FLIR Introduces StormCaster Payload Family for its SkyRaider and SkyRanger Drones

Next-Generation Line of UAS Payloads Delivers High-Performance, Multi-Sensor Capabilities for ISR, Event Overwatch, Search and Rescue, and Force Protection Missions

ARLINGTON, Va., November 19, 2019 ― FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced today the FLIR StormCaster™ family of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) payloads for its SkyRanger^® R70 and R80D SkyRaider^® airframes. The new line launches with two multi-sensor products –StormCaster-T, which delivers continuous zoom and longwave infrared (LWIR) imaging; and StormCaster-L, which provides ultra-low-light imaging, tracking, and mapping.

StormCaster represents FLIR Systems’ next generation payload family for the company’s own UAS airframes gained through the acquisition of Aeryon Labs in February 2019. The new line reflects a leap forward in scalable performance, offering a 7X improvement in line-of-sight stabilization, enhanced range of motion, and greater geolocation accuracy – all in a rugged package. 

Interoperability across the StormCaster family enables users to quickly and easily change modules on the FLIR SkyRanger and SkyRaider UAS systems. The StormCaster line will leverage continuing improvements in aircraft performance, providing small units with the organic capability to conduct increasingly demanding missions such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).

“StormCaster-L and –T are just the beginning of this new line of advanced, high-performance payloads for our small, tactical UAS platforms,” said David Ray, president of the Government and Defense Business Unit at FLIR. “For mission needs ranging from force protection and border security to clandestine operations, FLIR StormCaster will provide heightened situational awareness, bolstered by our aircraft’s onboard, real-time artificial intelligence.

“We will develop more multi-sensor payloads through 2020 that deliver on our promise to offer capabilities at the individual operator level that previously required larger, more expensive UAS,” Ray added.

The StormCaster-T features a FLIR Boson thermal camera to support detection, recognition, identification, and target acquisition day or night, with maximum range and time-on-station. Its continuous zoom lens, with a 75-millimeter maximum focal length, permits long distance ISR while providing clear, actionable imagery. The StormCaster-L ultra-low-light imaging camera offers superior ISR and mapping performance during twilight and nighttime operations. Key features include 4K recorded video and full-color night vision in low-light conditions.

Developed for United States (U.S.) defense and federal agencies, the R80D SkyRaider delivers a range of versatile Group 2 and 3 payload capabilities with the agility and single-operator deployment footprint of a proven Group 1 Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft. SkyRaider can carry and deliver multiple payloads up to 4.4 pounds and features an open architecture, plus one of the most powerful embedded AI computing devices available on a sUAS. Similar in capabilities to the R80D but for non-U.S. military customers, the SkyRanger R70 was designed for the most demanding UAS operators within the global defense, security, and public safety markets.

The new StormCaster payloads are available for purchase today. For more on FLIR StormCaster offerings, visit www.flir.com/StormCaster-L and www.flir.com/StormCaster-T.

Lack of Training, Certification Standards Ranked Top Challenge Facing Public Safety Drone Operations

DRONERESPONDERS November 5, 2019

DRONERESPONDERS names key issues facing first responders while exploring commercial UAS vendor landscape

MIAMI, FL – The lack of standardized training and certification is the top issue hampering public safety drone operations, according to DRONERESPONDERS – the world’s fastest growing non-profit organization supporting public safety UAS. The determination stems from a double-validated research initiative based on survey data, as well as live focus group feedback conducted during last week’s U.S. Public Safety UAS Summit held at Commercial UAV Expo Americas in Las Vegas.

Released on Monday, the new DRONERESPONDERS report Commercial Vendors and the Public Safety UAS Sector highlights the top five most important issues affecting the public safety drone sector as: airspace authorizations and COA’s; beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, training; standards, procedures and certifications; and program budgeting. These findings were based on the DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety UAS Survey conducted between August 25 and September 16, 2019.

DRONERESPONDERS then conducted focus group testing with attendees of the U.S. Public Safety UAS Summit to additionally validate the research findings. These results pointed to the lack of UAS training and certification standards as being the most pressing issue facing first responders operating drones. Rounding out the top five were: tactical BVLOS waivers; public outreach and education of drone operations; budgeting and grant funding; and data management.

“Up until now there has been widespread speculation that the lack of standards surrounding drone training and operating certification could be impacting the progression of public safety UAS programs,” says Chief Charles Werner (ret.), Director of DRONERESPONDERS. “We now have double-validated research that proves that hypothesis.”

Werner says that without formalized standards, the UAS training and certification landscape is like a “patchwork quilt of home-grown training solutions” which threatens the ability of public safety agencies to build consistent operating practices between jurisdictions.

Gene Robinson, a Texas-based drone search and rescue subject matter expert, agrees.

“The end result is that you might have drone teams from two separate agencies, trained in two entirely different protocols, showing up and trying to operate together at an incident scene,” claims Robinson. “Without common standards, flight operations can become extremely difficult while threatening to create a potentially unproductive and unsafe environment.”

Other key findings from the Commercial Vendors and the Public Safety UAS Sector report include:

1.       Long flight-time duration, visual zoom, and thermal/infrared capabilities are the top three desired features by public safety UAS operators.

2.       Search and rescue (SAR), situational awareness/live streaming, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) are the top three UAS missions ranked in order of importance to first responders operating drones.

3.       The sweet-spot for manufactures to price a small UAS with combined visual and thermal/infrared remote sensing capabilities is between $2,000 and $5,000 USD.

“The DRONERESPONDERS public safety UAS summit really illustrated how far law enforcement, fire service, and other first responders have come in adopting unmanned aerial systems for a wide variety of missions,” said Robinson. “DRONERESPONDERS has set a new standard on what a public safety drone conference should be.”

To download a complimentary copy of the DRONERESPONDERS Commercial Vendors and the Public Safety UAS Sector report, visit: http://research.droneresponders.org

About DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Alliance

DRONERESPONDERS is the world’s fastest growing non-profit program supporting public safety UAS. The DRONERESPONDERS mission is to facilitate preparedness, response and resilience using unmanned aircraft systems and related technologies operated by public safety, emergency management, and non-governmental volunteer organizations around the world. The DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Alliance is a 501(c)3 non-profit operating program of AIRT, Inc. For more information on DRONERESPONDERS, please visit: http://droneresponders.org