Heerbrugg,Switzerland, May 30, 2013”Leica Geosystems, the leading manufacturer of airborne mapping solutions, announces today that it has entered into a cooperation and distribution agreement with Aibotix, an innovative manufacturer of multicopter unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to create end-to-end solutions for the professional inspection and mapping market. Lightweight unmanned aerial multicopter systems such as the Aibotix X6 provide distinct advantages for inspection tasks on infrastructure such as powerlines, bridges, dams and power plants. In addition, due to their vertical take-off-and-landing capability as well as their favorable payload capacity, they represent an ideal platform for vertical and locally focused mapping tasks such as buildings and other vertical structures such as rock faces.
The Aibotix X6 multicopter was designed specifically for inspection applications in difficult areas with no piloting expertise required, says Joerg Lamprecht, Managing Director at Aibotix. It thus features simple operation, easy and plug-and-play payload integration, fully autonomous flight planning and execution as well as a number of monitoring features to ensure safe operation. Leica Geosystems is an ideal partner for us as the leading manufacturer of surveying, mapping and geospatial solutions with a global distribution network.
For us this is really the next step in our UAS strategy, says Rüdiger Wagner, General Manager of Solutions, Geospatial Solutions Division. UAS-based mapping solutions are on the increase and we have been carefully expanding our exposure to this market by focusing on select applications. Together with Aibotix we can create more solutions for more applications that fit our customer's needs perfectly.
UAS solutions for inspection applications will be available from Leica Geosystems from Q3, 2013.
For more information, please contact us on [email protected] and visit www.leica-geosystems.com or www.aibotix.com.
About Aibotix GmbH
The name Aibotix is emblematic of the company's two core technologies (AI from artificial intelligence and BOTIX from robotics). Founded in 2010, Aibotix develops and produces high-quality, intelligent flying machines that are particularly easy to operate due to their high degree of automation. Various cameras and sensors are available for particular tasks, especially those where human-piloted craft entail high risk and expense, such as aerial industrial inspection of wind turbines or outdoor cables.
Aibotix was founded by a team of experienced entrepreneurs who have worked intensively on advanced image processing, sensor technology and robotics for many years. Aibotix is represented in 14 countries and provides quality support and service worldwide. Sound financials and strong growth potential make Aibotix attractive to investors. Aibotix GmbH employs 28 people, and is headquartered in Kassel, Germany.
About Leica Geosystems' Airborne Solutions
With over 80 years of experience, Leica Geosystems is a global leader in the design, delivery and support of airborne digital and LiDAR sensors for the geospatial marketplace. Along with the well-known Leica RC30, Leica Geosystems' airborne sensor portfolio today includes a wide range of innovative technologies and products such as the Leica RCD30 series of medium format digital frame cameras, the Leica ADS pushbroom sensors, the Leica ALS LiDAR series, and the Leica IPAS GNSS/IMU solutions.
Following the acquisition of Intergraph by Hexagon in 2010, Hexagon Geosystems' newly formed Geospatial Solutions Division has brought together Leica Geosystems Airborne Sensors and Z/I Imaging. Committed to continued innovation on all major product lines, the combined airborne sensor portfolio includes the widest range of medium and large format imaging as well as LiDAR technologies and offers a choice of sensor for every application. A full suite of software from flight planning to post-processing provides end-to-end workflow for high accuracy orthophoto generation, feature extraction and map production. In addition, Hexagon Geosystems operates a global network of customer service and support centers to ensure highest productivity.
Leica Geosystems “ when it has to be right
With close to 200 years of experience pioneering solutions to measure the world, Leica Geosystems products and services are trusted by professionals worldwide to help them capture, analyze, and present spatial information. Leica Geosystems is best known for its broad array of products that capture accurately, model quickly, analyze easily, and visualize and present spatial information.
Those who use Leica Geosystems products every day trust them for their dependability, the value they deliver, and the superior customer support. Based in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, Leica Geosystems is a global company with tens of thousands of customers supported by more than 3'500 employees in 28 countries and hundreds of partners located in more than 120 countries around the world. Leica Geosystems is part of the Hexagon, Sweden.
