Clayco Drone Program Takes Flight as Technology Evolves
Date Posted: September 4, 2025
Posted In: Discussion, Featured,
From Autonomy Institute: Bob Clark, the founder and executive chairman of Clayco—a leading design-build construction firm based in Chicago—has played a pivotal role in advancing drone technology within the construction industry, emphasizing innovation to improve efficiency, safety, and project management.
His leadership began prominently with the establishment of Uplift Data Partners in 2015, a drone service provider launched by Clayco to address the specific needs of the engineering and construction sectors.
Uplift focused on delivering drone-based data collection, remote pilot training, and analytics tailored for construction sites, enabling faster site surveys, progress tracking, and risk assessment. Clayco became the first construction company to secure a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) license for operating small unmanned aerial vehicles, marking a significant milestone in integrating drones into mainstream construction practices.
Drone Tour of Zurich Insurance North American HQ
Clark’s contributions were recognized in 2018 with the Maverick Award from BuiltWorlds, an industry organization honoring innovative leaders in construction technology. The award highlighted his foresight in founding Uplift and pushing the boundaries of drone applications in the field.
The insight and experience of Clayco helped in the development of JobSight, the first on-demand platform for the Construction’s industry.