Robinson Helicopter Firm (RHC), a world chief in civilian rotorcraft, has acquired Ascent AeroSystems, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Robinson Helicopter Firm. This acquisition reinforces Robinson’s dedication to scaling innovation, accelerating new rotorcraft developments, and supporting numerous missions worldwide. By leveraging the experience and sources of each firms, Robinson reinforces its management in the way forward for vertical flight programs and utility missions.
Ascent AeroSystems, acknowledged for its environment friendly and compact coaxial helicopter drones designed for industrial, public security, and protection functions, brings a wealth of technological synergies that align with Robinson’s strategic imaginative and prescient for progress and enlargement into new markets. By the acquisition, Ascent can now develop and scale by constructing its UAVs at Robinson’s cost-effective, vertically built-in manufacturing facility in Torrance, CA.
Ascent AeroSystems’ experience in autonomous electrical flight expertise and modular design philosophy will improve Robinson’s choices. The mixing of rising applied sciences and a various ecosystem of payloads, energy sources, and launch strategies will additional improve the corporate’s mission-focused choices, together with crewed-uncrewed teaming and interoperability throughout product households.
“This strategic acquisition is consistent with our imaginative and prescient to broaden our choices and meet rising world demand for enhanced mission capabilities in regulation enforcement, public security, firefighting, utility, and protection,” mentioned David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Firm. “Ascent’s superior applied sciences and versatile designs complement our means to be the preeminent selection in world rotorcraft.”
Ascent AeroSystems’ distinctive cylindrical, coaxial airframes stand out from opponents in every weight class, providing unparalleled flight efficiency, payload capability, and reliability in comparison with standard multirotor configurations. Included on the Protection Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Blue UAS Cleared Record, the flagship Spirit is a compact, modular, rugged, all-weather platform engineered to function reliably in probably the most difficult environments, together with excessive wind, heavy rain, sleet, snow, and blowing sand. The bigger NX30 affords greater than twice the payload capability in a heavy elevate variant, or it may be configured with extra batteries for flights exceeding an hour.
“Drones primarily based on consumer-grade electronics won’t ever be capable to present the security and dispatch reliability wanted to assist operations at scale,” mentioned Peter Fuchs, Ascent AeroSystems’ CEO. “They are going to finally require a sort certificates for the plane, a manufacturing certificates for the manufacturing facility, an working certificates for the community, and a upkeep certificates for the restore station. That’s the usual that has offered the muse for civil aviation for the final eight many years. It’s a rigorous course of, and there aren’t any shortcuts. The legal guidelines of physics and aerodynamics favor coaxials, and with Robinson’s fifty years of expertise, there’s now no higher home supply for dependable, mission-critical UAV platforms.”
UAS are more and more built-in into conventional rotorcraft operations in sectors together with protection, public security, agriculture, vitality, utilities, development, logistics, delivery, and surveying. Ascent AeroSystems will preserve its headquarters close to Boston.
Ascent AeroSystems will probably be exhibiting at AUVSI in San Diego in sales space #4345, April 23-25, 2024.
About Ascent AeroSystems
Ascent AeroSystems’ compact, all-weather, high-performance, uncrewed aerial programs are designed and constructed within the USA. Based mostly on patented coaxial expertise, they provide unmatched versatility and are the perfect platforms for mission-critical operations and system integrators in public security, industrial, authorities, and enterprise functions. For extra data, go to https://ascentaerosystems.com/
About Robinson Helicopter Firm
For greater than 50 years, Robinson Helicopter Firm has been on the forefront of the helicopter business by delivering safety-enhancing applied sciences, together with OEM-designed crash-resistant gas cells, 4K cockpit video cameras, autopilot programs, and NVG-compatible cockpits. Robinson is dedicated to growing, manufacturing, and supporting probably the most dependable and environment friendly helicopters within the business. For extra data, go to www.robinsonheli.com
