It’s jarring to think that in an age of drones and robotics, we still have people dangling from heights to do work that could kill them. Every time a worker scales a skyscraper or repaints a bridge, there’s this unspoken gamble with their life, just to keep things running or looking clean. And while the bravery is real, so is the risk—one mistake, one gust of wind, and everything can change. It makes you wonder why we haven’t moved faster to replace these jobs with machines built to take the fall instead.

Robert Dahlstrom, founder of Apellix, turned a frustrating paint job into a drone tech startup tackling industrial tasks like power washing and painting. Starting with makeshift prototypes in his garage, he’s now leading innovations used in sectors from oil and gas to defense. Today, he shares how Apellix’s drones boost safety and efficiency while cutting costs. He also highlights advanced uses like Army decontamination and eco-friendly coatings. His story blends garage tinkering with serious tech, solving real-world problems.

Quotes:

• "Without software, the drone is just a brick—it doesn't do much of anything. The software is what makes it special, what makes it magical, what enables it to do the amazing things it's able to do out there in the world."
• "My mission is to push this into the world and get people down from elevation, put their feet on the ground where they're safe, and have the robots out there doing the work instead."

Takeaways:

• Explore innovative solutions to dangerous workplace tasks by studying how technology can replace high-risk manual labor.
• Investigate potential industry-specific applications for autonomous drone technology in your field, focusing on safety and efficiency gains.
• Challenge yourself to think about unmet technical challenges where precision robotics could solve complex problems currently done by humans.

Timestamps:

[00:02] How a DIY Paint Job Sparked a Drone Startup

[03:14] What It Took to Launch a Drone for Painters

[06:10] Real Work Done by Drones in High-Risk Jobs

[08:47] Wild Ways Drones Are Solving Real Problems

[16:32] What Makes These Industrial Drones So Safe

[16:53] How Drones Are Cutting Pollution and Waste

[21:04] Why This Drone Tech Is Just Getting Started

Conclusion:

Drone technology is changing how industrial work gets done by making tasks safer, faster, and more affordable. Beyond the machines themselves, the real progress comes from smart software that lets drones handle detailed tasks like cleaning, painting, and repair work on their own. This reduces the need for people to work in risky conditions and helps companies cut down on maintenance costs. As these tools continue to improve, they are becoming a practical solution for industries looking to boost safety and performance at the same time.

We would like to thank our founding sponsor https://cloudnium.net/

Links/Resources:

Website: https://www.apellix.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobdahlstrom/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/aerial-robotics-transform-industrial-maintenance/ar-AA1JU097?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=199471913c4143598957c9f623523b80&ei=6

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