HANGAR TALK UNMANNED
News relating to unmanned aerial systems
The Aria assets will be integrated into FLIR’s Unmanned Systems and Integrated Solutions Division, augmenting the company’s industry-leading technology portfolio built from its acquisitions of Prox Dynamics in 2016 and Aeryon Labs and Endeavor Robotics earlier this year.
FLIR Acquires Tethered Drone Assets and Technology from Aria Insights
FLIR Systems, Inc. recently announced that it has acquired the intellectual property (IP) and certain operating assets of Aria Insights, Inc. Terms of the deal are not being disclosed.
Previously known as CyPhy Works, Inc., Aria pioneered the development of tethered small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). Founded in 2008 by iRobot co- founder Helen Greiner and backed by several top technology investors, Aria
notably developed the Persistent Aerial Reconnaissance and Communications (PARC) tethered drone. The company ceased operations in March 2019.
Tethered drones connect to a base station or vehicle by microfilament wire, which provides both continuous power and secure communications. For certain applications, a tethered drone offers advantages over a free-flying UAS, enabling sustained operations on longer missions and persistent situational awareness so users can perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) functions.
“Tethered UAS systems are becoming an increasingly valuable tool for force protection, border security, and critical infrastructure protection,” said David Ray, president of FLIR’s Government and Defense business. “Aria’s innovative technology and IP assets will enable us to enhance current capabilities and advance the range of solutions we can deliver to customers in this growing market segment.”
“We’re pleased to complete the sale of our assets to FLIR Systems,” said Lance Vandenbrook, former CEO of Aria Insights. “We are proud of the technology our team developed through the operations of CyPhy Works and Aria, and we believe FLIR offers the best opportunity to see it make a difference and support critical missions in the years ahead.”
The threat of rogue drones has been well-publicized in recent months, with small, affordable aircraft widely available on the open market. Most concerningly, drone technology is evolving rapidly, creating a challenge for organizations that need to secure themselves against the misuse of such aircraft. The RAF’s research program will inform how the Air Force will respond to current and future threats and keep pace with technology over time, examining how operators will be able to detect, track, identify and defeat rogue drones.
Royal Air Force Research Program
At the DSEI 2019 exhibition, Leonardo announced that it has been selected by the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) to support the next stage of the RAF research and development program. The study will explore the current threat posed by hostile drones and how this is likely to evolve in the future, as well as evaluate a range of technologies that could form a future RAF counter-drone capability. The program is expected to last three years and will commence in early 2020.
42 Nov/Dec 2019 Selects Leonardo for Counter-Drone
Leonardo was chosen because of its pedigree in counter-drone technology. In 2018 and 2019, following drone sightings at Gatwick and Heathrow airports, elements of the company’s counter-drone technology were deployed by the RAF to allow airport operations to resume. The company offers its scalable and modular systems to military and civil customers in the UK and internationally, and has already been contracted for C-UAS equipment for the Italian Army and Air Force. The RAF’s research program will draw on this experience and build on previous collaborative C-UAS research to understand and meet the threat of rogue drones.
In the long run, the research and development program will help understand and inform requirements for a core RAF counter- drone capability, which would then be used to protect RAF Bases.
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