Intel Acquires Ascending To Break Into Drone Game
This post is also available in: 
עברית (Hebrew)
Semiconductor giant Intel has recently announced that it has entered an agreement to acquire Ascending Technologies, A German unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) software manufacturer.
Ascending, which is based in Krailing, Germany, has previously partnered with Intel. The company’s 75 employees are all receiving offers to join Intel, according to Intel spokeswoman Cara Walker. The financial terms of the deal are not going to be released, said Walker.
The two companies have previously worked to combine Intel’s RealSense – a technological platform for gesture based human-computer interaction – with Ascending’s sense-and-avoid algorithms. The aim is to improve UAV safety and avoidance of obstacles and collisions.
“We plan for the Ascending Technologies team to continue supporting their current customers while also collaborating with Intel’s Perceptual Computing team to develop UAV technology that can help drones fly with more awareness of their environments,” Intel said.
RealSense, usually installed on devices such as tablets and PCs, takes multi-dimensional images for applications as diverse as 3D scanning, more realistic video chat, and for touch free interfaces.
Ascending is but one of the players in the UAV collision-avoidance game. NASA, various universities, Lockheed Martin, and several other companies are developing large-scale UAV air-traffic control management systems. These systems work by keeping a close watch on airborne UAVs and issuing commands to direct drones away from hazardous flight trajectories. By contrast, Ascending develops UAV autopilot and auto-collision-avoidance technologies that don’t rely on an external system.
“Drones are quickly emerging as an important computing platform of the future,” wrote Intel Senior VP Josh Walden. “With practical applications ranging from disaster response, to infrastructure inspection, to delivery of goods, UAVs offer an incredible opportunity for innovation across a multitude of industries. As a result, Intel is positioning itself at the forefront of this opportunity to increasingly integrate the computing, communications, sensor and cloud technology required to make drones smarter and more connected.”
