Aeryon Labs
IndustryAerospace
FoundedWaterloo, Canada (2 February 2007 (2007-02-02))
Headquarters
Waterloo, Ontario
,
Canada
ProductsUnmanned aerial vehicles
Websitewww.aeryon.com

Aeryon Labs is a Canadian developer and manufacturer of miniature unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario. Founded in 2007, it is a subsidiary of Denver, Colorado based company FLIR Systems.[1] The company has produced a variety of VTOL quadcopters unmanned aerial vehicles including the Aeryon Scout and the Aeryon SkyRanger series. Their UAV have been deployed in multiple disasters, conflicts around the world as well as being used by police in Canada.[2] Their UAV can be used to photograph crime scenes or assist in missing persons cases.[3] By 2018, the company's UAV had been purchased and put in use by the militaries of 20 countries.[4]

History

The company was founded in 2007 to research and develop VTOL quadcopters unmanned aerial vehicles in Waterloo, Ontario. The company has since expanded to two offices in Waterloo.[5] In 2018, they formed the subsidiary Aeryon Defense USA based in Denver, Colorado to focus on sales to the US Government.[4] Aeryon Labs was subsequently purchased by FLIR Systems in January 2019 for US$200 million.[6]

Products

Aeryon Scout in flight

Aeryon Scout

Aeryon Scout is a small reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed between 2007 and 2009 and produced from 2009-2015.

Operators:

SkyRanger

JGSDF UAV (Aeryon SkyRanger R60) aboard on JS Kunisaki(LST-4003) at Port of Yokohama November 5, 2022

Aeryon SkyRanger R60 is a small reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed between 2011–2013. Ontario Provincial Police use the system for traffic accident reconstruction[10] and locating missing persons.[11]

The Aeryon Skyranger R70 is an unarmed aircraft that was launched in 2013, it has been reported to gather intelligence information from more than 30 countries.

R80D SkyRaider was unveiled in 2018 in a trade show in Colorado.[12]

Notable Uses

In 2011 the company provided a Scout UAV to the Free Libyan Air Force.[13] In 2014, they were used in the Philippines after Typhoon Hagupit.[2] In 2016, they were used for relief efforts during the Fort McMurray wildfire in 2016 to survey damage.[14] That same year they were sent to Ecuador to survey damage from a 7.8 earthquake.[15] In 2018, the SkyRanger drone provided support for disaster response following Hurricane Irma.[16] In 2024, the Canadian Federal government announced it is donating 800 Aeryon SkyRanger R70 to Ukraine and they will be delivered by Spring 2024.[17]

Their UAV are also used by police services in Canada including the Thunder Bay police and the Windsor Police Service.[3] Waterloo Regional Police services in 2018 announced they were using one as well and the unit cost $85,172.11.[18] Waterloo police also use them to photograph car crashes, and to help in the search for missing persons.[19]

They are also used to inspect power lines as an alternative to helicopters.[20]

References

  1. ^ Davis, Brent (28 January 2019). "Waterloo drone maker Aeryon Labs acquired for US$200 million". The Record. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b Bueckert, Kate (28 January 2019). "Waterloo drone-maker Aeryon Labs bought by U.S. company for $265M". Canadian Broadcast Company. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Windsor police to launch drone unit this September". Canadian Broadcast Company. 24 June 2019. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Aeryon Labs launches new company focused on U.S. defence industry". CTV News. 1 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  5. ^ Bueckert, Kate (7 January 2016). "Waterloo drone-maker Aeryon Labs expands to second office". Canadian Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Aeryon Labs acquisition". National Post. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  7. ^ Aeryon Awarded Contract to Supply Scout UAV to Halton Regional Police Archived 21 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Aeryon Labs, dated 2 March 2011, retrieved 10 December 2013.
  8. ^ Ha, Tu Thanh (23 August 2011). "How High-Tech Canadian Drones Gave Libyan Rebels a Boost". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  9. ^ "OPP testing unmanned flying drone". CBC News. 9 May 2013. Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Police forces use drones to help clear traffic accidents - The Star". thestar.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  11. ^ "OPP sees success using drones to find missing persons". muskokaregion.com. 19 October 2016. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  12. ^ "New military drone unveiled in Denver". KUSA. 1 May 2018. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  13. ^ The Canadian Press (24 August 2011). "Canadian robot spy flies for Libyan rebels - Technology & Science - CBC News". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  14. ^ Rumley, Jonathan (11 May 2016). "Waterloo-based Aeryon Labs to help map Fort McMurray wildfire". Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Waterloo-based Aeryon Labs maps area hit by earthquake in Ecuador". Canadian Broadcast Company. 25 April 2016. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Aeryon Deploys SkyRangers to Support Hurricane Irma Response - Aeryon". www.aeryon.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  17. ^ Major, Darren (19 February 2024). "Canada donating hundreds of drones to help war effort in Ukraine". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 21 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  18. ^ Sharkey, Jackie (11 September 2018). "WRPS will soon use a drone for investigations, police report says". Canadian Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  19. ^ Sharkey, Jackie (19 March 2018). "WRPS to use drones in collision and missing person investigations". Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  20. ^ Common, David (30 May 2014). "Drones go commercial, take on tasks from industry to farming". Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2024.

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