Aerospace manufacturer Empirical Systems Aerospace Inc. (ESAero) will support the defense and commercial UAS business of Planck Aerosystems (Planck Aero) through a new partnership between the two companies. 

In support of increasing demand across Planck’s customer base, both domestically and internationally, ESAero will manufacture Planck Aero’s Group 1 UAS, Shearwater, in its manufacturing plant in San Luis Obispo, California, which will support Planck’s strategy to scale the company.

The companies note that the Shearwater UAS is the preferred small multi-rotor platform to host the Planck Autonomous Control Engine – ACETM navigation system, which enables the UAS to operate autonomously from moving vehicles and vessels, including vision-based precision landing.

Capable of being retrofit to almost any UAS, regardless of size, the Planck ACETM navigation system uses standard open interfaces compatible with third-party UAS.

“Having a high-quality UAS that’s made in the U.S. is critical to our growth strategy, and ESAero is an ideal partner to support that growth,” says Planck’s CEO and co-founder, Josh Wells. “We’re excited to work with Andy and the ESAero team going forward.”

Planck Aero will be at booth 1739 during Xponential 2019.