Everything You Need
to Know

No. Corvus One requires no Wi-Fi, no GPS, no reflectors, no stickers, and no modifications to your racking. The only facility requirements are a power outlet and an ethernet drop at each Corvus Cradle location — typically mounted at the end of existing product racks without any structural changes.

Corvus One is 20× faster than manual cycle counts. It scans approximately 250 slots per hour at 90%+ travel efficiency. A real-world example: a facility that previously required 130 people working around the clock for a physical inventory completed the same scan overnight — then used 8 people and 4 scissor lifts to resolve exceptions in just 3 hours.

Corvus One operates in aisles as narrow as 50 inches (127 cm) — including very narrow aisle (VNA) configurations where pivot trucks or other vehicles are impractical. It uses 360° obstacle avoidance and 3D planning algorithms to safely navigate in tight spaces.

Yes. Corvus One flies at walking speed and is non-disruptive to normal warehouse operations. If it detects a forklift, person, or robot in its path, it automatically ascends or reroutes to avoid the obstacle and resumes its mission. It can operate during day shifts, off-shifts, or lights-out — whatever cadence your operation requires.

Corvus integrates with most major WMS platforms. WMS integration is included in the installation package — the system creates a bidirectional sync so inventory discrepancies auto-populate in your WMS for correction. Specific compatibility is confirmed during the pre-deployment phase. Corvus requires that customers have an existing WMS, as the system's value depends on comparing scanned data against your system of record.

Corvus One reads any barcode symbology in any orientation placed on the front face of cartons or pallets. This includes standard 1D barcodes, 2D codes (QR, Data Matrix), and LPN labels. The AI model is trained on your specific facility's labels during installation, improving accuracy over subsequent flights through machine learning.

Within 3 months of deployment, Corvus commits to 98%+ scanning accuracy, improving to 99%+ with continuous software and ML model updates. Live customer deployments have documented improvements from 83.6% pre-Corvus to 99.5% post-Corvus inventory accuracy within the same period.

Yes. Corvus One for Cold Chain is rated for continuous operation in environments as cold as -20°F. It is the only autonomous warehouse inventory drone specifically engineered for frozen and refrigerated storage — including sub-zero distribution centers and cold chain 3PL facilities.

Yes. Corvus uses industrial-grade barcode scanners with adaptive vision control specifically tuned for cold chain conditions. The system reads frosted, ice-coated, low-contrast, and damaged labels from multiple angles — something that challenges human scanners and most camera systems.

No. Corvus One requires no lighting adjustments for cold chain operation. It operates in complete darkness (lights-out freezer environments) using its onboard camera array and AI navigation — the same lights-out capability that enables overnight ambient warehouse operation.

Cold chain environments have the highest ROI profile because the baseline manual counting cost is so elevated. Worker time-in-zone limits, PPE requirements, and injury risk significantly increase the true cost of manual counts. Eliminating human entry for routine counting while dramatically increasing count frequency directly reduces shrinkage, spoilage write-offs, and compliance risk. Use our ROI Calculator with the Frozen environment setting for a facility-specific estimate.

Corvus uses a proprietary AI-based navigation stack — not traditional computer vision or GPS — that builds a high-fidelity map of your facility during the initial deployment phase. The ML model is trained on your specific warehouse layout and improves with every flight. This is what makes Corvus unique: learning-based autonomy that gets more accurate the longer it operates in your facility.

Layout changes (new aisles, relocated racks, added product zones) can be updated remotely through software — no re-deployment of engineers required for most changes. The drone's AI model adapts to new obstacles and configurations within a few flights of the updated zone.

AIMS (Autonomous Inventory Management System) provides:

• Inventory accuracy comparison (pre vs. post-Corvus)
• Location coverage tracking and audit progress
• Flight scheduling calendar (aisle-by-aisle, recurring missions)
• Space utilization analysis (fill %, consolidation opportunities)
• Discrepancies by category (quantity mismatch, wrong slot, missing, unexpected occupancy)
• Slot-level drill-down with video, barcode data, AI audit suggestions
• WMS sync for correction workflow

The typical timeline from proposal to go-live is approximately 3 months: Today (Proposal) → Tomorrow (Sign RaaS, secure deployment slot) → 1 Month (Pre-deploy: WMS integration, facility prep) → 2 Months (Corvus engineers onsite 1-2 weeks for install, mapping, test flights) → 3 Months (Go Live on AIMS). Actel Robotics manages this entire process as your systems integrator.

Your facility needs to provide:

• Power outlets and ethernet drops at each Corvus Cradle location (1-2 per aisle bay)
• Scissor lift access during the installation week for cradle mounting
• WMS API access for integration configuration
• A point-of-contact for the deployment team during the onsite period

Everything else — hardware, shipping, installation, AI training, WMS integration — is handled by Corvus and Actel Robotics.

The Corvus Cradle is the all-in-one orchestration station — it charges the drone autonomously, stores and processes inventory data locally, and mounts onto your existing racking without any structural modification. Cradles are installed at the ends of product racks by Corvus engineers during the deployment week. There is no permanent alteration to your facility.

The number of drones and cradles is determined during the facility assessment based on your total racked square footage, number of aisles, desired coverage frequency, and shift schedule. Actel Robotics delivers a specific drone + pad count recommendation as part of the proposal. Larger facilities typically deploy multiple drones operating in parallel zones for complete coverage within your target time window.

Corvus operates on a Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model — a monthly subscription that includes hardware, AIMS software platform, maintenance (batteries, propellers, drone RMAs), and customer success support for the full contract term. There is no large upfront capital expenditure. This preserves your OpEx budget structure and eliminates maintenance uncertainty. Contact us for facility-specific pricing.

For most mid-size distribution facilities (100K–300K sq ft, 2-4 FTEs dedicated to counting), payback periods range from 10–22 months. Cold chain / frozen facilities typically achieve faster payback (8–14 months) because baseline manual counting costs are significantly higher. Use our free Drone ROI Calculator for a facility-specific projection using your actual FTE count, hourly rate, write-offs, and MHE costs.

The main ROI drivers are:

• Labor reallocation: 60% reduction in FTE time spent on cycle counting (LAPP USA deployment data)
• Write-off reduction: Improved accuracy (typically +10-15 percentage points) reduces shrinkage and spoilage
• MHE savings: Forklifts and scissor lifts no longer diverted from productive operations for counting runs
• Increased count frequency: Moving from 2× per year to 26×+ per year catches discrepancies before they become expensive
• First Run Rate improvement: Better accuracy means fewer failed picks and rush freight charges

Spot conducts autonomous inspection across a wide range of environments and asset types:

• Industrial equipment (motors, pumps, compressors) — visual, thermal, and acoustic
• Electrical infrastructure (substations, switchgear, transformers) — thermal anomaly detection
• Pipelines and pressure vessels — visual and acoustic leak detection
• Confined spaces and elevated structures — accessible without scaffolding or PPE
• Construction site progress documentation
• Data center hot aisle / cold aisle thermal monitoring

Spot can carry visual, thermal, radiation, acoustic, LiDAR, and 3D scanning payloads simultaneously on a single mission.

Boston Dynamics' published benchmark is upward of $200,000 in savings per site per year, with customers averaging ROI in just over 12 months. National Grid reported $150,000–$200,000 in annual labor cost savings per substation site. The primary savings drivers are: avoided unplanned downtime, early fault detection enabling repair vs. replace decisions, energy savings from leak detection, and inspection labor reduction.

No. Boston Dynamics Spot is a ground-based quadruped robot — it walks on four legs, it does not fly. FAA regulations do not apply. For indoor Corvus drone operations, FAA Part 107 also does not apply as the drones operate exclusively indoors. Actel Robotics handles all necessary permitting and compliance documentation as part of the deployment process.

Spot is purpose-built for environments too dangerous for humans — including energized electrical zones, radioactive areas, chemical exposure zones, and structurally unstable areas. It can be operated remotely from a safe location, maintaining a live video and sensor feed while the robot navigates the hazardous area. This eliminates the need for PPE, work permits, and personnel exposure in high-risk environments.

Robotic patrol systems offer several advantages over traditional guard patrols:

• No shift changes, no call-outs, no fatigue — 24/7 coverage at consistent quality
• Documented evidence on every patrol — video and audio capture automatically archived
• Instant response: If the robot detects a person, it pauses, activates AV lights, captures PTZ/pano/thermal images, and sends an alert in seconds — not minutes
• Deterrence effect: A visible robot patrol changes the risk calculation for potential intruders

Robotic patrol typically reduces guard patrol labor costs by 60–70% while increasing coverage consistency and documentation quality.

Actel Robotics deploys three security platforms depending on the environment:

• Boston Dynamics Spot: Indoor/outdoor facility patrol, combined inspection + security missions
• Ghost Robotics Vision 60: Ruggedized outdoor perimeter security, all-terrain operation, same platform trusted for military/government applications
• Asylon Robotics drone-in-a-box: Aerial perimeter surveillance for large properties, automated takeoff/patrol/landing with no pilot required

Actel Robotics manages the full lifecycle of robotic deployments — so your team gets the capability without the complexity:

• Assess: Site evaluation, environment analysis, platform recommendation
• Procure: Direct procurement from OEM manufacturers (no middlemen)
• Deploy & Integrate: Onsite installation, configuration, and WMS/EAM integration
• Train & Support: Team training and ongoing technical support
• Optimize: Continuous monitoring and performance optimization over time

Actel Robotics is headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas (Houston metro). We serve clients nationally — the Corvus, Boston Dynamics, Ghost Robotics, and Asylon platforms are deployed and supported across the United States. Contact us at sales@actelrobotics.com or (713) 805-8140 to discuss your location.

Three simple next steps:

• Facility Review: We send a checklist of images and information needed to evaluate your site — takes about 30 minutes to complete
• Business Case Builder: We send a questionnaire to build out a customized ROI projection for your specific facility and operation
• Decision Maker Meeting: A direct conversation to address your corporate goals, answer questions upfront, and walk through what deployment would look like

No commitment required at any stage. Start here →