Terra Drone invests in C4D

Japanese company Terra Drone Corporation has taken a 50 per cent stake in Perth-based drone technology company C4D Intel.

Founded in 2016, C4D provides spatial and temporal data acquisition, advanced data processing and decision analytics.

The company specialises in enterprise grade surveying and asset inspections predominately using unmanned and autonomous vehicles (UAVs).

C4D’s client base is spread across the mining, oil and gas, power and forestry industries in Western Australia.

Under the deal, C4D Intel and Terra Drone will immediately start to offer UAV-based data acquisition to Australian customers.

Terra Drone will also provide C4D Intel with robotic batonomous systems ideal for mapping or scanning in GPS denied environments such as in underground mining and inside buildings.

C4D managing director Alistair Scott-Farris said the deal would boost the company’s growth.

"This investment presents an opportunity for us to leverage Terra Drone's expansive international network, technology and experience to propel our growth both within Australia and internationally, particularly in South-East Asia,” he said.

“We are excited to be partnering with Terra Drone and look forward to expanding our capabilities and service offering with the support of the larger Terra Drone group.

“Our customers will benefit greatly from the access to innovative new technologies that this transaction will enable.”

Terra Drone chief executive Toru Tokushige said the investment was a strategic move by the company to advance its global footprint.

As part of the deal it is expected that C4D Intel will change its name to Terra Drone Australia in 2019.