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Physical AIby Santi
ESEN

§Methodology

How we know what we claim

Every figure on the site links to its source and shows its evidence level. This page explains the criteria, separates documented from modeled content and lists the full bibliography.

Dataset review
2026-11
Bibliography
163
A · Documented
43
B · Manufacturer / operator
47
C · Press / analysis
73
D · Editorial estimate
0

Editorial principles

Source next to the claim

Citations sit next to the figure they support, not at the bottom of the page. A figure without a source is flagged as an estimate.

Documented vs modeled

We separate published facts from models, simulations and editorial assumptions, and say so in every tool.

Explicit conditions

A spec without its test conditions misleads. We state the payload, speed, temperature or mode behind each maximum.

Visible absence of evidence

When there is no sufficient public evidence we say so, instead of filling the gap with a plausible number.

Evidence levels

Every source carries a level. The level describes the kind of backing, not whether the claim is true: a manufacturer spec sheet (B) is reliable on what the manufacturer claims, but it is not independent verification.

LevelWhat it meansExamples on this siteSources
A· DocumentedDocumented evidence: standard, regulation, official record, peer-reviewed study or third-party verified deployment.Regulations (EUR-Lex), ISO/IEC/ANSI standards, public bodies (EASA, EU-OSHA, EDPB), independent industry statistics (IFR), peer-reviewed studies.43
B· Manufacturer / operatorOfficial publication by the manufacturer or operator itself. Reliable on what it claims; not independent verification.Spec sheets, press releases and official pages from the manufacturer or service operator.47
C· Press / analysisInformation reported by reputable trade press or analysts.Trade press, reference general media, law firms and analysts interpreting a regulation or a figure.73
D· Editorial estimateNo sufficient public evidence: editorial assumption or model, explained in the methodology.ROI calculator and configurator assumptions, typical values without a public source, and didactic simulations.0

How we verify specifications

  1. 1We first look for the manufacturer's spec sheet (level B) and record the access date.
  2. 2We cross-check with press or deployment documentation when it exists (level C or A).
  3. 3We record the conditions behind each maximum: loaded or unloaded, speed, temperature, operating mode.
  4. 4If a value is not published we leave it empty or flag it as an estimate (D) with its rationale.

Why maxima are not simultaneous

Manufacturers publish each maximum under its most favorable conditions. A drone's maximum endurance is usually measured with no payload, at constant speed and without wind; at maximum payload it flies considerably less. That is why we never show maximum endurance and maximum payload as if they happened together, and spec sheets state the conditions of each value.

What is documented and what is modeled

ContentNatureHow to read it
Platform spec sheetsDocumented (B/C), estimates flagged (D)Manufacturer values with their conditions; check the access date.
Case studiesDocumented with sourcesPublished metrics only; anything not published is marked as such.
Market indicatorsDocumented (A/B/C) with dateFigures published by bodies, companies or press; not projections.
ROI calculatorModel (D)Indicative, with visible and editable assumptions. Not financial advice.
Hardware configuratorRule-based model (D)Components sourced where possible; achievable autonomy is an estimate.
Simulators (swarm, drift, sensors)Didactic modelsThey illustrate concepts; they do not reproduce real protocols or radio propagation.
3D viewersSchematic modelsNot to scale and not replicas of commercial products.

Review & maintenance

Dataset review
2026-11
Automated link check
Weekly (every Monday), with a GitHub Actions workflow that detects broken links.
Editorial review
At least quarterly, and whenever a regulation changes or a statistical source publishes a new edition.

Corrections

If you find an error, an outdated source or an unsupported claim, report it via santismm.com. Relevant corrections are recorded in the changelog with their date.

Contact via santismm.com →

Independence

We do not publish sponsored content or accept payment to appear on the site. Should a commercial relationship with a cited manufacturer or vendor ever exist, it will be disclosed on the relevant page.

Changelog

  1. 2026-11

    Evidence system with A–D levels and citations next to each claim; conditions on specifications; light editorial theme; deployment guide and this methodology page; sourced market indicators on the home page instead of simulated counters.

  2. 2026-11

    Launch: platforms, taxonomy, swarms, ROI calculator, configurator and case studies.

Bibliography

Every source cited on the site, with its evidence level and access date.

Level
Section

163 / 163 sources

Guide (15)

Platforms (48)

Cases (34)

ROI & configurator (19)

Swarms (38)

Taxonomy (4)

  • Defining Automated Driving Systems: SAE J3016 (2021)

    ANSI Blog · 2021

    C· Press / analysisaccessed 2026-11-02

    Summary of SAE J3016: six levels (0–5) of driving automation and the ODD definition. It is a technical taxonomy: it neither certifies safety nor assigns legal liability.

  • Operational Design Domain: a narrow frame provides safety

    Fraunhofer IKS

    C· Press / analysisaccessed 2026-11-02

    The ODD as the set of conditions (environment, geography, time of day, roadway features) under which an automated system is designed to operate.

  • Technology Readiness Levels

    NASA

    A· Documentedaccessed 2026-11-02

    Maturity scale from 1 to 9; TRL 9 requires the technology to be proven in an actual mission. We only use TRL attached to specific systems with documented demonstration.

  • ISO 8373:2021 — Robotics — Vocabulary

    ISO · 2021-11

    A· Documentedaccessed 2026-11-02

    Standardized robotics vocabulary (3rd edition). Reference for terms such as mobile robot, service robot or autonomy.

Home (5)