XMobots
Brazilian pioneer in ANAC-authorized experimental RPAS flights.
XMobots is a Brazilian company focused on developing and operating remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS). It became the first company in the country to receive authorization from the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) for experimental RPAS flights. The company was founded in 2007, originating from a research and development project by its founders while they were master’s students at the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (POLI-USP). Initially incubated at the Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology of the University of São Paulo (CIETEC-USP), XMobots spent its first three years creating the Apoena 1000B, a 32-kilogram aircraft that became the first UAV to fly over the Amazon. Between 2010 and 2013, this RPAS was used for aerial monitoring at the Jirau hydroelectric plant under construction on the Madeira River, charting and quantifying legal deforestation across a 1,000 km² area—a record for any UAV aerial survey in Brazil at the time. In 2011, XMobots left the incubator and moved its headquarters to São Carlos, São Paulo, a city recognized as Brazil’s second aeronautical hub. This move was strategic due to the presence of the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR), two University of São Paulo (USP) campuses, two units of the Brazilian Agriculture Research Company (EMBRAPA), and other major research institutions. In 2012, the company launched the Nauru 500A, a 15-kilogram RPAS designed for mapping and inspecting areas up to 10,000 hectares. With this model, XMobots obtained the first Experimental Flight Certificate (CAVE) from ANAC for a private civilian UAV in Brazil. The following year, in 2013, XMobots introduced the Echar 20A, a 7-kilogram mini RPAS that was the first Brazilian UAV with automatic launch and landing, intended for mapping and inspecting areas up to 3,000 hectares. It received its CAVE in December 2013. The company’s product line includes the Apoena 1000B, which has an 8-hour flight autonomy, a communication range of up to 60 km, a cruise speed of 115 km/h, and a maximum altitude of 3,000 meters. The Nauru 500A offers 5.5 hours of flight time, a 30 km communication range, a cruise speed of 108 km/h, and a maximum altitude of 3,000 meters, with an 18-megapixel camera capable of 2.5 cm per pixel resolution.
- First cave granted
- 2012
Lore & Background
XMobots was created in 2007 with the purpose of developing RPAS using national technology. It was incubated in the Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology of the University of São Paulo (CIETEC-USP), originating from a research and development project by its founders, who were master's degree students at the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (POLI-USP). During its first three years, XMobots created the Apoena 1000B, a 32-kilogram aircraft known as the first UAV to fly over the Amazon. The company used the Apoena for aerial monitoring at the Jirau hydroelectric power plant under construction on the Madeira River, an operation carried out between 2010 and 2013. In that period, the RPAS charted and quantified legal deforestation in a 1,000 km² area, a record for any aerial survey done in Brazil by a UAV. In 2011, the company left the incubator and moved its head office to São Carlos, a city considered the second Brazilian aeronautical pole. This strategic decision was influenced by the presence of the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR), two campuses of the University of São Paulo (USP), two units of the Brazilian Agriculture Research Company (EMBRAPA), and other important research institutions. In 2012, XMobots launched the Nauru 500A, a 15-kilogram RPAS, and obtained from ANAC the first Experimental Flight Certificate (CAVE) for a private UAV for civilian use in Brazil. In 2013, the company launched the Echar 20A, the first RPAS developed in Brazil with automatic launch and landing, weighing seven kilograms, and received the CAVE for this model in December 2013.
Reader's Guide
XMobots holds significance as the first Brazilian company to receive an Experimental Flight Certificate (CAVE) from the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) for a private, civilian RPAS, granted in May 2013 for the Nauru 500A. This authorization allowed the company to perform experimental flights for research and development, highlighting its efforts to contribute to the regulation of the sector. The ANAC Manager of Aeronautical Product Certification Branch, Hélio Tarquinio, stated that the Agency considers this a relevant issue and is working to facilitate operations of this new type of aircraft in Brazil, focusing on promoting safety and excellence in the civil aviation system. The CAVE demonstrated a high level of maturity of the Brazilian industry in developing RPAS. XMobots' earlier achievement with the Apoena 1000B—the first UAV to fly over the Amazon and conduct a record aerial survey of 1,000 km²—further underscores its pioneering role in Brazilian unmanned aviation.
Did You Know?
- The Apoena 1000B was the first UAV to fly over the Amazon.
- The Nauru 500A received the first Experimental Flight Certificate (CAVE) for a private civilian RPAS in Brazil in May 2013.
- The Echar 20A was the first Brazilian RPAS with automatic launch and landing.
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