FLIR acquires Aria assets
FLIR Systems has acquired the intellectual property and a number of the operating assets of Aria Insights.
Aria – previously known as CyPhy - developed tethered small unmanned aerial systems, including the Persistent Aerial Reconnaissance and Communications platform.
The company ceased operating in March 2019, and the assets acquired will now be integrated into FLIR's Unmanned Systems and Integrated Solutions division, complementing the company's previous acquisitions of Prox Dynamics in 2016 and Aeryon Labs and Endeavor Robotics earlier in 2019.
‘Tethered UAS systems are becoming an increasingly valuable tool for force protection, border security, and critical infrastructure protection,’ David Ray, president of FLIR's Government and Defense business, said.
‘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.’
The 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 UAV, FLIR says, enabling sustained operations on longer missions and persistent situational awareness so users can perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.
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