Feature

World’s first drone with robot arm to increase workplace safety

Launching this summer, the AERAS drone is set to reduce work-at-height accidents and speed up manual tasks.

02/06/2025 17:09:00

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A fall from height is by far the most common cause of fatality in the workplace, and it is also the most frequent cause of serious injury. Working at height on tasks such as maintenance and inspection is also extremely slow and expensive, mainly because of the time it takes to gain access with scaffolding, lifts, or even ropes.

A start-up company is aiming to reduce those concerns with the world’s first drone with a six-axis robotic arm, which can achieve stable hover and flight. Invictus Robotics is shortly set to launch AERAS (Aerial Effector Robot with Adaptive Stabilisation).

The genius of the new quadcopter is that, unlike a normal drone, AERAS remains sufficiently stable to operate its dexterous robotic arm to perform non-destructive inspections in the air.

Read the full article in DPA's June 2025 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.