Reliable Robotics
Reliable Robotics develops autonomous flight automation systems (RAS) that retrofit Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft for remotely piloted and fully autonomous operation. It serves U.S. defense agencies, NASA, and commercial cargo operators, with a wholly-owned subsidiary operating autonomous air cargo flights.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersMountain View, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Reliable Robotics does
Reliable Robotics, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, develops autonomous flight automation systems that enable remotely piloted and fully autonomous operation of existing aircraft, primarily the Cessna 208 Caravan platform. The company's core product is the Reliable Autonomy System (RAS), an aircraft-agnostic automation kit that retrofits conventional aircraft with proprietary sensors and software to perform gate-to-gate autonomous flight. The platform is built on deterministic, non-AI software architecture for safety-critical functions and is complemented by a proprietary radar, a validated Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) system, and the C2 Link System — a certifiable safety-critical datalink that integrates Iridium, Viasat, and uAvionix connectivity without requiring new ground infrastructure.
The company serves two primary customer segments: U.S. defense and government agencies (notably the U.S. Air Force, with a $17.4 million autonomous cargo deployment contract for the Indo-Pacific theater, and NASA, with a $1 million SBIR Phase III flight-demonstration contract) and commercial cargo operators. A wholly-owned subsidiary, Reliable Airlines, was established to operate autonomous commercial cargo flights and has been selected alongside the City of Albuquerque for the FAA's Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program. As of April 2026, the company has secured commitments for over 200 systems from commercial and military customers.
Reliable Robotics generates revenue primarily through direct enterprise sales of autonomous flight hardware and through professional services revenue tied to government defense and research contracts. The company has raised approximately $260 million across multiple venture rounds, including a $100 million Series C in October 2021 led by Coatue and a $160 million Series D in April 2026 led by Nimble Partners, reaching a post-money valuation of nearly $1 billion. Strategic investors include Boeing's AE Ventures, RTX Ventures, and Presidio (Sumitomo). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based for government procurement. The company employs over 200 people and operates an additional testing facility at Albuquerque International Sunport.
Reliable Robotics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Reliable Robotics
- Legal name
- Reliable Robotics Corp.
- Website
- https://reliable.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Reliable Robotics develops autonomous flight automation systems (RAS) that retrofit Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft for remotely piloted and fully autonomous operation. It serves U.S. defense agencies, NASA, and commercial cargo operators, with a wholly-owned subsidiary operating autonomous air cargo flights.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Reliable Robotics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Autonomous Aviation Systems
- NAICS
- Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO), UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO), UAS Communications, Datalinks, SATCOM & Remote Control Systems (IMABAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Reliable Robotics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mountain View
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Reliable Robotics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Autonomous Flight System Sales: Sale and deployment of the Reliable Autonomy System (RAS) for aircraft automation to commercial and military customers. Over 200 systems already under commitment from commercial and military customers.
- Government Defense Contracts: $17.4 million contract with U.S. Air Force for autonomous cargo flight system development and deployment for Pacific logistics operations. Operations expected in Indo-Pacific region.
- NASA Research Contracts: $1 million SBIR Phase III contract with NASA for flight demonstrations gathering data to inform UAS performance standards, running through Q3 2026
- Licensing and Certification Services: Future revenue anticipated from FAA certification of autonomous systems for commercial cargo operations, targeting initial limited commercial operations in 2026
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Reliable Robotics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Reliable Robotics develops and sells the Reliable Autonomy System (RAS), an FAA-certifiable automation system that retrofits existing aircraft (primarily Cessna 208 Caravan) with proprietary safety-critical hardware and software enabling remotely piloted and fully autonomous flight operations. The company pairs RAS with a proprietary Detect-and-Avoid system, a safety-critical C2 Link System for airspace integration, and operates autonomous air cargo services through its wholly-owned subsidiary Reliable Airlines.
Product overview
Reliable Robotics offers a unified autonomous aviation platform anchored by the Reliable Autonomy System (RAS) — the first FAA-certifiable system for fully automated aircraft operation. RAS is an aircraft-agnostic automation system that retrofits aircraft (primarily Cessna 208 Caravan) with proprietary safety technology including a company-built radar. The platform includes the C2 Link System for safety-critical datalink connectivity and a Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) system for collision avoidance. The wholly-owned subsidiary Reliable Airlines operates commercial cargo flights under this platform. The company serves both commercial and military customers, with over 200 systems under commitment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Reliable Autonomy System (RAS): First FAA-certifiable system for fully automated aircraft operation
- C2 Link System
Products and services
- Reliable Autonomy System (RAS) The Reliable Autonomy System (RAS) is the first FAA-certifiable system enabling fully automated aircraft operation for aircraft-agnostic automation. It retrofits existing aircraft, primarily the Cessna 208 Caravan, with proprietary safety technology including a company-built radar and deterministic flight-critical software, enabling remotely piloted and fully autonomous flight operations for commercial and military customers.
- Autonomous Air Cargo Operations (Reliable Airlines) Autonomous air cargo service operated through wholly-owned subsidiary Reliable Airlines, conducting autonomous cargo flights from Albuquerque International Sunport to regional airports in the Four Corners region. The service is the first commercial operation of regional air cargo by large uncrewed aircraft systems in the U.S.
Quantifiable outcome
- Operational costs reduced to ~$2,000/flight hour vs $20,000/flight hour for traditional cargo aircraft like C-130J
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Reliable Robotics
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Reliable Robotics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability3 records
Feature4 records
Reliable Robotics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and strategic.
- IridiumcoreSatellite communications partner providing connectivity for the C2 Link System's safety-critical datalinks enabling integration of uncrewed aircraft into National Airspace System.
- ViasatcoreSatellite communications provider for the C2 Link System, supporting connectivity between aircraft and remote pilots alongside Iridium network.
- uAvionixcoreAir-to-ground datalink provider for the C2 Link System, enabling aircraft connectivity with air traffic control as part of the safety-critical datalinks integration.
- City of Albuquerque Aviation DepartmentflagshipSelected alongside City of Albuquerque by FAA for Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program to deploy autonomous commercial cargo aircraft. Reliable's subsidiary Reliable Airlines will conduct autonomous operations from Albuquerque International Sunport to regional airports, marking first commercial operation of regional air cargo by large UAS in U.S.
- Collins AerospacestrategicJoint flight tests with Reliable Robotics and Collins Aerospace at Hollister Airspace Ecosystem as documented in NASA Ames Partnerships Office Annual Report, demonstrating industry collaboration on autonomous flight technology.
- NASAcore$1 million SBIR Phase III contract for flight demonstrations with highly automated Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. Flight data to be shared with NASA, FAA, and standards organizations to develop minimum operational performance standards for UAS integration into National Airspace System.
- U.S. Air Forcecore$17.4 million contract to deploy automated Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft equipped with Reliable Autonomy System for real-world overseas logistics missions in Indo-Pacific region. Operations expected to begin 2026 with significant cost advantages over traditional military transport aircraft.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Reliable Robotics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Merlin Labs: Merlin Labs develops autonomous flight software for fixed-wing aircraft, with its initial certification platform centered on the Cessna Caravan. It is the most direct competitor to Reliable Robotics' RAS, targeting FAA certification and regional cargo operators with the same airframe and use case.
- Xwing: Xwing builds autonomy and detect-and-avoid systems for fixed-wing cargo aircraft, including Cessna Caravans, with FAA Part 135 cargo ambitions. It competes head-to-head with Reliable Robotics in autonomous regional cargo and in the same regulatory pathway.
- Elroy Air: Elroy Air develops autonomous VTOL cargo aircraft (Chaparral) for middle-mile logistics, directly competing with Reliable Robotics in the autonomous air-cargo use case. It targets both defense and commercial customers with an aircraft-plus-autonomy integrated offering.
Emerging players
- Sabrewing Aircraft: Sabrewing is developing the Rhaegal autonomous heavy-lift cargo UAS, with both commercial cargo and USAF interest. It is an emerging autonomous cargo competitor that overlaps with Reliable's defense logistics and regional cargo go-to-market.
- Dronamics: Dronamics operates the Black Swan unmanned cargo aircraft for same-day middle-mile logistics across Europe and beyond. It targets the same autonomous regional cargo use case as Reliable Robotics, though primarily in international markets.
- Pyka: Pyka builds autonomous electric fixed-wing aircraft initially for crop protection, with planned expansion into cargo. Its autonomous flight stack and fixed-wing focus are comparable to Reliable Robotics' autonomy engineering, though the initial end market differs.
Broad incumbents
- Joby Aviation: Joby is a publicly listed eVTOL air-taxi developer pursuing autonomous-capable flight with FAA type certification. It is a broader autonomy-in-aviation incumbent whose certification pathway, autonomy stack, and aerospace investor base overlap with Reliable Robotics' positioning.
- Wisk Aero: Wisk (a Boeing subsidiary) is developing autonomous eVTOL air taxis, backed by Boeing capital and engineering resources. As a strategic investor in Reliable Robotics and a competing autonomous aviation developer, it represents both partner and competitor in autonomous flight.
- Archer Aviation: Archer is developing eVTOL aircraft for urban air mobility with FAA type certification progress. It is a broader autonomous-aviation peer competing for capital, talent, and FAA pathway attention that overlaps with Reliable Robotics' strategic context.
Others
- uAvionix: uAvionix provides avionics, ADS-B, and air-to-ground datalinks for UAS integration and is a current integration partner of Reliable Robotics via the C2 Link System. It is an enabling technology supplier rather than a competitor, but core to the autonomy ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Reliable Robotics social profiles
Digital presenceReliable Robotics compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Reliable Robotics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Reliable Robotics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Reliable Robotics subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Reliable Robotics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors17 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Reliable Robotics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Reliable Robotics
What does Reliable Robotics do?
Reliable Robotics develops and sells the Reliable Autonomy System (RAS), an FAA-certifiable automation system that retrofits existing aircraft (primarily Cessna 208 Caravan) with proprietary safety-critical hardware and software enabling remotely piloted and fully autonomous flight operations. The company pairs RAS with a proprietary Detect-and-Avoid system, a safety-critical C2 Link System for airspace integration, and operates autonomous air cargo services through its wholly-owned subsidiary Reliable Airlines.
Is Reliable Robotics a public or private company?
Reliable Robotics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Reliable Robotics founded?
Reliable Robotics was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Reliable Robotics based?
Reliable Robotics is headquartered in Mountain View, United States, in the North America region.
How does Reliable Robotics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Autonomous Flight System Sales are the primary driver. The others are government Defense Contracts, NASA Research Contracts and licensing and Certification Services.
Who are Reliable Robotics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Merlin Labs, Xwing and Elroy Air. Emerging players are Sabrewing Aircraft, Dronamics and Pyka. Broad incumbents are Joby Aviation, Wisk Aero and Archer Aviation. uAvionix is listed as an others.
Does Reliable Robotics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Reliable Robotics.
What industry is Reliable Robotics in?
Reliable Robotics's product category is Autonomous Aviation Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAH, Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV), with a secondary code of IMABAFAO, Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility). Its NAICS code is 4812 and its SIC code is 3812.