Iris Automation selected as DAA provider for Avidrone Aerospace
Avidrone Aerospace to provide Iris Automation’s Casia to power safe beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations for long-range UAS cargo delivery
San Francisco (August, 2020) — Iris Automation today announced it has been selected as the exclusive airborne detect-and-avoid (DAA) provider to Avidrone Aerospace, a leading OEM of long-range, cargo delivery and sensor payload aircraft and autopilot systems. The partnership allows Avidrone customers to conduct Beyond-Visual-Line-of Sight (BVLOS) flights for commercial delivery operations.
Iris Automation’s Casia is the first onboard DAA solution to enable commercial BVLOS operations for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The system allows a UAS to see and react to the aviation environment around the aircraft. Casia detects other aircraft, uses computer-vision algorithms to classify them, makes intelligent decisions about the threat they may pose to the drone, and then triggers an alert to the pilot in command and automates maneuvers to safely avoid collisions.
Avidrone Aerospace develops and manufactures complete aircraft and proprietary autopilot systems enabling aerial applications that go to new levels of range, payload and capability. Avidrone’s fully automated tandem rotor is 10x more capable than the average drone – with a payload of 25kg, a range of 120 km, a top speed of 100km/h, and 1.3 hours of fly time.
The partnership opens a vast number of new use-cases to commercial airspace applications seeking new ways to move goods, resupply, and survey assets by drone.
“Combining the capabilities of Avidrone and Iris Automation brings a new range of advanced DAA delivery operations that the industry is demanding,” said Scott Gray, CEO of Avidrone Aerospace, “This partnership further removes red-tape to a host of new commercial operations desiring the full BVLOS capabilities that our tandem rotor, heavy-lift drones are specifically designed for.”
Starting today, Avidrone will provide the option of Casia integrated onto all of its drone platforms out-of-the-box. Combined, the two companies provide customers with an all-in-one package ready for advanced missions, including safe BVLOS operations.
About Iris Automation
Iris Automation is building a computer-vision-based collision avoidance system that helps drones see the world how pilots do. The company is based in San Francisco and is led by a team with experience at NASA, Boeing, and Nvidia, including PhDs in computer vision. Iris is a key partner on multiple FAA UAS Integration Pilot Programs, a participant of NASA’s Unmanned Traffic Management program and a participant of Transport Canada’s BVLOS Technology Demonstration Program.
Visit www.irisonboard.com
About Avidrone Aerospace
Since 2007, Avidrone Aerospace has been providing government, defense, and commercial organizations with innovative UAV-based transportation and logistics solutions that are designed and built in North America. Created and led by world renowned aviation experts and technology innovators, Avidrone Aerospace develops and manufactures complete aircraft and autopilot systems enabling aerial applications to industry that go to new levels of range, payload and capability. Avidrone’s designs are unique in the UAS industry with a variable collective, slow rotor rpm system that allows for a high speed, long range, low noise signature, stable platform for cargo delivery and sensor payloads.
For more information about Avidrone Aerospace and their UAV technologies and products, visit www.avidrone.com
