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Robot maker · registered

Teledyne FLIR (Unmanned Systems)

Defense marketsecurityinspectionCurated record

Scoped to the unmanned systems / physical-AI program only (SkyRanger, Black Hornet, ground robots, Prism AI, drone payloads). Excludes parent-wide Teledyne and FLIR imaging/instrumentation businesses. Waterloo, ON is the Aeryon-heritage UAS engineering and manufacturing site; Black Hornet is prod...

SkyRanger R70 performs advanced edge-of-network processing enabling onboard object detection and classification, with semi-autonomous flight in GPS- and communications-denied environments; airframe is carbon fiber/magnesium rated IP-54/MIL-810G. Black Hornet 4 is a 70 g nano-UAV with obstacle avoidance, 30+ minute endurance and 3+ km range carrying thermal and low-light EO cameras. The program also licenses its Prism AI object detection/tracking and autonomy software to third-party platform makers (e.g., Dragoon's Project Artemis prototypes). Heritage: Aeryon Labs (Waterloo, founded 2007, acquired by FLIR 2019), Prox Dynamics (Black Hornet, acquired 2016), Endeavor Robotics ground robots (acquired 2019); FLIR was acquired by Teledyne in 2021.

HeadquartersWaterloo, CA
Founded2007
Defense fundingNot disclosed
TeamNot listed
Deployments4
Open roles0
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Company overview

Identity and operating footprint

Company typeRobot maker
Market segmentDefense
StagePublic parent (NYSE: TDY); no program-level funding separately disclosed
FoundersDave Kroetsch (Co-founder & CEO, Aeryon Labs), Mike Peasgood (Co-founder, Aeryon Labs), Steffen Lindner (Co-founder, Aeryon Labs), Petter Muren (Founder, Prox Dynamics / Black Hornet)
Regions servedNorth America, Europe, Global
Countries deployedNot listed
Service footprintNot listed
Last reviewed2026-07-21
MX

Robot models

Specifications remain vendor-claimed

Machinesecurity

Black Hornet 4

  • 70 g nano-UAV with more than 30 minutes endurance and 3+ km range, carrying a high-resolution thermal imager and low-light EO camera, with obstacle avoidance; total soldier-carried system weight 1.3 kg

    Vendor-stated specifications for the pocket-sized personal reconnaissance system

    Claim source
  • Wind tolerance up to 25 knots plus gusts, ground speeds up to 10 m/s, MIL-STD-810H compliant, operates in rain and GPS-denied/contested environments

    Vendor-stated environmental and navigation resilience

    Claim source
Machinesecurity

SkyRanger R70

  • Carries payloads up to 3.5 kg via Payload Development Kit, with edge-of-network AI object detection and classification and semi-autonomous flight in GPS-/comms-denied environments

    Vendor-stated payload capacity and onboard autonomy capability for the VTOL ISR quadcopter

    Claim source
  • Operates in sustained winds up to 65 kph (gusts to 90 kph) at altitudes up to 15,000 ft MSL; carbon fiber and magnesium airframe rated IP-54/MIL-810G

    Vendor-stated environmental envelope and build standard

    Claim source
DP

Deployment log

Announced and cited only

AnnouncedCustomerSiteCountryCountEvidence
2026-02-02armasuisse (Swiss Armed Forces)military fieldingCHNot disclosedAnnouncement
2025-02-25German Army (BAAINBw)military fieldingDENot disclosedAnnouncement
2024-10-22U.S. Army (Soldier Borne Sensor Program, Phase II)military fieldingUSNot disclosedAnnouncement
2024-02-20Canadian Department of National Defence (drones donated to Ukraine)military fieldingUANot disclosedAnnouncement
TL

Company timeline

Milestones and announcements

2025-06-23Black Hornet 4 approved by the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (Blue UAS)The Defense Post
2024-10-22Wins up to $91M five-year U.S. Army Soldier Borne Sensor Phase II contract for Black Hornet 4, with $25M in initial ordersTeledyne FLIR Defense
2024-02-20Canada orders 800+ Waterloo-built SkyRanger R70 drones (CAD$95M) for donation to UkraineBusiness Wire
SC

Source ledger

7 unique public sources

Record / teledyne-flir-unmanned-systemsLast reviewed / 2026-07-217 sourcesMachine-readable