Reliable Robotics, an aviation startup based in Mountain View, California, has secured $115 million in new funding. This capital injection, consisting of $90 million in equity led by Nimble Partners and $25 million in debt from Silicon Valley Bank, brings the total Series D round to $275 million. The company has now raised a total of $380 million to date, pushing its valuation past the $1 billion threshold.
The startup, founded by former SpaceX employees Robert Rose and Juerg Frefel, is developing autonomous flight technology for existing aircraft. The company is currently pursuing four distinct FAA certifications. The first, a continuous autopilot engagement system, is expected to receive certification within 18 to 24 months. This system assists pilots with engine startup, taxiing, takeoff, and landing via a touchscreen interface.
Reliable Robotics is also developing a proprietary solid-state collision-avoidance radar, which the company expects to certify by the end of 2027. Unlike traditional systems, this radar lacks moving parts, offering higher resolution and longer range. Additionally, the company is working toward certifying Reliable Airlines, an Albuquerque-based cargo carrier that operates six Cessna Caravans to test its autonomous flight systems.
The long-term roadmap includes a future certification to remove the pilot from the cockpit entirely, transitioning control to a ground station. According to CEO Robert Rose, this milestone is at least three years away. Investors, including Nimble Partners, Gideon Strategic Partners, and RockCreek, are backing the company's vision to create a scalable autonomous system applicable to various airframes.
