Airobotics
5/10Airobotics, part of Ondas, sells Optimus, an autonomous drone-in-a-box system for monitoring, security, mapping and data capture at critical infrastructure and public-safety sites.
Data last updated November 2026 · Our methodology
Overview
Airobotics is an Israeli drone company owned by Ondas Holdings since its 2022 to 2023 acquisition. It now operates within Ondas Autonomous Systems alongside American Robotics. Its main product for infrastructure buyers is the Optimus System, a drone-in-a-box made up of the Optimus drone and the Optimus Airbase. The airbase is temperature controlled, and a robotic arm inside swaps batteries and payloads in about two minutes, so the drone can fly repeated missions without anyone on site. Coverage reports a flight time of about 40 minutes, a range of about 10 miles, and nine payload options, including visual, thermal (EO/IR), LiDAR and delivery. The vendor lists 2D and 3D mapping, LiDAR scanning and spatial analysis, low-latency HD video streaming, and edge processing on site that does not depend on external servers. The Optimus 1-EX holds an FAA type certificate. Coverage calls it the first drone-in-a-box to receive one. For flights beyond visual line of sight, the system works with partner airspace-awareness tools: SenHive detection, Echodyne radar and ANRA's SIOP. The system suits heavy industry, critical infrastructure operators, cities and public-safety agencies that want persistent autonomous aerial coverage. Ondas has also moved the company strongly toward defense and counter-drone products such as Iron Drone. Pricing is not published. The system is sold as hardware plus services through direct contracts. The main limitation is that Airobotics is a hardware-led platform with little public documentation of inspection workflows, analytics software or integrations. Buyers who need maintenance management or detailed defect analytics will need other software alongside it.
Our Rating
Who Airobotics is best for
Good fit
The vendor's main focus is public safety, homeland security and defense, with deployments such as Dubai emergency response.
Contracts involve permanent drone-in-a-box deployments at large industrial sites and with semiconductor manufacturers.
Less suited
The vendor markets to critical infrastructure in general, but sources describe few energy-specific workflows.
It is an enterprise hardware system sold through sales contracts, with no self-serve plans.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The Optimus 1-EX holds an FAA type certificate for automated missions. Coverage calls it the first drone-in-a-box to receive one.
- The robotic airbase swaps batteries and payloads in about two minutes, which allows near-continuous operation without staff on site.
- Nine interchangeable payloads, including thermal, LiDAR, visual and delivery, let one base cover security, mapping and inspection tasks.
- Edge processing on site lets the system run without relying on external servers, which matters at sensitive facilities.
Cons
- Prices are not published, and buying means a hardware contract negotiated with sales.
- The company now focuses increasingly on defense and counter-drone products, which may dilute its investment in industrial inspection.
- Little public documentation covers inspection analytics, APIs or integrations with maintenance systems.
- Independent hands-on reviews and user feedback are scarce. Most coverage is press releases.
Key Features
Airobotics Pricing
Optimus System
- Robotic battery and payload exchange
- Pricing on request through a sales contract
- Optimus drone and autonomous Optimus Airbase
- Multiple payloads including EO/IR, LiDAR and delivery
Frequently Asked Questions
Ondas Holdings acquired Airobotics and runs it within its Ondas Autonomous Systems unit, alongside American Robotics.
Yes. The Optimus 1-EX received an FAA type certificate for automated emergency response and data capture missions.
Coverage reports nine payload options, including visual, thermal, LiDAR and delivery. The vendor lists 2D and 3D mapping, LiDAR scanning and dual EO/IR video.
No public pricing exists. Systems are sold under contracts. Reported defense and public-safety orders range from a few million dollars to more than ten million.
Yes. Coverage describes BVLOS operations supported by partner tools: SenHive detection, Echodyne radar and ANRA's SIOP airspace software.
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