FLIR Systems has announced that it has acquired the intellectual property and certain operating assets of Aria Insights, a tethered small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) company previously known as CyPhy Works that recently ceased operating. One of Aria’s most notable products was the Persistent Aerial Reconnaissance and Communications (PARC) tethered drone. The acquired assets will be integrated into FLIR’s Unmanned Systems and Integrated Solutions Division.
Tethered drones draw power from and communicate with a stationary platform or a vehicle via a microfilament tether. Tethered drone systems can provide persistent surveillance and enable longer-endurance missions, making them more suited for certain intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) situations than free-moving drones.
Lance Vandenbrook, former CEO of Aria Insights, said: “We’re pleased to complete the sale of our assets to FLIR Systems. 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.”
David Ray, president of FLIR’s Government and Defense business, commented: “Tethered UAS systems are becoming an increasingly valuable tool for force protection, border security, and critical infrastructure protection. 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.”
