Flyability :: Collision-tolerant Drones

Flyability is a Swiss deep-tech company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Paudex (near Lausanne), Switzerland. The company specializes in developing collision-tolerant drones designed specifically for confined space inspections and other inaccessible or hazardous environments. Flyability’s mission is to make industrial inspections safer, faster, and more cost-effective by replacing dangerous manual entry with advanced robotic solutions. Its drones are used across industries including oil & gas, power generation, mining, chemical plants, maritime, infrastructure, and nuclear facilities. The company has delivered thousands of drones to over 1,200 customers in more than 68 countries.

Flyability’s core innovation is its proprietary collision-tolerant flight technology. Unlike traditional drones that try to avoid obstacles, Flyability’s platforms are engineered to safely collide with surfaces and continue operating. This allows reliable navigation in dark, cluttered, GPS-denied confined spaces where sense-and-avoid systems typically fail.

Key Robot-Based Products:

• Elios 3: The company’s flagship indoor inspection drone. It features a robust carbon-fiber cage, advanced LiDAR for 3D mapping, high-resolution cameras, and powerful lighting. Elios 3 can perform visual inspections, create accurate 3D models of assets, and collect high-quality data in extremely challenging environments such as tanks, boilers, silos, tunnels, and underground structures. It significantly reduces the need for scaffolding, confined space entry permits, and work at height.
• Elios 3 Payloads: Specialized modules including the UT Payload (Ultrasonic Thickness) for safe remote material thickness measurements, a flammable gas sensor for real-time hazard detection, and high-capacity batteries for extended flight time.
• Tether Power Unit: A new power configuration that provides continuous power to the Elios 3, enabling unlimited flight time for long-duration missions.
• Flyability Cloud: A cloud-based data management platform for securely storing, sharing, and collaborating on inspection data and 3D models.

Flyability drones are known for their durability, ease of use, and ability to deliver professional-grade inspection data while keeping human operators safely outside hazardous areas. The company continues to advance its autonomy features, including Smart Return-to-Home, while maintaining a strong focus on practical, real-world industrial applications. (