Middle East to provide services in the local markets.
DROXO has focused efforts on technology R&D. Thanks to the assistance from flyingV, stationed in TTA, not only is DROXO able to strengthen its financial planning and business operation skills, but it also gained access to funding from venture capital firms, allowing it to secure market presence in the competitive unmanned vehicle sector.
