DPS is a technology services firm specializing in unmanned systems and advanced power distribution infrastructure. We are seeking to expand our offerings to serious investors to engage in large-scale, cutting edge power management.
Background
Several major retailers and many other types of business are highly interested in being able to deliver materials via unmanned aerial systems (drones). To date, these efforts have been stunted by the extremely limited range of existing drones. The key limiting factor is power. The payload of a drone is already substantially reduced by the heavy weight of its battery. While battery technology has continued to improve, these improvements are often measured in seconds and rarely in minutes of additional flight time. This limits the drone delivery vehicle range to approximately 1-2 miles from the warehouse.
Proposal
DPS is seeking to provide a highly disruptive service that will allow delivery drones (or any drone for that matter) to recharge in flight, radically increasing the maximum delivery distance. This service will rely on creating recharging networkds in areas of sustainable delivery demand that can be utilized by anyone who subscribes to the charging service. This is analogous to cellular network service, where power is provided in watt units instead of data provided in bit units.
This charging grid relies on a patent pending contact recharging system that delivers power to a drone while it is still hovering. This recharging node delivers power rapidly to any vehicle equipped with a receiver and subscribed to the service. Drone Point Solutions can be the premiere service provider, analogous to Verizon in the cellular industry, while still owning the IP and hardware of the recharging systems such as Qualcomm owning cellular towers.
DPS is currently seeking capital to invest in the buildout of three prototypes with varying applications and proof of concept demonstrations. 1. An "on-the-shelf" application that can be used at the home base locations where deliveries operations originate. 2. An in-flight version, to prove the system can extend ranges effectively and energy efficiently while creating manageable flight corridors. 3. A mobile version, that can have far reaching benefits for remote operations and other security and defense applications.
Business Structure
DPS is an LLC with 2 managing members and 3 investing member. The business will retain this structure and will build an appropriate labor force to engage in the service-oriented affairs of the recharging grid.
Management – DPS will have an executive committee consisting of a President and Chief Technical Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Marketing Officer. These officers will be responsible for major decision-making, managing resources and operations and defining the company’s vision, tone and public image.
Divisions – DPS will have Divisions that are responsible for execution of the company’s objectives.
- The Technical Division will oversee implementing and maintaining the service provided by the recharging grid. This Division will also be responsible for technical innovation and continuous improvement of the hardware and software that enables the company’s operation.
- The Financial Division will oversee the company’s finances and accounting. This will include business development and partnerships with other companies.
- The Operations Division will oversee human resources, sales and services personnel. This will also include designing and managing the teams that maintain the hardware and software implemented by the Technical Division.
- The Marketing Division will manage the public image of the company, to include advertising and media relations.
Functionality
- Revenue will derive from billing customers by watt for recharging on the wireless grid. A typical drone consumes 500 watts of electricity in flight. The grid will charge customers a premium based on the power provided during each charge. For scaling, flat-rate usage plans may be more attractive to large clients.
- Expenses will derive largely from labor needed to manage client accounts, interact with clients via customer and technical support, and monitor and maintain the functionality of the grid. Other expenses will derive from leasing roof space for the recharging nodes, paying for the power consumed by the nodes, marketing, and any taxes and regulatory fees.
Potential Barriers to Entry
Two potential barriers to this venture include government approval and access rights to place recharging nodes in desired locations. We will be seeking experimental approvals from the FCC to showcase the capabilities of the system in real world domestic environments. It is likely that the success of a larger scale effort will prompt the removal of the experimental modifier from that approval. Securing access rights to rooftops will require direct engagement with building owners and with municipal, state, and federal authorities to ensure that recharging nodes are emplaced according to regulatory requirements.
Potential Threats
A potential threat to the business would be the invention and proliferation of superior batteries that greatly extend range. This is highly unlikely. Battery manufacturers rely on a steady sale of disposable batteries. Even rechargeable batteries have a maximum life expectancy based on charge cycles. If these manufacturers were to produce batteries that last significantly longer, they would be curtailing their own sales and terminally injuring their own business models.
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