Quadcopter Manufacturer Invests in Pix4D

Pix4D, Switzerland, has agreed on a CHF2.4 million investment from the Parrot Group to accelerate the development of its successful Mapping and Geographical Information System (GIS) software for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).

With the fast technological advances in miniaturised autopilots and digital cameras, lightweight autonomous flying platforms are increasingly used to generate up-to-date and detailed environmental maps and geographical information data. Furthermore, recent changes to the regulatory framework for civilian drones will drive UAV adoption and help address the soaring demand for GIS data (CAGR of 15.5% since 2004).

Pix4D develops advanced image processing algorithms making it possible to analyse and combine multiple aerial images to build three-dimensional (3D) models of the environment they depict. Pix4UAV is a software package that automatically converts thousands of standard pictures, taken by readily available drones, into a professional geo-referenced image. Compared with existing 3D mapping technologies, Pix4D’s proprietary solutions are fully automatic, fast, and often with better accuracy.

Pix4D enables civilian drones as the next-generation mapping and surveying tool.

Pix4D sells its products to UAV manufacturers for bundling or directly to farming, mining, construction and exploration companies that need to create a timeline of 3D images (i.e. 4D imaging). Professional surveyors also benefit from huge productivity gains by allowing them to survey large areas and volumes, with up to 5 centimetres accuracy, within minutes instead of days of traditional ground measurements.

Parrot’s investment enables Pix4D to strengthen its position as the leading software provider for processing aerial images collected by professional drones, according to Christoph Strecha, Pix4D's CEO. “The collaboration with Parrot, and its very successful quadcopter AR.Drone, will open the consumer market where Pix4D's technology will be used to create a new dimension in Augmented Reality (AR) user-experience and 4D gaming.”