SkySpecs creates buzz around drone inspection tech

SkySpecs is aiming to commercialize its drone inspection technology next year and has reached a number of milestones toward achieving that goal. The Ann Arbor-based startup is developing aerial drones that use artificial intelligence to inspect infrastructure in dangerous locations, such as the blade of wind turbines. They are not remote controlled so they wouldn’t require the user to be onsite to operate the vehicles. The 1-year-old company's team of nine people have an operational prototype and have applied for one provisional patent for their technology. They have raised $470,000 in seed capital amnd hope to hit their target of $700,000 by the end of this year or early next year. "The goal is to start a pilot project in quarter one of 2014," says Danny Ellis, co-founder of SkySpecs. "By quarter two, we hope to have it in our partners' hands without us being on site." SkySpecs made the semifinals of the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition last week. The startup, which was launched by University of Michigan students, took third place in last year's Accelerate Michigan student competition. You can check out a video of its elevator pitch, here. Source: Tom Brady and Danny Ellis, co-founders of SkySpecs Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.