Thermal imaging and sensor company FLIR Systems revealed this week that it has acquired major intellectual property (IP) and operating assets from drone maker Aria Insights.
The acquisition is a significant purchase for the company and could translate to new products catering to various clienteles for military and industrial applications.
While the exact terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, the company did mention that it has acquired Aria's core tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAS) systems, which can be integrated into its current line of products for various applications.
FLIR president of its Government and Defense unit, David Ray, mentioned in a statement that Aria's assets were of particular interest to the company as it is a valuable tool for various applications. Ray specifically mentioned thermal imaging drone applications such as critical infrastructure protection, force protection, and border security.
FLIR is apparently hoping to use Aria's assets to enhance its products' current capacities and for it to develop a wide range of solutions for their current and future customers. FLIR is currently the world's largest commercial company that specializes in the design and manufacturing of thermal imaging camera systems and components.
FLIR plans to integrate Aria's assets into its Unmanned Systems and Integrated Solutions Division. The assets will also be added to its growing technology portfolio, which was recently bolstered by the company's acquisition of Aeryon Labs and Endeavor Robotics earlier this year.
In 2016, the company also acquired Prox Dynamics, a company that specializes in micro unmanned aerial vehicle systems for military applications.
Former Aria Insights CEO Lance Vandenbrook mentioned in a separate statement that the company was pleased to have sold its assets to FLIR. The former executive stated that he was proud that the products the company had worked so hard to develop will be used as intended and that it would make a difference in supporting critical missions for its end users.
Aria Insights, which was previously known as Cyphy Works, was founded by iRobot co-founder Helen Greiner in 2008. The company specialized in developing UAS systems and was backed by major tech investors.
The company's most notable product was its Aerial Reconnaissance and Communications drone (PARC), which was capable of stable high altitude autonomous flights.
Unlike traditional wireless drones, Aria specialized in UAS systems that were connected to a base station using a microfilament wire. The tethered system allowed the company's drones to fly for a much longer duration for the purpose of reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence-related missions. Aria Insights previously announced that it was halting all of its operations in March of this year.
