Merging drones, AI to help clean energy hum along: the ultimate integration

"We look at ourselves as a global startup. In addition to China, we are eyeing markets in Southeast Asia, Europe and North America," said George Yan, founder and CEO of Shanghai-based AI startup Clobotics.

The startup now has more than 10 employees in its R&D team in Seattle and is looking for fast development of the team in the next two years.

Clobotics has developed the world's first computer-vision based wind turbine blade inspection service using UAV drones. It takes pictures of wind turbine blade surfaces, and then uses computer vision to inspect the images on the cloud. The system notifies maintenance personnel of damage, deterioration and other early warning signs, which are critical for reducing maintenance costs.

GGV Capital, a US-Chinese venture capital firm, is leading a $5 million financing round to get Clobotics off the ground.

Clobotics was one of 16 startups taking part in the Microsoft Accelerator program in Beijing last March, and GGV's investment moved the venture closer to the head of the class.

Jenny Lee, managing partner of GGV Capital and a Clobotics board member, said Clobotics was chosen because it's "an interesting convergence of the transportation, robotics and AI production".

On Jan 23, the company announced a new $5 million A+ round of financing led by KTB Network, the largest venture capital firm in South Korea, and followed by GGV Capital and Capital Development Investment Fund in China. This is Clobotics' second round of financing in its first 12 months.

"If you look at how China and even the government look at its growth, it is very clear that combining AI technologies with traditional industries is where the government wants to take it. It is amazing," Yan said. "In next 15 years AI will change the look of traditional industry."

-Linda Deng