xCraft was born out of passion for flight and a desire to change the world.
From the first prototypes of the XPlusOne drone built in JD Claridge’s garage to the industry’s leading tethered drone solution in our modern day, Panadrone – xCraft’s focus has always been solving some of the world’s most complex problems. We partner with companies in defense, energy, security, public safety, and others to develop tailored applications that solve real-world problems. Be it law enforcement and site security, agricultural surveying, wildland fire scouting, utility line inspection, crop inspection, mapping, or collecting geothermal data for mining – the team at xCraft has worked to provide solutions for many industries over the last decade.
“We pride ourselves in our ability to quickly adapt to the ever-changing needs of the industry and provide solutions that will make a lasting impact on our world. From the initial concept all the way through the final test flight, our team of engineers and programmers work together to create products that lead the way for future drone technology around the world.”
-J.D. Claridge, Founder, xCraft
Our Twofold Strategy
When it comes to the xCraft strategy, we believe in two approaches that separate us from any other drone company.
Always Unique
We don’t believe in taking the traditional quad-copter drone model (a common four-propeller drone design) and forcing it to do a job it’s not suited for. Rather, we start with the desired solution and build a drone that will be optimized for the job. That’s why we’ve experimented with and developed VTOL, fixed-wing, tethered, and mini aircraft, among others, to ensure that we are always providing the most efficient drone for the task at hand.
Fail Fast, Fail Often
We believe in the mantra, “Fail Fast, Fail Often” and live it out through every phase of the project. If a particular design of ours isn’t going to work, we don’t spend valuable time trying to force it into a use-case it’s not suited for. Rather, we adapt as necessary until the product is exactly what is needed.
It is also why we have such a rigorous testing process, to ensure we are pushing our aircraft to their limits so they are ready for the field from day-one.
Research and Development
We are a team of engineers and data scientists by nature. We are obsessed with designing the highest-functioning solutions for the drone industry and we take our jobs very seriously.
The R&D department at xCraft is the most important part of our business and we pour countless hours into making sure our team has everything they need to design the next innovation.
Made in the USA
We are proud to be “America’s Drone Company”. All of our products are designed and tested in the Pacific Northwest and we’re dedicated to continuing that tradition of keeping all of our talent here in America.
We think it’s important that the experts solving complex problems have a personal stake in the solution, and that’s what motivates our team to design the next generation of drone technology in the US. We’re also adamant that the US becomes the global leader in commercial drone technology and we promise to do our part to make that a reality by providing sustainable jobs that grow the drone industry in our local communities.
We believe that the future of the drone industry can be found within the 4 walls of the xCraft laboratory. It’s what drives us to deliver our best work every single day and it’s what motivates us through difficult times.
Because when you set out to change the world, failure is not an option.
Join us in our mission to make xCraft the world leader in drone technology. Invest in our Start Engine campaign today!