The Semi-Autonomous Aerial Coating System Is Replacing Lifts and Scaffolding on Real-World Infrastructure, Industrial, and Government Projects
Apellix, a leader in aerial robotics for power- and soft-washing drones, has released its patented Spray Painting Drone, purchased and deployed by customers in the field. State departments of transportation, federal contractors, and commercial coating companies have acquired the system and are using it on live projects — applying coatings on the side of highways, infrastructure, industrial structures, and government assets where lifts, scaffolding, and rope access were once the only options.
The transition from development to real-world operation marks a turning point for the aerial coating market: contractors are no longer evaluating whether drones can apply professional-grade coatings, but are doing the work and billing the jobs.
“Traditional spray painting at height can be slow, expensive, and dangerous. Apellix changes that. This is exterior maintenance, reimagined — hours instead of days, ground-based crews instead of fall risk.”
— Apellix
From Demonstration to Daily Operation
Adoption now spans three demanding customer segments. State DOTs are turning to the system for coating and maintenance on bridges, overhead structures, and transportation assets where access is costly and worker exposure to height and traffic is a constant concern. Federal contractors — supported by the availability of an NDAA-compliant Blue variant that meets federal and state procurement requirements — are deploying the drone on government facilities, tanks, and maritime structures. Commercial coating firms are using it to win and execute work on buildings and industrial assets faster and more safely than conventional methods allow.
In each case, the value proposition is the same: compress multi-day jobs into hours, keep crews on the ground, and reduce both the cost and the liability associated with elevated coating work.
Semi-Autonomous Precision at Height
The Apellix Spray Painting Drone is built around the proprietary Apellix Intelligence (AI) platform, which manages three critical variables simultaneously: standoff distance, perpendicularity to the target surface, and travel speed. Smart spray activation engages the coating only when the drone is correctly positioned, minimizing overspray and material waste while delivering consistent, repeatable, professional-grade results.
The system supports water-based, solvent-based, and two-part coatings, and has been validated with high-performance corrosion inhibitors including CORROCOAT® Plasmet ZF — meeting the rigorous requirements of professional protective coating projects, including those undertaken by AMPP QP1-certified contractors. Coverage rates reach up to 3,000 square feet per hour, and the drone operates reliably in winds up to 20 mph. Each unit ships with eight batteries and two rapid chargers for continuous operation throughout the workday, with up to 32 minutes of flight per battery.
Eliminating the Risk and Cost of Working at Height
By replacing lifts, scaffolding, and rope access with a ground-based crew operating a drone, Apellix substantially reduces worker exposure to fall hazards and to harmful coating chemicals. Eliminating elevated equipment also removes the time and expense of erecting and dismantling access systems — a major driver of the speed gains customers report in the field. Smart spray activation further reduces material consumption, supporting both cost control and environmental responsibility.
A Complete, Supported System
Customers purchase a complete package that includes the drone, controller, batteries, integrated spray system, and training through Apellix Academy — delivered both remotely and hands-on. Financing is available, and the Blue (NDAA-compliant) variant is offered for customers with federal and state government requirements.
Award-Winning Innovation with a Proven Track Record
Apellix’s drone platform has earned recognition from a range of industry and government bodies, including Fast Company’s World Changing Idea Award, the AkzoNobel Paint the Future competition (which included a three-year joint development agreement), the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) Innovation of the Year, a U.S. Department of Energy E-Robot Finalist designation, and the SPRINT Robotics Award for New Innovative Technology. The company’s cleaning drone is the only such system certified and flown by the U.S. Army, and Apellix systems are now operating across five continents.
About Apellix
Apellix (Working Drones Inc.) designs and manufactures industrial aerial robotics systems in Jacksonville, Florida. The company’s American-made product line encompasses power washing, soft wash, spray painting, and non-destructive testing drones engineered for commercial buildings, industrial structures, stadiums, solar panels, infrastructure, residential houses, and government assets. Apellix partners with industry leaders to solve some of the most challenging problems in asset maintenance and protective coating, and its systems are covered by multiple U.S. and international patents.
To see the Spray Painting Drone in action or request a demonstration, visit www.Apellix.com/ or contact the Apellix sales team at +1 (904) 647-4511 or info@Apellix.com.
