Innovators
Reese Mozer, Co-founder & CEO of American Robotics
Reese Mozer is reshaping the future of autonomous drone flight. As Co-founder and CEO of American Robotics, he’s built one of the first companies in the United States to receive FAA approval for fully autonomous drone operations without human operators on-site. His leadership is helping to unlock scalable, data-driven aerial systems across industrial, agricultural, and energy sectors.
Reese Mozer and the Path to Autonomy
Mozer’s background bridges robotics engineering, aviation systems, and startup strategy. After earning his master’s in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University, he saw the need for drones that could collect data without requiring manual piloting—a major bottleneck in commercial drone adoption.
In 2016, Mozer co-founded American Robotics with a clear mission: create a truly autonomous drone solution that could operate safely and legally beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). Unlike many drone startups focused on hardware or consumer use cases, Mozer’s approach emphasized autonomy, edge computing, and deep regulatory integration from day one.
FAA Milestone Under the Leadership of Reese Mozer
In January 2021, American Robotics became the first company to receive FAA Part 107 waiver approval to operate autonomous drones without visual observers or pilots on-site—a historic milestone for the U.S. drone industry. Mozer led the effort to prove the safety case through extensive testing, risk mitigation protocols, and onboard safety redundancies.
The approval unlocked an entirely new category of drone operations—where systems can collect data continuously, without the limitations of pilot availability or manual scheduling. This achievement placed Mozer and American Robotics at the forefront of scalable industrial drone adoption.
How Reese Mozer Built a Fully Automated Drone Platform
At the center of Mozer’s vision is the Scout System—an end-to-end, fully autonomous drone solution featuring a drone-in-a-box design, real-time data processing, and remote fleet oversight via cloud interface. The system is installed on-site at customer facilities and requires no user intervention to conduct flights, collect imagery, and upload analytics.
Designed for use in sectors like agriculture, railways, oil & gas, and utilities, the platform offers repeatable, high-frequency data capture that was previously impossible due to human resource constraints. Mozer’s focus on removing the human-in-the-loop has made Scout one of the most advanced operational drone platforms in the field today.
Acquisition by Ondas Holdings and Continued Expansion
In 2021, Ondas Holdings acquired American Robotics, recognizing the strategic value of Mozer’s technology and regulatory head start. Under the Ondas umbrella, Mozer now leads the AeroDrone business unit, which includes both American Robotics and Airobotics—an Israeli autonomous drone company acquired in 2022.
This merger has allowed Mozer to expand the reach of his vision internationally while consolidating IP, manufacturing, and deployment resources to serve a broader set of industries and government clients.
Reese Mozer’s Vision for Scalable Drone Autonomy
Mozer envisions a future where automated aerial systems become infrastructure—providing real-time monitoring, compliance, and optimization for industrial networks around the clock. His goal is to create a global standard for drone-in-a-box systems that operate continuously without human input, much like servers in a data center or sensors in a smart grid.
This future includes cross-border regulatory alignment, standardization of autonomous protocols, and full integration of drone systems into enterprise software stacks—something Mozer is actively working toward through strategic partnerships and government collaboration.
Closing Thoughts on Reese Mozer’s Impact on Autonomy
Reese Mozer is not just building drones—he’s building an ecosystem for full aerial automation. Through American Robotics, he has set regulatory precedents, solved key technical challenges, and created a new blueprint for what enterprise drone operations can become. His work continues to shape how autonomy, compliance, and data converge in the next era of industrial intelligence.
Connect With Reese Mozer
Stay updated on Reese Mozer’s work in autonomous drone systems and industry innovation through the following platforms:
