Smart hangar technology startup Fyve By has raised new funding and begun a large-scale beta test to refine development of its system to reduce the risk of damaging aircraft during ground movement.
The startup’s system pairs artificial intelligence and Internet of Things technology to track aircraft, cargo, tools and staff in hangar spaces in real-time. The aim is to identify and reduce potential hazards—such as external power units, batteries or toolboxes—before moving an aircraft in the hangar. Fyve By compares the technology to the 360-deg. backup cameras used in cars.
Fyve By recently raised $660,000 in about a month, which Co-founder Benjamin Youngstrom says it is using to perform intensive development and testing with 50 potential users across the aviation industry, including MROs, FBOs and owner-operators. “Our preference is going to be facilities that see a wider array of aircraft and a higher transient level—or more aircraft in and out—because we want to put it through its paces and we want to see it stress tested,” he says.
“We’re doing a lot of interviews with the managers who are going to be using the tool every day and making sure it works for them before we just push it out,” adds Fyve By Co-founder Preston LaVangie. He notes that the beta test will likely last between 6-9 months so the technology can be tested during periods in which companies are particularly busy.
One technology change Fyve By has already incorporated is replacing the cameras it was previously using to collect hangar data with lidar, enabling what it says is smoother hazard detection. “[Lidar] is already trusted by large industries. The automotive industry has been trusting lidar on autonomous vehicles for years now,” says LaVangie.
The startup is also looking to roll out smart analytics capability in 2024. “We’re able to track the location and movement of the aircraft, so we can start doing some smart analytics as far as how you’re going to optimize your hangar space, especially for FBOs,” says LaVangie. “If they can fit more aircraft in their hangar they can make more money, so that’s usually the most requested feature.”
Fyve By has also simplified installation of the system. Previously, Youngstrom says it took about a day to install the system due to the need to place around 20 sensors, but the company has now reduced this to a single sensor that can be installed in approximately 30 min.
Although Fyve By is currently focusing on perfecting the technology for the business aviation segment, LaVangie says its use of lidar means it should be realistic to scale the system up for commercial aviation customers. He notes that lidar has the capability to detect objects up to 400 feet away, so the system could be scaled up as necessary.
