Corvus Robotics Soars with $18M Funding to Revolutionize Warehouse Inventory Management

Corvus Robotics Inc., a Mountain View-based drone company, has secured $18 million in Series A and seed funding to expand its innovative inventory drone system. The funding round, led by S2G Ventures and Spero Ventures, marks a significant milestone for the company that’s been quietly developing its technology since its founding in 2017.

Drones that Navigate Narrow Warehouse Aisles with Precision

Corvus has reportedly engineered a unique drone system capable of operating in warehouses without infrastructure modifications. Unlike many autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that require fiducial markers or AprilTags for navigation, Corvus drones use custom algorithms to map and navigate facilities independently.

“Corvus Robotics fits our mission to invest in companies that truly transform the way business is conducted,” said Marc Tarpenning, co-founder of Tesla and partner at Spero Ventures. “Other than a landing pad, its drone-powered system requires no infrastructure, is quick and easy to deploy, and cost-effective to manage. It literally merges with the existing warehouse environment.”

The drones can navigate aisles as narrow as 50 inches (127 cm), making them suitable for very narrow aisle (VNA) operations where traditional vehicles like forklifts or pivot trucks might struggle. This capability significantly expands the potential applications of drones in warehouse settings.

Continuous Inventory Scanning and Verification

Equipped with high-end barcode scanners and advanced computer vision technology, Corvus drones offer a comprehensive solution for inventory management. They can:

• Track item locations in real-time
• Spot-check recent work to verify proper placement
• Read barcodes with high accuracy
• Locate and count items on pallets
• Reconcile data with existing warehouse management systems (WMS)

This continuous scanning and verification process helps maintain accurate inventory records and reduces the likelihood of lost or misplaced items – a common challenge in fast-paced e-commerce environments.

“Being able to run inventory checks 24/7 without operator assistance has been a game changer,” noted Austin Feagins, senior director of solutions at Staci Americas. The ability to initiate spot checks at any time provides warehouse supervisors with unprecedented flexibility and control over their inventory management processes.

‘Lights-Out’ Operations for Round-the-Clock Efficiency

In a significant update, the Corvus One system now allows for “lights-out” operations, enabling drones to fly overnight or in unoccupied areas of automated distribution centers. Each drone is equipped with its own light source, allowing it to operate effectively even when facility lighting is turned off to save energy.

“The lights-out capability in the Corvus One system allows our inventory teams to correct discrepancies off-shift and pre-shift before production starts each day, limiting fulfillment delays and production impacts,” explained Feagins.

This feature maximizes efficiency by utilizing off-hours for inventory tasks, reducing disruptions to daytime operations and allowing for a smoother start to each workday.

Expanding Operations and Future Growth

With the new funding secured, Corvus Robotics is poised for significant expansion. CEO Jackie Wu revealed that “something like a quarter of the Fortune 500 is in our pipeline,” indicating strong interest from major corporations in their drone-based inventory solution.

The company is now focusing on scaling up its operations, hiring new marketing, sales, and support staff to grow its customer base. As Wu stated, “We’re growing extremely quickly, and our recent funding round will be used to help Corvus meet rapidly growing customer adoption while continuing to build products with capabilities nowhere else in the world ever has had.”

DroneXL’s Take

The rise of inventory drones like those developed by Corvus Robotics showcases the growing intersection of drone technology and artificial intelligence in warehouse management. As we’ve seen in recent coverage of AI-powered drones, these systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated, offering solutions to longstanding inventory challenges.

The ability of Corvus drones to operate without infrastructure modifications and in very narrow aisles opens up new possibilities for warehouses of all sizes. It’s a testament to how Drone Technology continues to evolve and find practical applications in various industries. The integration of these drones into existing warehouse systems could potentially lead to significant improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and overall supply chain management.

READ MORE: AI-POWERED DRONES SET TO REVOLUTIONIZE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT AT IKEA’S US WAREHOUSE

As the e-commerce sector continues to grow and demand for faster, more accurate fulfillment increases, solutions like Corvus Robotics’ drones may become increasingly crucial for businesses looking to stay competitive. It’ll be interesting to see how this technology develops and whether it becomes a standard feature in warehouses of the future.

What are your thoughts on using drones for inventory management? Do you think this technology could transform warehouse operations? Share your opinions in the comments section below.

Photos courtesy of Corvus Robotics.