Sony Mobile Communications and ZMP Inc. have entered into a collaboration that will involve drone photography. A new company called Aerosense will be formed to take care of the business.
Aerosense will not sell drones but will use them to capture aerial images, which will provide a wide array of services such as taking measurement, inspections, surveying and observations.
"Sony's camera, sensing, telecommunications network, and robotics technologies will be leveraged alongside ZMP's automated driving and robotics technologies together with their business experience in industrial fields. Aerosense Inc. will combine these assets and develop comprehensive solutions," per a Sony press release.
Aerosense will launch in August this year but the business will not offer services until 2016. ZMP has been involved in developing technologies for self-driving land-based vehicles. ZMP will have a stake of 49.995 percent in Aerosense, while Sony will have the rest of the share. Sony will offer its expertise related to camera tech, telecommunications, sensors and robotics.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), more commonly known as drones, are often thought as a toy by many people. However, the gadget has serious potential in many industries such as security, construction, telecommunications and more.
Drones can be very helpful in taking aerial images efficiently as well as effectively. Data are collected faster and results can be transferred instantly.
Drones can be used to save lives in natural and manmade disasters. Rescue agencies can locate victims and survey damage without risking the life of rescuers. Drones can also be used by law enforcement agencies for surveillance purposes.
Media can use drones for getting access to hard to reach places and cover important events and news.
Aerosense will not be the first company in the drone business space. Shenzhen, China, based drone maker DJI was founded in 2006 and is one of the biggest consumer drone maker in China. DJI drones are used for commercial and recreational purposes to take aerial videos and photography.
Many more companies may enter the drone business in the future, which means that Aerosense will have to offer competitive products and services to attract customers.
Photo: Gabriel Garcia Marengo | Flickr
