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GeoCue Announces New Partnership with Clogworks Technologies

Tuesday, February 4th, 2025

Setting New Standards in European Aerial Mapping with Enhanced LiDAR Capabilities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 3, 2025

Huntsville, AL – GeoCue, a global leader in LiDAR acquisition and data processing solutions, is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with UK-based drone designer and manufacturer, Clogworks Technologies Limited. This partnership brings together GeoCue’s TrueView LiDAR and LP360 software solutions with Clogworks’ best-in-class Dark Matter range of multi-rotor UAVs, delivering a unique and highly efficient mapping and surveying solution to professionals around the world.

Clogworks Technologies, founded in 2014 in Yorkshire, UK, specializes in delivering modular and adaptable carbon fiber drones that excel in challenging and complex environments. The partnership with GeoCue positions Clogworks to offer its customers advanced LiDAR scanning technology along with LP360—an industry-leading data processing software that offers quick turnaround and in-depth analytics. By combining these offerings, clients can benefit from an end-to-end data capture and analysis solution, backed by extensive training and customer support.

“For over a year, we’ve enjoyed great cooperation on UK projects with GeoCue, and we value their transparent approach to pricing and outstanding technical expertise,” said Laurence Opdam, Director of Clogworks Technologies Limited. “By becoming a TrueView hardware integrator, as well as offering LP360 software, we’re confident we can deliver the highest quality solutions for our customers. This new partnership will help us meet the growing demand for non-Chinese drone and LiDAR integrations worldwide.”

“Clogworks has demonstrated outstanding innovation and expertise in designing highly capable UAVs. Integrating our TrueView 535 sensor with their Dark Matter hX Gen 2 drone opens exciting possibilities for customers seeking fully integrated, high-precision LiDAR solutions,” said Vincent Legrand, Vice President of Global Sales at GeoCue. “We have already seen impressive performance in the field, and we look forward to providing surveyors, government agencies, and research institutions with an all-in-one approach that ensures accurate data capture and streamlined workflows.”

With this alliance, Clogworks will offer GeoCue’s TrueView products globally, ensuring seamless integration of LiDAR sensors to its Dark Matter UAV platforms, including the Dark Matter hX Gen 2 and the Dark Matter qD Gen 2. Both companies are committed to ongoing research and development, delivering cutting-edge solutions for professional operators in surveying, engineering, and other geospatial applications.

Posted in Industry, International, Press Release, Sensors, UAS | No Comments »

Saab Receives Giraffe 4A Radar Order for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe

Monday, December 9th, 2024

Saab has received an order from BAE Systems in support of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe for multiple Giraffe 4A radar systems. The contract value is approximately $48M (525 MSEK). Deliveries will start in 2027.

Giraffe 4A will provide long range surveillance and Air Base Air Defence in a highly mobile package for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

“Giraffe 4A is a multi-function radar that provides users a range of surveillance capabilities in support of comprehensive air defense,” says Erik Smith, President and CEO of Saab in the U.S. “This system will modernize the U.S. Air Force’s expeditionary combat airfield surveillance operations and strengthen sensing capabilities, addressing a critical need overseas.”

Giraffe 4A is a digital multi-channel system featuring the latest Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology and will be delivered from Saab in the U.S. and Sweden.

BAE Systems Technical Solutions & Services Inc. is the prime contractor for this award in support of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

Posted in Air Force, Contracts, Press Release, Sensors | Comments Off on Saab Receives Giraffe 4A Radar Order for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe

TRX DAPS II Approved for Full-Rate Production

Wednesday, December 4th, 2024

The U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S) recently announced that the TRX DAPS GEN IIsolution has received approval for Full-Rate Production (FRP).

TRX received the $402 million DAPS GEN II Program of Record award from the U.S. Army just 18 months ago, so achieving the FRP milestone this quickly is an outstanding accomplishment that demonstrates the rapid and successful DAPS GEN II program execution.

www.trxsystems.com

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Soldiers Provide Input on Microsensor Tech Developed in Partnership with ROK

Tuesday, November 19th, 2024

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — This year, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center hosted a Soldier touchpoint event at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Edgewood, Maryland to test out new unmanned drones equipped with a set of microsensors developed in conjunction with the Republic of Korea’s Agency for Defense Development, or ROK ADD. Soldier touchpoints are one of the first major milestones in testing a potential technology to be fielded.

The microsensor effort began as a partnership between the Center and ROK ADD in 2018 to successfully meet the stringent form-factor requirements set forth by the customer. Kevin Wan, a DEVCOM CBC chemical engineer and project manager for the microchemical sensor effort, called in ROK ADD for assistance with the 3-gram sensor size requirement while his team focused on suitable use cases. Both centers pushed to complete their collaborative effort in time for this upcoming user assessment.

“The design space was quite limiting to begin with, so we worked with our Korean partners to get this working on a three-gram payload,” said Wan. “The hornet drones are great at intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, but adding chemical-sensing capabilities would further its use cases — this is what we primarily wanted to focus on.”

The effort came to a head on July 31, 2024, when the center hosted Soldiers from the U.S. Army Reserve’s 455 Chemical Brigade, headquartered in Sloan, Nevada, as well as their partners from ROK ADD, which serves as their DEVCOM equivalent, in an exercise where all participants could give concerted feedback on the drones and sensors.

Initial funding for the project came from DEVCOM Soldier Center in Natick, Massachusetts, which had the need for a sensor weighing no more than three grams. This form factor would specifically fit on the Black Hornet III, a currently fielded minuscule drone platform weighing in at 38 grams. The project received funding from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy International Cooperation Office’s Coalition Warfare Program and other organizations.

Wan and his team shifted their focus on the sensor’s early warning detection capabilities against a chemical threat — whether it may be a nerve or blister agent. They then focused their efforts on redundancy and reliability to increase detection. “Having two independent sensors provide the same response would increase the confidence of detection,” said Wan. “That redundancy and reliability coupled with a low limit of detection for early warning is critical to us and our Soldiers.”

To test their prototypes, DEVCOM CBC invited CBRN specialists to learn how to fly these drones and run a simulated scenario involving piloting the Black Hornets into various tents in an enclosed space with one of the tents housing a simulated agent. Cpl. Brittney Batimana, one of the Soldiers involved, said that the new drones would increase Soldiers’ safety and mission success.

“It’s pretty simple — once you get comfortable with the camera’s point of view, it’s easy to identify your targets,” said Batimana. “Our job is to identify and decontaminate hazards: this is just another way for us to always stay prepared if a situation were to ever turn chemical.”

The collaborative effort between the two centers was evident throughout the Soldier touchpoint and mirrored the success of this joint development process. “We love to work together with our partners,” said Wan. “Highly competent and highly intelligent. What we both want to see going forward are more use cases and increasing the library of threats that can be detected.” This sentiment was further echoed by Dr. Myung Kyu Park, Wan’s ROK ADD counterpart and micro chemical sensor project manager: “We do very well together — [they] worked very hard to see that these sensors work.”

Increasing the library of substances to detect would include various explosives, narcotics or industrial chemicals, furthering the drone’s use cases significantly beyond the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance realm. With the success of the Soldier touchpoint exercise, Wan and his team know that the form factor lends itself to an even wider variety of scenarios.

By Parker Martin

Posted in CBRNE, Guest Post, ISR, Sensors, UAS | Comments Off on Soldiers Provide Input on Microsensor Tech Developed in Partnership with ROK

Wideband Selective Propagation Radar System (WiSPR)- Valuable Technology for Warfighters

Saturday, October 26th, 2024

On 10 July 2024, the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) and the Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) demonstrated the project Wideband Selective Propagation RADAR (WiSPR) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Developed in collaboration with MIT Lincoln Laboratory since the fall of 2021, WiSPR is an advanced, low-observable, multi-function Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and communications system that operates at novel frequencies and modulations.

A significant advantage of WiSPR is its capability to counter adversary Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) by detecting and locating armored vehicles with Active Protection Radar Systems (APS). The adoption of WiSPR mitigates this threat due to its inherent low probability of detection.

An innovative feature of WiSPR is its specialized cooling system, which efficiently removes the large amounts of heat produced by the 1,000 WiSPR transmit elements. This effective cooling system expels heat generated by the array’s components via specially designed thermal radiators.

After five years of development, WiSPR’s unique Low Probability of Detection/ Low Probability of Intercept (LPD/LPI) APS capabilities and inter-vehicle communications will transition to the production cycle in the coming months. Lt. Gen. Robert A. Rasch, Jr., Director of RCCTO, stated, “WiSPR is a classic example of how RCCTO does business, a testament to our success, and why we as an Army can adapt to future threats.”

By Venetia Gonzales

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Sensors | Comments Off on Wideband Selective Propagation Radar System (WiSPR)- Valuable Technology for Warfighters

GeoCue Launches LP360 Land Software to Process TrueView GO Handheld LiDAR Data

Sunday, October 13th, 2024

Maximize Handheld LiDAR Scanning with the All-New LP360 Land Software

Huntsville, AL – GeoCue, a leader in geospatial technology, is proud to announce the release of LP360 Land, a new addition to the LP360 software ecosystem designed to elevate handheld LiDAR scanning with the TrueView GO.

The TrueView GO, launched in August, set a new standard for handheld LiDAR scanners by combining advanced hardware with user-friendly operation. Now, LP360 Land empowers users to transform their raw handheld data into valuable insights and deliverables with ease.

“The integration of LP360 Land with the TrueView GO is a game-changer for professionals seeking efficient and accurate data processing,” said Frank Darmayan, CEO of GeoCue. “This powerful combination enables users to seamlessly process, visualize, and analyze their handheld LiDAR data, enhancing their overall workflow.”

LP360 Land offers an intuitive workflow that simplifies the processing of LiDAR, GNSS, and SLAM handheld sensor data. Key features include:

• Multi-scan import and processing capability

• Coordinate systems (datum and projection) management

• Powerful SLAM/PPK/RTK point cloud processing: Generate accurate and colorized point clouds even in GPS-denied environments

• Advanced visualization tools: Utilize multiple synchronized windows, including 2D, 3D, profile, and immersive views.

• QA / QC and data editing / cleaning tools

• Manual and automatic registration (LAS to LAS and LAS to Control Points)

• Image explorer for contextual analysis (Point cloud to Photo)

“We are excited to see how LP360 Land will enhance the capabilities of TrueView GO users,” said Vivien Heriard-Dubreuil, CEO of mdGroup. “With LP360 Land, the user can combine LiDAR data coming from mobile, aerial and ground sensors to complete a job and work on a registered, colorized and georeferenced point cloud. This software reflects our commitment to providing innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of the geospatial community.”

LP360 Land is available in two plans to suit different user requirements:

• Basic: Ideal for TrueView GO users needing essential LAS file processing and fundamental data management tools.

• Standard: Includes all Basic features plus advanced functionalities like multi-cycle processing, control point management, point cloud registration, and automatic target recognition.

To further maximize your workflow, LP360 Land seamlessly integrates with LP360 Cloud, a suite of cloud-based tools designed to simplify the management, archiving, sharing, and collaboration of geospatial projects.

Explore the Full LP360 Product Line

LP360 Drone: Comprehensive tools for drone-based geospatial data workflows, including visualization, quality assessment, classification, 3D editing, and analysis.

LP360 Land: Tailored for TrueView GO and compatible handheld scanners, offering robust SLAM/PPK/RTK and imagery processing and advanced visualization capabilities.

LP360 Geospatial: Optimized workflow for processing LiDAR data or images, QA/QC data from various aerial or mobile sensors.

LP360 Cloud: Cloud-based solutions for project management and collaboration.

For more information about LP360 and how it can enhance your LiDAR and photogrammetry please visit www.lp360.com.com.

To learn more about GeoCue, visit www.geocue.com.

Posted in Press Release, Sensors | Comments Off on GeoCue Launches LP360 Land Software to Process TrueView GO Handheld LiDAR Data

Xer Technologies and GeoCue Introduce Long-Range Unmanned Airborne LiDAR and Imagery Data Collection Solution

Thursday, August 29th, 2024

Madison, AL, USA and Dietikon, Switzerland, 28th August 2024

GeoCue, a leader in LiDAR mapping hardware and software, and Xer Technologies AG, a Swiss manufacturer of long-endurance hybrid-electric drones, have successfully integratedGeoCue’s TrueView 720 LiDAR and imagery sensor with the Xer X8 UAV platform. This collaboration marks a significant advancement in scalable long-range LiDAR and imagery drone mapping technology.

The combination of the long-range, heavy-payload Xer X8 and the GeoCue TrueView 720 enhances aerial operations, enabling high-quality point cloud and imagery data collection over vast and challenging terrains. The integration significantly improves the aerial mapping and inspection workflow by delivering precise and reliable data, allowing operators to manage and monitor large areas more effectively.

“The integration of the Xer X8 UAV and GeoCue’s TrueView 720 sensor opens new possibilities for our clients, enablingthem to create point clouds, digital twins and maps over extended distances with unparalleled accuracy and speed,” said Gökmen Çetin, International Sales Manager at Xer Technologies. “This partnership demonstrates our commitment to providing innovative solutions that meet the industry’s evolving needs.”

“GeoCue is pleased to partner with Xer Technologies to bring this advanced 3D imaging solution to market,” said Vincent Legrand, Vice President Global Sales at GeoCue. “The Xer X8 drone, combined with our TrueView 720 sensor, offer an outstanding platform for collecting high-quality LiDAR and imagery data, enhancing the capabilities and productivity of professionals worldwide.”

This collaboration highlights both companies’ commitment to advancing LiDAR and UAV technology, delivering efficient and scalable solutions for a wide range of LiDARapplications.

Posted in Press Release, Sensors | Comments Off on Xer Technologies and GeoCue Introduce Long-Range Unmanned Airborne LiDAR and Imagery Data Collection Solution

GeoCue Launches TrueView GO – Expanding Its Portfolio with Advanced Handheld Mapping

Tuesday, July 30th, 2024

Easily and Quickly Capture Reality While You Walk.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2024

Huntsville, AL – GeoCue, a leader in geospatial solutions, proudly announces the addition of the TrueView GO to its innovative product lineup, which includes TrueView drone and mobile mapping systems as well as LP360 3D point cloud software. This latest release marks GeoCue’s entry into the handheld mapping arena, setting a new standard for portable, high-precision geospatial data collection.

The TrueView GO is the ultimate handheld mapping system designed for effortless reality capture and detailed 3D mapping. Its intuitive operation simplifies the process to “Ready, set, GO!”- making professional-grade scanning as easy as walking.

The TrueView GO series, featuring the 16-channel 116S and the 32-channel 132S models, integrates cutting-edge GNSS RTK, survey grade LiDAR scanning, cameras and visual SLAM technologies. These features enable users to effortlessly generate digital twins in real-time as they walk, capturing both indoor and outdoor environments with unprecedented ease and speed.

“Launching the TrueView GO, is logically the next step in growing our product offering,” said Frank Darmayan, CEO of GeoCue. “We now give you every option to collect data and make informed decisions about your projects: from the air, on the road, and now by simply walking with our handheld scanner.”

Key Features of the TrueView GO Include:

GNSS RTK and SLAM Fusion: Ensures superior mapping accuracy with a state-of-the-art GNSS Smart Antenna and high-precision LiDAR.

Real-Time SLAM Capabilities: The TrueView GO scanner produces real-time georeferenced point clouds displayed live on the tablet, allowing for instant adjustments and ensuring thorough coverage.

Operate with Weak or No GNSS: TrueView GO uses LiDAR and Visual SLAM to achieve superior results, even in areas without satellite signals, ideal for indoor and urban surveys.

Remote Measurement: The technology has the capability to scan inaccessible areas by collecting reference points without being on the exact point.

Loop-Free Path Planning With RTK: TrueView GO’s SLAM technology eliminates the need for traditional loop closure and overlap, reducing the time and distance required for project completion by allowing flexible, efficient path planning when you have GNSS coverage.

What sets the TrueView GO apart from other handheld mapping scanners is not just the scanner itself but also the powerful new software accompanying it—LP360 LAND. This custom-tailored geospatial software is specifically designed for processing handheld LiDAR and imagery data.

LP360 LAND enhances data accuracy with robust QA/QC tools, 3D point cloud processing and visualization, and featurescapabilities such as SLAM, denoising, colorization, registrationand classification. Leveraging both desktop and cloud environments, LP360 LAND efficiently handles diverse applications like data classification, tree segmentation, volume calculation, and export to BIM, delivering quick and seamless results.

“Our software is pivotal as it allows users to not only create detailed point clouds from raw data but also to carry out quality control on the LiDAR and image data collected,” said Vivien Heriard-Dubreuil, CEO of GeoCue parent company mdGroup. “Furthermore, the integration of LP360 LAND with TrueView GO enhances our workflow tremendously, offering the ability to effortlessly process, combine and integrate data from varied sources such as drones, mobile units, and terrestrial scans.”

The TrueView GO handheld mapping scanner helps to combine various data sets, enabling the creation of a digital twin of any project. The result is a dense, precise, and highly accurate As-built environment of your entire project.

GeoCue’s TrueView GO is designed for professionals across various industries, including surveying, civil engineering, construction, urban planning and forestry, providing them with the tools they need to collect detailed and accurate data efficiently.

“The TrueView GO represents a significant expansion of our addressable market beyond traditional drone LiDAR systems due to its accessibility, affordability, and ease of use,” explained Vincent Legrand, Vice President of Global Sales.

“This device is versatile enough to be used in a wide array of environments and applications, from indoor settings to expansive outdoor areas. Perfect for fields such as forensic crime scene investigations, historic building preservation, facility digitalization, and Scan to BIM processes. Essentially, if you can walk through your project, you can utilize the TrueViewGO. This adaptability opens up countless possibilities for professionals across various industries, ensuring that advanced mapping technology is now within reach of many more users.”

The TrueView GO is now available for pre-orders, packaged with the powerful LP360 LAND processing software, allowing users to process, combine, and fuse collected data with unparalleled ease.

To learn more about GeoCue, visit www.geocue.com.

Posted in Press Release, Sensors | Comments Off on GeoCue Launches TrueView GO – Expanding Its Portfolio with Advanced Handheld Mapping