Reliable Robotics raises $115 million for autonomous aircraft systems

Reliable Robotics, a Mountain View-based startup, has secured an additional $115 million in funding, bringing its total Series D financing to $275 million. This latest round, led by Nimble Partners and including a $25 million loan from Silicon Valley Bank, has pushed the company’s valuation above $1 billion. To date, the company has raised more than $380 million in equity capital.

The company, led by CEO and co-founder Robert Rose, a former SpaceX flight software director, is developing autonomous flight technology designed to integrate with existing aircraft. The Reliable Autonomy System (RAS) aims to manage engine ignition, taxiing, takeoff, and landing, while a proprietary solid-state radar is being developed for collision avoidance.

Reliable Robotics is currently working toward FAA certification for its systems, specifically targeting commercial operations on the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. The company has also secured contracts with branches of the U.S. military and is participating in the FAA’s Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program, which includes cargo delivery operations in New Mexico and Colorado.