Aeronext Inc. (Headquarters / Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Keisuke Toji, hereafter  Aeronext), Seino Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters / Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, President and Chief Operating Officer: Yoshitaka Taguchi, hereafter Seino HD) and Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory Ltd. (Edogawa Ward, Tokyo; Satoshi Washiya, President and COO, hereafter ACSL) signed capital and business alliances in drone logistic services through the Logistics Innovation Fund Investment Limited Partnership, a sector-focused fund anchored by Seino HD, and ACSL 1 Limited Partnership, an ACSL’s Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) arm.

The three companies will begin to collaborate on nurturing the drone logistics market through verifying economic feasibility, providing optimally priced aircraft, and establishing stable supply system for the aircraft.

Aeronext is particularly focused on the logistics sector, aiming to build a social infrastructure in the sky that utilizes unique technologies that can enhance the reliability of an aircraft and ensure safety and security essential for social implementation. In January 2021, Aeronext established NEXT DELIVERY Inc. as a strategic subsidiary whose main business is  drone delivery services. In the same month, Aeronext also announced the embarking on a business alliance with Seino HD for the commercialization of new smart logistics, and are currently working together to solve existing logistics issues and promote new smart logistics through development of a new smart logistics mechanism incorporating drone delivery, SkyHub®*1, and demonstration and implementation of a service model in Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture.

Aeronext focus on research and development of airframes dedicated to logistics, with Aeronext’s proprietary airframe structural design technology 4D GRAVITY®*2 as its core. In August 2020, Aeronext and ACSL announced the conclusion of a joint development agreement for industrial drones equipped with 4D GRAVITY®︎ and a license agreement for 4D GRAVITY®︎ patents related to manufacturing and sales of the developed aircraft. In March 2021, the latest prototype, which was the outcome of the joint development effort, was announced in anticipation of the Level 4 deregulation in 2022.

The three companies share common vision, and bring together Aeronext’s capability to develop comprehensive drone logistic services including aircraft based on its proprietary technology and intellectual property, Seino HD’s track record and network in trunk line and last mile logistics, and ACSL’s extensive experience in BVLOS over unmanned areas (Level 3) and implementing secure and safe drones. The three companies will begin to collaborate on nurturing the drone logistics market through verifying economic feasibility, providing optimally priced aircraft, and establishing stable supply system for the aircraft.

*1  SkyHub^®︎

SkyHub^®︎ is a new smart logistics system that connects existing logistics and drone logistics, and delivers goods anytime, anywhere by connecting ground and air infrastructure. It is characterized by its open platform and standardized structure, which incorporates drone delivery and realizes joint delivery. The introduction of SkyHub^®︎ will contribute to the resolution of social issues in the region, such as population decline, labor shortage due to low birthrate and aging society, transportation problems in specific depopulated areas, medical problems, disaster countermeasures, and countermeasures against logistics weaknesses, etc., from the aspect of logistics reform, and will also raise the satisfaction level of residents and communities by improving the convenience and quality of life of residents.

*2   4D GRAVITY^®︎

4D GRAVITY®︎ is a structural design technology developed by Aeronext that improves the basic performance of industrial drones, such as stability, efficiency, and maneuverability, by optimizing the aircraft’s center of gravity and equalizing the number of motor rotations regardless of posture, condition, or movement during flight. Aeronext has patented this technology and is managing it in its 4D GRAVITY®︎ patent portfolio. The improved basic performance of 4D GRAVITY®︎ will expand the possibility of using industrial drones in new markets and applications.

*3　 Aerial Industrial Revolution Level 4

The “Non-visual flight in manned areas without assistance” phase, planned for 2022, as per the public council’s “Roadmap 2020 for the Industrial Revolution in the Sky”

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