Xplorate
Xplorate is an Australian BVLOS drone operator and data intelligence company serving oil and gas operators, utilities, and government agencies with multi-payload aerial inspection, methane emissions monitoring, and AI-driven asset integrity analytics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersPerth, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Xplorate does
Xplorate Pacific Pty Ltd is an Australian Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and data intelligence company headquartered in West Perth, Western Australia, founded in 2021. The company operates Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone platforms — primarily the SwissDrones SDO50 helicopter-class RPAS, supplemented by fixed-wing assets and DJI M300 multicopters — to deliver aerial intelligence for linear infrastructure inspection, methane emissions monitoring, search and rescue, and surveillance. Its primary customers are major oil and gas operators in Australia (Surat Basin, Cooper Basin, Queensland pipeline corridors), a global tier-one energy partner under a multi-year OGMP methane monitoring tender, and the Australian federal government via the DCCEEW Uncrewed Systems Panel.
The company's core technology combines multi-payload sensor integration (LiDAR, high-resolution RGB, 360° panoramic video, TDLAS gas detection, OGI thermal/infrared) on a single BVLOS mission with a proprietary cloud-based Intelligence DATA Platform that uses AI/ML for anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, and emissions quantification. The platform applies a documented data-to-meaning methodology (data → evidence → conclusions → proof → meaning) and supports ERP API integration for downstream workflow automation. Xplorate holds Australia's longest-range BVLOS approvals from CASA (500+ km operational, 58,000 km² Surat Basin, Cooper Basin multi-year through 2029), IOGP 690/696 compliance, and an FAA Part 91 BVLOS exemption for US trial operations.
Xplorate generates revenue primarily through professional services contracts — BVLOS inspection missions, data processing and analysis, and consulting — priced per corridor length, sensor configuration, and mission scope, with multi-year recurring engagements from major oil and gas operators. A subscription-style data platform access fee component is also referenced. The company sells exclusively through direct enterprise sales and competitive tenders (no channel partners), targeting enterprise buyers and government agencies in oil and gas, utilities/power, and environmental/security verticals. Geographic reach spans Asia Pacific, Middle East, and North America.
Xplorate firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Xplorate
- Legal name
- Xplorate Pacific Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://xplorate.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Xplorate is an Australian BVLOS drone operator and data intelligence company serving oil and gas operators, utilities, and government agencies with multi-payload aerial inspection, methane emissions monitoring, and AI-driven asset integrity analytics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Xplorate industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerial Intelligence & Drone Inspection Services
- NAICS
- Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft & Parts (3720)
- akta.pro primary industry
- VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH), UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL), UAS Payloads (EO/IR, LiDAR, SAR, SIGINT) & Gimbals (IMABAIAI), Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO)
Keywords
Where Xplorate is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Perth
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Xplorate business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- RPAS Inspection Services: Xplorate provides BVLOS RPAS inspection and surveillance services to infrastructure owners (oil & gas pipelines, powerlines) and government agencies. Services are delivered as long-term contracts or project-based engagements, with revenue generated through mission fees tied to corridor length, sensor payloads deployed, and inspection frequency. Contracts are multi-year and recurring with major oil & gas operators.
- Data Intelligence and Analytics Services: Processing, analysis, and reporting services that transform raw aerial data into actionable intelligence. Delivered as part of inspection contracts or as standalone consulting/professional services including AI-driven anomaly detection, expert analysis, and executive reporting.
- Data Platform Access and Integration: Cloud-based data hosting and analytics platform accessible to clients. Revenue derived from platform access fees integrated with ERP solutions via APIs, supporting real-time data exchange and workflow automation.
- Environmental Monitoring and Emissions Quantification: Methane leak detection, concentration measurement, and emissions quantification services using advanced sensors. Supports OGMP 2.0 compliance reporting for energy clients, generating revenue as part of multi-year partnerships.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Xplorate product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Xplorate operates long-range Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), principally the SwissDrones SDO50 helicopter-class platform, equipped with multi-payload sensor suites (LiDAR, RGB, 360° video, thermal, TDLAS, OGI). It combines these aircraft with its proprietary Intelligence Data Platform — an AI-driven cloud analytics engine — to deliver end-to-end aerial inspection, methane quantification, surveillance, and search & rescue services for oil & gas operators, utilities, and government agencies.
Product overview
Xplorate is a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and Data Intelligence company offering aerial intelligence solutions for critical infrastructure sectors. The portfolio consists of three integrated pillars: Intelligence Technologies (aircraft and sensors), Intelligence Services (unmanned aircraft operations, professional services, and data platform), and Intelligence Solutions (end-to-end vertical applications). The core technology platform centers on the SwissDrones SDO50/SDO50V3 helicopter-type RPAS capable of multi-payload BVLOS operations, supported by a sensor suite including LiDAR, RGB, TDLAS, and OGI. The Intelligence Data Platform provides cloud-based data processing, AI-driven analytics, and ERP integration. Vertical solutions span pipeline and powerline inspection, gas leak detection/quantification, search & rescue, surveillance, and 3D asset modeling. Professional services include consulting, data processing, and analysis. All operations are conducted under IOGP-aligned standards with BVLOS regulatory approvals spanning Australia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Intelligence Data Platform
- BVLOS Operations
- Pipeline Inspection Services
- Powerline Inspection Services
- Gas Leak Detection & Quantification
- Search & Rescue Services
- Surveillance & Security Overwatch
- 3D Photogrammetry/LiDAR Asset Modeling
- Consulting Services
- Data Processing Services
- Analysis Services
Quantifiable outcome
- World's first 550 km BVLOS RPAS pipeline inspection completed in regional Queensland, replacing crewed helicopter programmes and delivering the most sophisticated dataset of its kind.
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Xplorate
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Xplorate technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability8 records
Feature7 records
Xplorate partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)coreXplorate Pacific was selected as a supplier for the DCCEEW Panel for Uncrewed Systems Goods and Services. The panel covers BVLOS operations, surveying and mapping, and RPA services. Xplorate was evaluated across technical capability, safety systems, operational history, and environmental responsibility through a rigorous evaluation process.
- SwissDronescoreSwissDrones is the manufacturer of the SDO50 V3, Xplorate's primary RPAS platform. Xplorate has taken delivery of multiple SDO 50 V3 units and uses the platform for all major BVLOS operations. The SDO50 is a Swiss-engineered twin-rotor helicopter RPAS with up to 3-hour endurance, 40–45 kg payload capacity, and BVLOS capability — specifically chosen by Xplorate for linear infrastructure missions due to its multi-mission payload capability, endurance, and reliability. Xplorate describes the partnership as central to its global RPAS leadership.
- Global Tier-One Energy CompanyflagshipXplorate secured a multi-year OGMP (Oil and Gas Methane Partnership) tender with a global tier-one energy company for the third consecutive year. The partnership enables Xplorate to provide methane monitoring and emissions quantification data to support the client's OGMP 2.0 reporting commitments. Xplorate leverages its innovative technologies to help the client move from generic emissions estimates to precise, verified data.
- Various Major Oil & Gas SupermajorsflagshipXplorate's flight operations have been approved to the highest applicable standards of IOGP and major oil and gas supermajors. The company operates under Remote Operator's Certificate (CASA.ReOC.7640) and has approvals aligned with the requirements of global energy industry aviation safety standards.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Xplorate competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Percepto: Percepto provides autonomous drone-in-a-box solutions for industrial inspection, security, and asset monitoring across energy, utilities, and critical infrastructure — overlapping with Xplorate's BVLOS inspection and data intelligence platform for similar end customers.
- Flylogix: Flylogix provides long-range BVLOS drone services for the energy sector, including methane emissions monitoring and infrastructure inspection — closely comparable to Xplorate's long-endurance BVLOS operations and emissions quantification for oil & gas operators.
- PrecisionHawk: PrecisionHawk delivers commercial drone services, geospatial data capture, and AI-powered aerial analytics for infrastructure, energy, and agriculture — comparable in business model and target verticals to Xplorate's data intelligence offering.
- Cyberhawk (Amentum): Cyberhawk, now part of Amentum, is a global leader in drone-based inspection and asset integrity services for the oil & gas, power, and utilities sectors — directly overlapping Xplorate's flagship BVLOS inspection and right-of-way monitoring offering for tier-1 energy customers.
- American Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (AATI): AATI specializes in long-range BVLOS pipeline and linear infrastructure inspection for energy operators in the US, holding FAA BVLOS approvals and operating crewed-aircraft-grade UAV services — directly comparable to Xplorate's BVLOS pipeline inspection business.
- Sky-Futures (Bristow Group): Sky-Futures, now part of Bristow Group, is a drone inspection services company for the oil & gas industry — directly comparable to Xplorate's BVLOS pipeline, flare stack, and emissions inspection services for supermajor customers.
Emerging players
- Skydio: Skydio is a leading autonomous drone manufacturer expanding from defense and public safety into industrial inspection and infrastructure monitoring — a credible emerging competitor to Xplorate as autonomous BVLOS drone platforms become more capable.
- Optelos: Optelos is a drone data management and visual data analytics platform for infrastructure inspection, providing AI-powered analytics comparable to Xplorate's Intelligence DATA Platform as a software-layer peer in the same workflow.
Broad incumbents
- AeroVironment: AeroVironment is a broad incumbent UAS manufacturer with established commercial and defense drone platforms — relevant as a large, well-capitalized player operating across the same airspace of industrial drone services and BVLOS operations.
- DJI Enterprise: DJI Enterprise supplies the commercial drone hardware (including the M300 used by Xplorate) and a broad aerial intelligence ecosystem serving infrastructure inspection, public safety, and energy — a broad incumbent shaping the underlying technology stack Xplorate builds on.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Xplorate social profiles
Digital presenceXplorate compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Xplorate financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Xplorate leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Xplorate funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Xplorate 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 Xplorate
What does Xplorate do?
Xplorate operates long-range Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), principally the SwissDrones SDO50 helicopter-class platform, equipped with multi-payload sensor suites (LiDAR, RGB, 360° video, thermal, TDLAS, OGI). It combines these aircraft with its proprietary Intelligence Data Platform — an AI-driven cloud analytics engine — to deliver end-to-end aerial inspection, methane quantification, surveillance, and search & rescue services for oil & gas operators, utilities, and government agencies.
Is Xplorate a public or private company?
Xplorate is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Xplorate founded?
Xplorate was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Xplorate based?
Xplorate is headquartered in Perth, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Xplorate make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. RPAS Inspection Services are the primary driver. The others are data Intelligence and Analytics Services, data Platform Access and Integration and environmental Monitoring and Emissions Quantification.
Who are Xplorate's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Percepto, Flylogix, PrecisionHawk, Cyberhawk (Amentum), American Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (AATI) and Sky-Futures (Bristow Group). Emerging players are Skydio and Optelos. Broad incumbents are AeroVironment and DJI Enterprise.
Does Xplorate have an API?
No public API is recorded for Xplorate.
What industry is Xplorate in?
Xplorate's product category is Aerial Intelligence & Drone Inspection Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAC, VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms, with a secondary code of IMABAIAH, Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV). Its NAICS code is 481219 and its SIC code is 3812.