Intel has already been making a name for itself with the Aero drone and its Yuneec drone investments, but it’s ready to head into the commercial space for itself. The company announced its first branded commercial drone for North American markets at the INTERGEO drone conference in Hamburg, Germany. The Falcon 8+ drone is a ready-to-fly drone for industrial inspection, surveying and mapping.
“Drones are an important computing platform for the future, and Intel is positioning itself at the forefront of this opportunity to provide the compute, sensor, communications and cloud integration for the growing drone ecosystem,” wrote Josh Walden, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s New Technology Group, in an announcement.
According to Intel, the Falcon 8+ focuses on safety, simplicity, performance and precision. It includes the Intel Cockpit, a water-resistant user interface for ground control, and the Intel Powerpack for smart battery control. It features a V-form octocopter, AscTec autopilot, aerial sensors, and waypoint automation, as well as similar features to its predecessor , the AscTec Falcon 8.
“With the introduction of the Intel Falcon 8+ system, Intel is setting a new standard for commercial-grade drones, incorporating full electronic system redundancy, and automated aerial-sensing solutions with best-in-class onboard sensors,” Walden wrote.
