Santa Monica startup AirMap revealed it had pulled off a major coup on Tuesday, as it was revealed that the company – which was only officially launched a week ago – had provided the software development kit for Intel’s latest quadcopter.
The startup outfit had already been working closely with industry leaders such as DJI, Aeryon Labs and 3D Robotics, so the Intel connection comes as a natural – yet extremely important step – for a company which seems destined to reach great heights.
AirMap’s software is designed to create a safe space in which drones can fly without posing, or facing hazards. The software is designed to manage the lower airpspace by relaying real-time information gathered by its drones to each other, and to other parties including other drone operators, regulators and airports. This information can also be used by developers and manufacturers to help keep the skies safe.
Intel’s new drone is being marketed specifically to developers as a switch-on-and-go, ready to fly drone. It’s Aero Compute Board runs Linux and RealSense, in addition to AirMap.
It’s not the first time a chip maker has gotten involved in the drone market, however; numerous competitors have dipped their toes in the water over the years. Ambarella has provided chips for DJI drone and GoPro cameras. Snapdragon, the flight platform by Qualcomm, along with its 4k cameras have been used in Tencent-Zerotech’s Ying – a drone which sends mid-flight data to the Chinese tech giant’s social media platforms, WeChat and QQ.
Intel CEO Brian Krzanich displays the Aero during his keynote at the 2016 Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco on August 16, 2016.
Intel CEO Brian Krzanich displays the Aero during his keynote at the 2016 Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco on August 16, 2016.
In fact, Intel itself is no newcomer, having invested previously in various startups including the PrecisionHawk fixed-wing agro-drone, and AirWare – a commercial drone operating system. The Santa Clara multinational also took control, earlier this year, of a German company, Ascending Technologies, which specializes in autopilot technology.
Both AirMap and Intel will be looking forward hopefully to the end of the year, when the Aero Ready-to-Fly drone will hit the market. The exact date and price, however, have yet to be fixed.