FLIR Systems Acquires Prox Dynamics for $134 Million

FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced today that it has acquired Prox Dynamics AS, a leading developer and manufacturer of nano-class unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for military and para-military intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance applications, for approximately $134 million in cash.

Based in Oslo, Norway and founded in 2007 by pioneers in nano helicopter technologies, Prox Dynamics develops, manufactures, and distributes aerial sensors that are revolutionarily small, light, and covert surveillance systems. Prox Dynamics’ Personal Reconnaissance System (PRS) features their Black Hornet aerial sensor and a hand controller, a system that is pocket sized and hand-launched by a soldier in the field, enabling a significant advantage in situational awareness and mission planning. The Black Hornet aerial sensor utilizes FLIR’s Lepton micro thermal camera, visible spectrum cameras, advanced low-power rotor technology, and proprietary software for flight control, stabilization, and communications. The Black Hornet helicopter is one of the lightest, stealthiest, and safest drones in the market, offering a highly advanced, lifesaving surveillance solution for traditional military forces and special operations forces. Weighing less than one ounce, the Black Hornet helicopter can fly for up to 25 minutes at line-of-sight distances of up to one mile.

The PD-100 Black Hornet is a nano UAV developed by Prox Dynamics. The Black Hornet offers intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support to armed forces in mission critical operations. The UAV gives access to remote locations and provides situational awareness on the battle field.The Black Hornet has been deployed in Afghanistan to meet the surveillance requirements of the UK Armed Forces.

The addition of the Prox Dynamics business will augment FLIR’s Surveillance segment by extending FLIR’s Airborne sensor product line and fully leveraging Lepton technology. FLIR intends to invest in optimizing the PRS platform to further enhance the range, cost, flexibility, and performance of the system. The Prox Dynamics team will benefit from close interaction with FLIR’s thermal sensor development group as well as the ability to leverage FLIR’s brand, distribution, and customer support infrastructure to better serve a global base of users. The business will become FLIR’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) line of business operating within the Surveillance segment.

“This acquisition adds a unique unmanned aerial systems capability to our portfolio. The Prox Dynamics team has created a highly-differentiated solution, incorporating our Lepton sensor, for advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance that fits well with our vision for growth for our Surveillance segment,” said Andy Teich, President and CEO of FLIR. “The team at Prox Dynamics operates with a commercial mindset, which is a great fit for FLIR’s ‘commercially developed, military qualified,’ or ‘CDMQ,’ operating philosophy. We are excited to welcome the Prox Dynamics team to FLIR and look forward to working together to further advance this remarkable system capability.”

FLIR anticipates the business and related transaction costs will be approximately $0.01 dilutive to its 2016 earnings per share.

Source: Press Release

General Atomics Offers Capital Aircraft to Support Humanitarian Efforts

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) has announced that it can provide a company-owned aircraft to support humanitarian relief efforts.

“Angel One,” an aircraft based on the jet-propelled Predator RPA system owned and operated by GA-ASI, is capable of delivering 8,500 pounds of Humanitarian Daily Ration packets (HDRs) for 3,400 people each day. This capability could ensure that urgently needed food and medical supplies to reach those otherwise inaccessible, such as victims of war-–as in Syria–or following natural disasters throughout the world.

Using a specially designed internal bay door release mechanism, which allows for two separate drops of aid per mission, the field is evenly distributed with HDRs, increasing the likelihood of civilians successfully retrieving needed aid, and ensuring greater delivery success over more traditional “pallet” aid drops.

“Angel One” can fly up to three missions of three hours each per day for as long as humanitarian relief is required.

Source: Press Release

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SkyTap, Inc Co-Founder Invited to Speak at the World's Largest Business Aviation Event

Come meet us at National Business Aviation Association: Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA:BACE) in Orlando, FL on Nov. 1-3.

"Taylor Butterfield, an unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) pilot, also will speak at the general session. A vice-president and co-founder of SkyTap, Inc., a company that manages large, commercial UAS flight operations, Butterfield has a background in aviation research and training, and will share his insights into UAS technology and the many career opportunities it offers to young professionals in this field."

We will see you there to talk about Sourcing the Sky!

Ohio Turnpike Preparing to Use Drones for Inspection

BEREA, Ohio – The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission in September will complete its first bridge inspection using an unmanned aircraft system, or drone.

The drone will be used to inspect the Sandusky River Bridge, a 970-foot-long bridge in Sandusky County on either Sept. 13 or Sept. 14, depending on the weather.

Typically, the bridge receives a hands-on inspection by engineering firm AECOM. However, that can prove challenging given the length and width – 102 feet – of the bridge, according to Randy Cole, executive director of the turnpike.

Cole, who lives in Aurora, for days drove by the inspection of the Cuyahoga Valley Bridge and thought, "there has to be a better way," as he watched inspectors dangle under bridges in snooper trucks – trucks with a bucket attached to an arm that can extend under a bridge.

So, when the opportunity came up to work with the Ohio/Indiana UAS Center, the Ohio Department of Transportation and a UAS company, senseFly, on a drone bridge inspection, he was on board.

"We hope to determine if the use of a drone may reduce the time and expense and increase safety when performing these types of inspections on the turnpike and on the ODOT system," Cole said Monday during a turnpike commission meeting.

https://www.sensefly.com/drones/albris.html Explore the applications and benefits of the senseFly albris drone. Designed from the ground up for inspection and close mapping work, this intelligent quadcopter is uniquely suited to the up-close monitoring of structures such as bridges, dams, GSM towers and powerlines, plus automated horizontal and point of interest mapping projects.

The turnpike commission will compare the results of the drone inspection with those garnered by AECOM's in-person inspection.

"It's safer for our motorists. It's safer for the people doing it. What we want to validate is that the data is as good or better than we would get by human visual inspection," Cole said.

During snooper truck inspections, part of the turnpike has to be shut down and crews have to establish work zones. Using a drone could eliminate the need for such work zones during inspections.

If the drone bridge inspection proves successful, the turnpike will consider allowing contractors to use drones for other activities, such as construction services and for emergency response, Cole said.

"In a large pile-up that happens on any of our interstates in this country, getting a drone through the traffic to see what's happening at the point of impact is safer and faster than trying to get humans and trucks through," Cole said.

He made note of the Fulton County accident on the toll road in June that involved a truck carrying liquid hydrogen. Humans couldn't get near the truck, which caught fire after the crash, but a drone could have had better access to check the temperature of the truck to to gauge its fuel levels, he said.

"There's nothing that would have stopped a drone from getting as close as possible," Cole said. 

Source: Cleveland.com

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