What Avestec does

Avestec is a Canadian robotics company that develops aerial and crawling robotic platforms for non-destructive testing (NDT) of industrial assets in GPS-denied and confined-space environments. Founded in 2016 in the Greater Vancouver Area, the company addresses inspection challenges in oil & gas storage tanks, pressure vessels, petrochemical facilities, and maritime hulls where conventional scaffolding, rope access, or human confined-space entry are required. Its technology stack centers on LiDAR-SLAM navigation (using Ouster OS0-32 or OS0-128 LiDAR with 360° scanning) combined with proprietary switchable permanent magnets that enable stable contact-based measurements on rough surfaces and pipes down to 8 inches in diameter.

The product portfolio is anchored by the Skyron 2 industrial drone and the Xron ST ultra-compact magnetic crawler robot, supported by modular payload arms supporting UT, EMAT, DFT, and Visual Testing modalities, dual-configuration power systems (Smart Tether System for unlimited tethered flight up to 3500W and Smart Clickable Battery for untethered mobility), and the AveSoft dual-app software ecosystem (Android field app and Windows desktop) that manages the full inspection lifecycle from flight control through AI-assisted analysis to automated PDF reporting. The company holds DNV certification (DNV-CP-0620 and DNV-CP-0623) for ultrasonic thickness measurements, ABS certified recognition for Hull Gauging and Remote Inspections, and Lloyd's Register Approved Service Supplier status, validating inspection data for regulated industrial and maritime use.

Avestec generates revenue through three streams: hardware sales of robotic platforms and modular payloads, one-time AveSoft software licensing, and professional inspection services deploying Skyron 2 for oil storage tanks and pressure vessels with 24-hour PDF report turnaround. The company employs approximately 30+ people and sells via an enterprise field sales motion with dedicated technical sales engineering, targeting oil & gas operators, petrochemical facilities, and maritime sector clients globally. Named customers include Shell, ExxonMobil, BP, Dow, Imperial Oil, Bilfinger, and Oceaneering International. Total disclosed funding is approximately $4.1 million, including a $4M round from Canada's Ocean Supercluster in April 2023, with no institutional venture capital backing identified.

Name

Avestec

Legal name

Avestec

Website

https://avestec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Avestec develops aerial (Skyron 2) and crawling (Xron ST) robotic platforms with LiDAR-SLAM navigation and proprietary magnetic attachment for non-destructive testing of industrial assets in GPS-denied, confined-space environments. The company serves oil & gas, petrochemical, and maritime operators globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Non-Destructive Testing Robotics

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Aerial Robotics (Drones & UAV Autonomy) (HDAAAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO), Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH), UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL)

Keywords

• Industrial non-destructive testing
• Aerial robotic inspection
• NDT drone platforms
• Confined space inspection
• Asset integrity robotics

Headquarters

HQ city

North Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial NDT Robotics Hardware: Sale of purpose-built drone platforms (Skyron 2), modular payload systems, crawler robots (Xron ST), power systems (Smart Tether System, Smart Clickable Battery), and accessories. Hardware platforms designed for industrial NDT inspection applications in oil & gas, petrochemical, and maritime sectors.
2. AveSoft Software Platform: Sale of proprietary AveSoft software ecosystem including Android field application and Windows desktop application for inspection data management, analysis, and automated reporting.
3. Drone-Based NDT Inspection Services: Professional inspection services using Skyron 2 for oil storage tanks, pressure vessels, and industrial assets. Includes mobilization, confined-space drone deployment, systematic NDT data acquisition, and structured PDF inspection reports delivered within 24 hours of mission completion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Avestec develops and sells aerial robotic platforms — including the Skyron 2 industrial drone and the Xron ST magnetic-wheel crawler robot — equipped with proprietary LiDAR-SLAM navigation, switchable magnetic attachment, and modular NDT payload arms (UT, EMAT, DFT, Visual) for contact-based non-destructive testing of storage tanks, pressure vessels, hulls, bridges, and other industrial assets in GPS-denied and confined environments. The company's AveSoft software ecosystem (Android field app and Windows desktop app) manages the full inspection lifecycle from flight control and data capture through AI-assisted analysis to automated PDF reporting.

Product overview

Avestec offers an integrated aerial robotics platform for industrial Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspections. The core product portfolio consists of Skyron 2 (aerial drone), Xron ST (crawler robot), modular Payload Systems, AveSoft software, and Power Systems. Skyron 2 and Xron ST serve as the robotic platforms, while modular payload arms (UT, EMAT, DFT, Visual) attach to these platforms for specific inspection capabilities. AveSoft manages the full workflow from flight control through data analysis and automated reporting. Power Systems provide flexible options between tethered unlimited endurance and battery-powered mobility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Skyron 2: Purpose-built industrial drone for precision NDT (UT, EMAT, DFT, Visual) in outdoor and GPS/compass-denied environments with modular power and proprietary magnetic attachment.
• Xron ST
• AveSoft
• Power Systems
• Payload Systems

Products and services

• Skyron 2 Large-scale industrial drone engineered for contact-based NDT inspections (UT, EMAT, DFT, Visual) in GPS-denied and outdoor industrial environments. Features LiDAR-SLAM navigation, modular payload architecture, and proprietary magnetic attachment for stable surface contact. For oil & gas, petrochemical, and maritime operators.
• Xron ST Ultra-compact (170 × 360 × 150 mm) magnetic-wheel crawler robot with 120 kgf adhesion for inspecting complex surfaces and dense piping down to 8 inches in diameter. Delivers UT, EMAT, PAUT, and visual inspection with onboard LiDAR-SLAM, 100-minute battery operation, and quad-camera HD streaming. For confined-space industrial inspections.
• Payload Systems Modular NDT sensor arms including Short Arm, Long Arm, Delta Arm, SPARM, Surface Prep, and Sony Gimbal Camera. Compatible with Skyron 2 and Xron ST platforms for UT, EMAT, DFT, and visual testing capabilities.
• AveSoft Proprietary dual-app software ecosystem (Android field app and Windows desktop app) managing the full inspection lifecycle from flight control and payload management through real-time data capture, AI-assisted analysis, 3D point cloud visualization, and automated PDF report generation with integrated asset visualization.
• Power Systems Modular power configurations including the Smart Tether System (up to 3500W ground-supplied continuous power for unlimited flight duration, with motorized cable winder and rapid-deployment case) and the Smart Clickable Battery for high-mobility untethered operations. Supports Skyron 2 and modular payload arms.
• Drone-Based NDT Inspection Services Professional inspection services using Skyron 2 for oil storage tanks, pressure vessels, and industrial assets. Includes mobilization, confined-space drone deployment, systematic NDT data acquisition, and structured PDF inspection reports delivered within 24 hours of mission completion.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% faster inspection turnaround compared to conventional scaffold-based methods
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature7 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Flyability: Swiss manufacturer of the Elios series of collision-tolerant indoor inspection drones used for confined-space industrial inspections in power generation, mining, and oil & gas. Most direct competitor to Avestec's Skyron 2, addressing the same GPS-denied indoor inspection use case.
• ANYbotics: Swiss maker of ANYmal, an autonomous quadruped robot used for industrial inspection of oil & gas, power, and metal processing facilities. Directly comparable to Avestec's crawler-based Xron ST inspection approach and competes for the same asset-integrity inspection budgets.
• Exyn Technologies: Philadelphia-based developer of autonomous aerial robots for GPS-denied industrial environments including mining and infrastructure. Comparable to Avestec's LiDAR-SLAM autonomy stack and inspection-focused autonomy positioning.
• MFE Inspection Solutions: US-based provider of advanced NDT and inspection services to the oil & gas, petrochemical, and power industries. Direct peer in the services layer where Avestec also competes for industrial asset integrity inspection contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Boston Dynamics: US-based robotics leader whose Spot quadruped robot is deployed for autonomous industrial inspection and data capture at energy and utility sites. Competes with Avestec on industrial inspection workloads but operates as a broad robotics platform rather than a focused NDT specialist.
• Skydio: US autonomous drone manufacturer serving public safety, construction, and defense. While not focused on NDT, its autonomy and obstacle-avoidance stack represent a credible long-term competitor for autonomous industrial inspection workflows.
• DJI: Global consumer and commercial drone market leader whose Matrice platforms are sometimes adapted for industrial inspection. Represents the broad-incumbent price-and-scale benchmark that Avestec must differentiate against in industrial inspection procurement.

Emerging players

• Energy Robotics: German startup providing an AI-driven software platform that orchestrates fleets of inspection robots (including drones and quadrupeds) for oil & gas and chemical operators. Comparable to Avestec in industrial asset inspection software, though it focuses on fleet orchestration rather than purpose-built robotic hardware.
• Perceptual Robotics: UK-based autonomous drone inspection company focused on wind turbine blade inspection. Comparable as an emerging aerial-robotics NDT specialist but serves a narrower vertical (wind) than Avestec's oil & gas / petrochemical / maritime focus.

Others

• Applanix (Trimble): Provider of GNSS-aided inertial positioning and mapping technology widely used in mobile mapping, UAV, and marine surveying. Comparable as an enabling technology supplier for LiDAR-SLAM-style navigation in GPS-denied or challenging environments, rather than a direct inspection competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Avestec