Robinson Unmanned and MicroVision, Inc. have entered into a joint marketing and demonstration agreement to advance the integration of MicroVision’s MOVIA Air Plus lidar technology with the SPIRIT Group 1 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).
The collaboration aims to demonstrate how compact airborne lidar can capture, process, and generate detailed spatial information in real time. The integration is intended to help reduce the time between data collection and actionable insight, supporting situational awareness in rapidly changing operating environments.
MOVIA Air Plus combines camera and lidar data to provide real-time mapping, localization, and navigation, including in environments where foliage or camouflage can limit visual sensing. Designed for airborne and mobile applications, the technology can support surveying and mapping, infrastructure inspection, autonomous operations, public safety, security, and defense applications.
Glen DeVos, Chief Executive Officer of MicroVision, commented, “Robinson Unmanned brings deep expertise in UAS platforms and understands what customers need from airborne systems operating in demanding environments. Integrating MOVIA Air Plus with their platform demonstrates how our lidar technology can enable real-time mapping and situational awareness from the air. We see significant opportunities to apply these capabilities across commercial, civil, security, and defense markets.”
The SPIRIT Group 1 UAS is an aviation-grade, NDAA-compliant, Blue UAS-cleared platform designed for mission adaptability and operation in demanding environments. Its Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) enables the rapid integration of sensing, communications, and other mission technologies without redesigning the underlying aircraft. Robinson Unmanned is the UAS business unit of Robinson Helicopter Company, focusing on scalable Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) platforms for civil and defense missions.
Paul Fermo, President of Robinson Unmanned, added, “Open architecture matters because it gives operators access to new capability without having to redesign the aircraft around it. MOVIA Air Plus brings compact, real-time perception and mapping capability that aligns well with SPIRIT’s modular architecture. Working with MicroVision gives us another opportunity to demonstrate how advanced sensing can be rapidly integrated to give operators better information, faster, across commercial, public safety and defense missions.”
The collaboration reflects MicroVision’s broader strategy of working with platform providers and technology partners to integrate its lidar and perception solutions into real-world systems and accelerate adoption across industrial, security, and defense markets.
The companies plan to conduct joint demonstrations and customer evaluations of the integrated solution throughout the remainder of 2026.
