Skysense
Skycharge (formerly Skysense) provides cross-platform contact-based autonomous drone charging stations, docking systems, and turnkey hangars for BVLOS drone operations. The Berlin-based company serves defense, energy, emergency services, ports, logistics, and industrial infrastructure operators globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Skysense does
Skycharge GmbH (formerly Skysense Inc., founded 2014, rebranded and relocated to Berlin in September 2020) is a deep-tech hardware company that pioneered the world's first autonomous drone charging pad in 2014. Headquartered in Berlin with engineering operations in Trento, Italy, the company designs and manufactures cross-platform contact-based automated charging and docking systems for unmanned aerial vehicles. Its core technology combines weatherproof contact-based docking (±400mm landing tolerance, zero moving parts, IP55/IP65 ratings) with Power Line Communication (PLC), enabling simultaneous battery charging (750W and 1500W models) and data transfer over the charging connection for dynamic battery management. The product portfolio spans the Skycharge Charging System, docking pads (BOLOGNINI S1, BOS1, BOS3), turnkey hangars (Skyport DP5 Drone Box, Skycharge Hangar), lightweight 16-25g drone retrofit kits for 5-minute integration, and a cloud-based Network Manager platform, collectively supporting 30+ drone models from quadcopters to heavy-lift VTOLs.
Skycharge generates revenue through four streams: hardware sales of charging systems and docking stations (€3,600 dev kits, €520-1,200 per electronics module), patent licensing of its EU/US/Japanese patent portfolio to drone manufacturers, professional services for integration and deployment, and a Charge-as-a-Service (CaaS) subscription model with multi-year contracts for large enterprise infrastructure operators. The go-to-market combines enterprise field sales targeting energy, utilities, defense, and logistics operators; OEM embedded partnerships with drone manufacturers including Fortem Technologies (counter-UAV), AVY (emergency response), HHLA Sky (port logistics), and others; event-driven demand generation across major drone and smart-city conferences; and direct website sales for development kits. Named enterprise customers include HHLA Sky (Port of Hamburg), Enel (2.2 million km power grid inspections with 93% autonomous recharging success), Fortem Technologies (DroneHunter counter-UAV with 4,500+ captures), Archer First Response Systems, Dryad Networks (wildfire detection), Prosegur (indoor surveillance), Avy (police/firefighter VTOL), and Seat S.A.
The company remains privately held and venture capital-backed. It received seed financing from Qualcomm Ventures in 2015 and from Boundary Holding in April 2021, plus a €1.6 million R&D tax incentive under the German BSFZ program in June 2023. Granted patents in the EU (EP3999375, September 2024), US (US 12,227,095 B2, March 2025), and Japan (August 2025) anchor an IP portfolio covering cross-platform contact-based charging, and the Skycharge Hangar received CE certification in November 2025. Recent recognition includes the Tech Tour Drones 2026 Innovation Award, the Amsterdam Drone Week Startup Challenge (2024), the XPO+ Launcher event at Xponential 2024, and the Honda Pitching Challenge first prize at Pioneers '18 in Vienna.
Skysense firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Skysense
- Legal name
- Skycharge GmbH
- Website
- https://skysense.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Skycharge (formerly Skysense) provides cross-platform contact-based autonomous drone charging stations, docking systems, and turnkey hangars for BVLOS drone operations. The Berlin-based company serves defense, energy, emergency services, ports, logistics, and industrial infrastructure operators globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Skysense industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Drone Charging Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190)
- SIC
- Aircraft & Parts (3720)
- akta.pro primary industry
- UAS Launch/Recovery & Support Equipment (Catapults, Nets, Docking) (IMABAIAN)
Keywords
Where Skysense is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Skysense business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales - Charging Systems and Docking Stations: Sale of contact-based charging systems (750W and 1500W models), drone charging pads (BOLOGNINI S1), and drone hangars (Skyport DP5, Skycharge Hangar). Hardware includes development kits and modular components for integration.
- Patent Licensing: Licensing of proprietary contact-based charging patents to drone manufacturers and infrastructure clients. Skycharge's IP portfolio includes EU, US, and Japanese patents for cross-platform drone charging technology.
- Professional Services: Integration support, technical consulting, and deployment services. Includes open SDK access, documentation, and dedicated support for successful implementation.
- Charge-as-a-Service (CaaS): Service model for large infrastructure clients providing ongoing access to charging infrastructure with cross-platform software services and mission control integration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Development Kit - EUR 3,600 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Charging Electronics Modules - EUR 520-1,200 per unit |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Enterprise Infrastructure (CaaS) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Skysense product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Skycharge designs and manufactures cross-platform contact-based autonomous drone charging systems, docking pads, hangars, and retrofit kits that enable 24/7 BVLOS drone operations without manual battery swaps or pilot intervention. The portfolio includes the Skycharge Charging System (750W and 1500W), Docking Pads (BOLOGNINI S1, BOS1/BOS3), the Skyport DP5 drone box hangar, the all-in-one Skycharge Hangar, and the Skycharge Network Manager cloud platform, all protected by patents in the EU, US, and Japan.
Product overview
Skycharge (formerly Skysense) offers a modular portfolio of contact-based drone charging infrastructure designed for autonomous BVLOS drone operations. The core offering consists of the Charging System (750W/1500W) paired with Docking Systems/Charging Pads (BOLOGNINI S1, BOS1, BOS3), which can be deployed standalone or housed within hangar solutions (Skycharge Hangar, Skyport DP5 Drone Box). Drone Kits enable rapid retrofit integration on existing aircraft within 5 minutes. The Skycharge Network Manager provides cloud-based fleet management and monitoring. All components are cross-platform compatible, supporting any battery-powered UAV from ultralight quadcopters to heavy-lift VTOLs. The company pioneered the world's first drone charging pad in 2014 and has expanded to serve defense, energy, logistics, and industrial inspection sectors globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Skyport DP5: First industrialized drone box hangar for commercial drones with CE certification, IP65 protection, and up to 500W charging.
- BOLOGNINI S1
- BOS1 and BOS3
- Skyport DP5
Products and services
- Skycharge Charging System Ultra-fast and cross-platform battery charging system available in 750W and 1500W variants, designed for integration with any docking system or drone-in-a-box solution. Features dynamic charging profile adaptation based on battery SoC, health, and temperature, with 92% charging efficiency.
- BOLOGNINI S1 Drone Charging Pad Award-winning autonomous drone-charging pad with 750W power delivery capability, featuring ±400mm landing error tolerance, weatherproof design, and zero moving parts for deployment in any environmental condition.
- Skycharge Hangar All-in-one drone charging hangar with built-in cross-platform docking and charging system. CE-certified with IP55 stainless-steel weatherproof enclosure, HVAC control for -35°C to +65°C operation, and integrated UPS backup for uninterrupted 24/7 autonomous drone operations.
- Skyport DP5 Drone Box Industrialized drone box hangar with CE certification, IP65 protection, inox steel construction, optional HVAC system extending operating temperature to -35°C and +65°C, anti-theft locking, and up to 500W charging. Integrated with FlytBase mission planner for automated drone missions.
- Drone Retrofit Kit / Onboard Module Lightweight onboard charging electronics (16-25g) installed on drones for contact-based autonomous charging. Available for DJI Mavic, DJI Matrice, Parrot ANAFI, and other drone platforms, enabling 5-minute retrofit integration without mechanical modification.
- Charge-as-a-Service (CaaS) Recurring service for large enterprise infrastructure clients providing ongoing access to standardized cross-platform autonomous drone charging stations with bundled software services and mission control integration for multi-site deployments.
Quantifiable outcome
- 93% autonomous recharging success rate achieved at Enel across 2.2 million km power grid
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Skysense
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Skysense technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature5 records
Skysense partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.
- UAV DACHminorMember of Europe's largest UAV professional association, contributing to standards development and ecosystem coordination for UAV infrastructure interoperability.
- HHLA SkyflagshipStrategic integration partnership to standardize contact-based drone charging across HHLA Sky's entire drone fleet at Port of Hamburg. Full-system integration covering quadcopters, coaxials, hexacopters, and VTOL aircraft with CE-compliant hardware and backend mission control integration. Partnership validated through joint testing and entered production with 90-day delivery cycle.
- EIT Urban Mobility / UAM PlazzacoreSelected as Top 10 startup in EIT's UAM Acceleration Program with consortium partners Toulouse Métropole, Aerospace Valley, CARNET, and Ferrovial. Gained access to state-of-the-art living labs and strategic partnerships for post-acceleration projects.
- Fortem TechnologiescoreIntegration of Skycharge 750W system into Fortem's DroneHangar for 24/7 autonomous DroneHunter F700 counter-UAV operations. 25g ultralight onboard payload enables autonomous threat response. Fortem's DroneHunters have captured more than 4,500 units supporting military operations.
- FlytBasecorePartnership bringing first fully-automated and low-cost drone-in-a-box solution to market. FlytBase precision landing technology enables autonomous landing on Skycharge charging pads and Skyports drone boxes. Connectivity over 4G/LTE/5G enables remote fleet management.
- InternestminorStrategic partnership combining Internest's Lolas precision landing system (cm accuracy) with Skycharge charging platform for fully autonomous drone inspections and surveillance. Partnership serves large OEM and key industrial clients including General Electric.
- JEPICOminorJapanese distribution and showcase partnership presenting Skycharge products at Japan Drone Show 2019 and throughout Japanese market. Japan recognized as global leader in drone regulation and BVLOS commercialization.
- Airbus BizLabminorSelected for Airbus BizLab aerospace accelerator exploring how Skycharge Drone Infrastructure can complement Airbus workflows. Part of executive team relocated to Hamburg for project implementation.
- Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator (Techstars)minorParticipated in premier robotics accelerator powered by Techstars at Qualcomm campus in San Diego. Team relocated to work alongside robotics experts while preparing first Droneport deployments.
- Start-Up ChileminorSelected for Start-Up Chile acceleration program. Seed capital used to design robust charging stations and first protective hangar units. Production and management remained in Berlin.
- EnelcorePartnership to automate drone inspections across Enel's 2.2 million km power grid. Achieved 93% autonomous recharging success, eliminating manual battery swaps and setting foundation for scalable BVLOS operations.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Skysense competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Airobotics: Israeli company (now part of Ondas) providing automated drone platforms with docking stations for industrial inspection, defense, and homeland security applications. Direct competitor in the autonomous drone infrastructure space.
- Nightingale Security: US-based autonomous drone security company offering drone-in-a-box solutions with automated charging for perimeter security and surveillance - overlapping use cases with Skycharge's defense/security segment.
- Percepto: Israel/US company offering autonomous drone-in-a-box solutions for industrial site inspection, with integrated charging docks and AI-driven monitoring. Competes directly for utility, energy, and critical infrastructure accounts like Enel.
- Easy Aerial: US provider of autonomous drone-in-a-box solutions for defense, public safety, and commercial inspection with integrated charging stations. Comparable product scope and target customer profile to Skycharge.
- American Robotics (Ondas Holdings): US-based developer of autonomous drone-in-a-box systems (Optimus) with FAA approvals for BVLOS operations. Provides charging, docking, and remote operation similar to Skycharge's offering, primarily for industrial inspection.
- H3 Dynamics: Singapore-based provider of autonomous drone charging stations and drone-in-a-box solutions for security, inspection, and energy applications. Direct competitor offering HES Energy (hydrogen fuel cells) and Dronebox docking stations with similar cross-platform ambitions.
Emerging players
- Fortem Technologies: Counter-UAV company that is both a Skycharge customer/partner (DroneHunter F700 with Skycharge 750W charging) and a builder of autonomous drone solutions. Comparable in deploying autonomous aerial systems for defense and security.
- DroneShield: Counter-UAS and drone defense company whose solutions integrate with autonomous docking/charging systems. Adjacent peer sharing the same customer segment (defense/security) as Skycharge's Fortem partnership.
Broad incumbents
- Wing (Alphabet): Alphabet subsidiary operating large-scale drone delivery with proprietary automated charging nests. Represents the largest operator of drone charging infrastructure globally, though focused on delivery rather than the cross-platform infrastructure play.
- DJI Dock: DJI's official drone docking station with integrated charging for Matrice series drones. While tied to DJI's own ecosystem rather than cross-platform, it represents the dominant OEM-built alternative Skycharge competes against.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Skysense social profiles
Digital presenceSkysense compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Skysense financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Skysense leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Skysense funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Skysense 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 Skysense
What does Skysense do?
Skycharge designs and manufactures cross-platform contact-based autonomous drone charging systems, docking pads, hangars, and retrofit kits that enable 24/7 BVLOS drone operations without manual battery swaps or pilot intervention. The portfolio includes the Skycharge Charging System (750W and 1500W), Docking Pads (BOLOGNINI S1, BOS1/BOS3), the Skyport DP5 drone box hangar, the all-in-one Skycharge Hangar, and the Skycharge Network Manager cloud platform, all protected by patents in the EU, US, and Japan.
Is Skysense a public or private company?
Skysense is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Skysense founded?
Skysense was founded in 2014.
Where is Skysense based?
Skysense is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Skysense make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales - Charging Systems and Docking Stations are the primary driver. The others are patent Licensing, professional Services and charge-as-a-Service (CaaS).
Who are Skysense's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Airobotics, Nightingale Security, Percepto, Easy Aerial, American Robotics (Ondas Holdings) and H3 Dynamics. Emerging players are Fortem Technologies and DroneShield. Broad incumbents are Wing (Alphabet) and DJI Dock.
Does Skysense have an API?
Yes. Skycharge offers an open SDK and cloud SDK for remote monitoring and control of charging systems. The system includes a web-based dashboard for configuration, management, and monitoring. Open APIs enable integration with mission control software and remote fleet management. A data link over power line (PLC) allows battery data transfer including SoC, SoH, and device identification. Developer documentation is at www.skycharge.de/technology.
What industry is Skysense in?
Skysense's product category is Drone Charging Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAN, UAS Launch/Recovery & Support Equipment (Catapults, Nets, Docking). Its NAICS code is 336413 and its SIC code is 3720.