Red Cat, a provider of distributed data storage, analytics and services for the drone industry, has partnered with GoChain, which provides scalable blockchain technologies for enterprises, non-governmental organizations and nonprofits.

Through this partnership, the GoChain platform will be equipped with Red Cat’s blockchain black box and distributed storage system, which is designed for UAS, and includes security and encryption that regulators and insurance companies can trust. That platform includes multiple integrated systems that allow industry regulators to track and review UAS flight data, insurance companies to insure UAS with dependable third-party data, and pilots to ensure they stay compliant with regulators.

“In 2018, Red Cat set out on a mission to build the first native blockchain black box analytics platform for the drone industry. We are pleased to announce we have delivered on that mission,” says Jeff Thompson, CEO of Red Cat.

“With Amazon, Google and UPS currently building large commercial drone fleets, we believe our analytics platform will provide security and data transparency for the entire industry. Experienced partners like GoChain allow us to immediately and easily deliver the technology to our customers with speed and scale, a crucial step as we move towards our commercialization later this year.”

According to Red Cat, GoChain will provide the infrastructure for the company's distributed storage where encrypted UAS data such as GPS coordinates and logs, video and photos, and telemetry logs is secured and stored on a blockchain. This will provide pilots with compliant operations and data privacy.

Red Cat says that blockchain is important because regulators, insurance companies, pilots/enterprisers with drone fleets, and drone service companies all have an increasing need for technologies that they can rely on for immutable data, especially with the increase of FAA approvals for commercial UAS deliveries. 

“With more companies like Amazon testing drones for delivery, Red Cat’s black box technology is critical to receiving approval from aviation regulators around the world,” says Jason Dekker, CEO of GoChain.

“GoChain is proud to provide Red Cat with a blockchain platform that will facilitate their data transfer and streamline the distribution and exchange of data to B2B partners while ensuring compliance.”