What Aeroscout GmbH does

Aeroscout GmbH, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Hochdorf, Switzerland, is a private manufacturer of industrial unmanned helicopter UAV systems purpose-built for airborne laser scanning (LiDAR), aerial imagery, surveillance, inspection, and scientific measurement. The company's core product line comprises two helicopter platforms — the Scout B-330, a heavy-lift UAV with a 30kg payload capacity and 3-hour endurance up to 3000m AMSL, and the Scout B1-100 with 90-minute endurance and 60-minute scan flight capability. Its proprietary ALMI (Airborne Laser Scanning and Monitoring Integration) technology combines vibration-isolated mounting, high-grade dual-GPS antenna INS/GPS navigation, and time-synchronized data acquisition with industry-leading RIEGL laser scanners (VUX-1UAV and VQ-480-II), achieving point densities up to 300 points/m² versus 3-5 points/m² typical of manned airborne scanning.

The platform architecture is a hardware-integration play: Aeroscout designs and assembles the helicopter airframes, ground control stations, and transportation units, then integrates third-party sensors (RIEGL LiDAR, OXTS INS/GPS) and customer-specific payloads (hyperspectral, infrared, video) into mission-ready configurations. In September 2022, the company secured SORA flight permission for the Scout B-330 — the EASA standard for drone operations exceeding 25kg takeoff mass — valid across the EU and adopted by Swiss FOCA on 1 January 2023, enabling commercial BVLOS heavy-lift operations across Europe.

Aeroscout operates a multi-stream revenue model encompassing one-time hardware sales of complete UAV solutions, usage-based UAV rental services operated by its own flight crew, professional services for customized system integration and training, and education programs. The company serves a horizontal mix of customers across geomatics and surveying firms, utilities and infrastructure operators (e.g., Swiss power line inspection, offshore wind via the ADD2WIND project), research institutions (Brown University, NASA GEDI), and surveillance organizations globally, primarily through direct enterprise sales and a Switzerland-anchored operating base with project delivery in Europe, North America, and Central America.

Name

Aeroscout GmbH

Legal name

Aeroscout GmbH

Website

https://aeroscout.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Aeroscout GmbH is a Swiss manufacturer of heavy-lift unmanned helicopter UAV systems (Scout B-330, Scout B1-100) with proprietary ALMI technology for airborne laser scanning. It serves geomatics, utilities, surveillance, and research organizations worldwide through direct sales, rentals, and customized sensor integrations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial UAV Helicopter Systems

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), 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

Aerial Robotics (Drones & UAV Autonomy) (HDAAAIAG)

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)

Keywords

• UAV helicopter systems
• Airborne laser scanning
• LiDAR mapping solutions
• Unmanned aerial vehicles
• Aerial inspection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hochdorf

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

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. UAV System Sales: Sale of complete UAV solutions based on industrial unmanned helicopters (Scout B-330, Scout B1-100) including ground control stations and transportation units.
2. UAV Rental Services: Rental services for UAV operations in various countries, with products operated by Aeroscout's experienced flight crew.
3. Customized UAV Solutions: Development of new customized UAV solutions for specific usage in cooperation with clients, including professional system integration based on customer and application requirements.
4. UAV Education and Training: User-friendly UAV operation interface and UAV education and training services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Aeroscout GmbH designs and manufactures industrial unmanned helicopter drones (Scout B-330 and Scout B1-100) for airborne laser scanning (LiDAR), aerial imagery, surveillance, inspection, and search and rescue applications. The company bundles its proprietary ALMI (Airborne Laser Scanning and Monitoring Integration) technology with integrated RIEGL laser scanners and INS/GPS navigation to deliver complete UAV solutions, customized payload integrations, flight crew rental services, and UAV operator training.

Product overview

Aeroscout GmbH provides a complete UAV solutions portfolio based on industrial unmanned helicopters. The core product line consists of two helicopter platforms: the Scout B-330 (heavy-lift with 30kg payload/3-hour endurance) and Scout B1-100 (90-minute endurance). These are complemented by integrated laser scanning sensors (Riegl VUX-1UAV and VQ-480-II), the proprietary ALMI technology for airborne LiDAR scanning with vibration isolation and GPS synchronization, and ground control/transportation accessories. The company operates on a product-plus-integration model, combining their proprietary UAV platforms with third-party sensors and navigation systems (RIEGL, OXTS) for specialized applications including geomatics, surveillance, power line inspection, and scientific research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scout B-330 UAV Helicopter INS/GPS controlled unmanned helicopter drone with a unique payload capacity of 30kg for 3 hours and operational ceiling up to 3000 AMSL (10000 ft). Supports customized sensor integrations including digital cameras, video camcorders, laser scanners, infrared, and hyperspectral cameras for geomatics, surveillance, inspection, and scientific applications.
• Scout B1-100 UAV Helicopter Industrial unmanned helicopter with 90 minutes endurance and 60-minute scan flight capability. Compact design suitable for various industrial laser scanning and inspection applications.
• Ground Control Station Ruggedized laptop-based ground control system for UAV mission control, monitoring, and data acquisition management, sold as part of complete Scout UAV solutions.
• Transportation Unit Two-part transportation system for the Scout B1-100 UAV helicopter (Main body 1.24m x 0.64m x 1.05m / 45kg empty weight; Tail boom 2.25m x 0.34m x 0.86m / 35kg empty weight). Built from aluminum and coated plywood with removable wheels, retractable handles, dust/spray water protection, and built-in locks.
• UAV Rental Services UAV rental services offered in various countries with Scout UAV helicopters operated by Aeroscout's experienced flight crew, allowing customers to access UAV data acquisition capabilities without purchasing equipment.
• Customized UAV Solutions Development of new customized UAV solutions in cooperation with clients for specific applications, including professional system integration based on customer and application requirements.
• UAV Education and Training User-friendly UAV operation interface and UAV education and training services for customers operating Scout UAV helicopters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 300 points per square meter point density vs 3-5 points/m2 from traditional manned aircraft
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• RIEGLcoreTechnology or IntegrationAeroscout works closely together with RIEGL laser scanning products in the field of airborne laser scanning (UAV based LiDAR). This is a strategic partnership where Aeroscout integrates RIEGL's laser scanners (VUX-1UAV, VQ-480-II) into their UAV helicopter systems. The partnership enables professional 3D data acquisition with RIEGL's waveform-LiDAR technology combined with Aeroscout's proprietary ALMI technology and vibration dampening systems.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Emesent: Australia-based developer of SLAM-based autonomous LiDAR mapping solutions for UAVs and drones (Hovermap). Targets difficult mapping and inspection environments - adjacent technology competition for Aeroscout's autonomous-LiDAR thesis.
• Wingtra: Swiss VTOL fixed-wing drone maker focused on high-accuracy mapping and surveying, including LiDAR integration. Competes with Aeroscout in survey-grade aerial mapping, primarily in the sub-25 kg category.
• Quantum-Systems: German manufacturer of VTOL fixed-wing UAVs for mapping, surveying and defense. Overlaps with Aeroscout in the industrial aerial-survey market in Europe with competing LiDAR integration value propositions.

Direct peers

• Phoenix LiDAR Systems: US-based provider of UAV LiDAR mapping systems, including helicopter, multirotor and vehicle-mounted configurations. Competes with Aeroscout in the high-accuracy UAV-based LiDAR surveying segment served by geomatics and surveying companies.
• YellowScan: France-based designer and integrator of LiDAR solutions for UAVs, offering turnkey airborne laser scanning payloads and workflows. Overlaps directly with Aeroscout's ALMI LiDAR offering for survey, forestry and corridor-mapping applications.
• senseFly (AgEagle): Swiss-founded professional mapping-drone maker (now AgEagle subsidiary) producing fixed-wing and quad UAVs for surveying and photogrammetry. Directly competes with Aeroscout in the professional aerial-survey and geospatial-data-acquisition market, particularly among geomatics customers in Europe.
• Microdrones: German manufacturer of professional surveying UAVs with integrated LiDAR payloads (mdLiDAR series). Targets the same industrial mapping and inspection buyers as Aeroscout across Europe and North America.
• RIEGL: Austrian manufacturer of LiDAR sensors (VUX-1UAV, VQ-480-II) and complete UAV-based laser scanning systems. Listed by Aeroscout as a strategic partner, but RIEGL also sells integrated UAV LiDAR solutions, making it a partner/competitor in the same LiDAR-for-UAV market.

Broad incumbents

• Parrot SA: European drone maker with professional surveying/product lines (Anafi, senseFly subsidiary) and broader consumer/enterprise portfolio. Overlaps with Aeroscout in commercial UAV/inspection/geospatial markets across multiple categories.
• DJI Enterprise: Industrial arm of DJI producing Matrice-series drones for mapping, inspection and public-safety work. A broad incumbent in the commercial UAV market whose sub-25 kg platforms compete for many of the same industrial inspection and survey customers as Aeroscout.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aeroscout-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Aeroscout GmbH