ARLINGTON, Va. — Sagetech Avionics, an aerospace technology company providing industry-leading situational awareness solutions for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), has been named as a finalist in the Enabling Components & Peripherals of the XCELLENCE Awards by the Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI). Sagetech was selected from a pool of accomplished applicants as one of several finalists. Winners will be announced during an awards ceremony at AUVSI XPONENTIAL on August 16-19 at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) in Atlanta.
The finalist designation is for Sagetech’s world’s first micro “Identify Friend or Foe” (IFF) Mode 5 transponder, the MX12B, which is now certified and available for use on all military remotely piloted, autonomous and piloted aircraft. This product provides a micro-sized certified situational awareness system that protects the warfighter while enabling NATO forces to realize the full potential of unmanned aircraft. IFF is NATO-required technology for all coalition aircraft, enabling the positive identification of friendly airborne assets through unique and secure encrypted communications. Sagetech has taken this technology, typically deployed on manned aircraft and weighing anywhere from 6 to 50 pounds, and miniaturized it while maintaining all IFF functionality and adding integrated ADS-B In and dual antennas for full spherical visibility. Sagetech’s MX12B is 93% smaller than previous solutions.
Says Tom Furey, CEO of Sagetech Avionics, “We are thrilled to be named a finalist for this prestigious national award and appreciate AUVSI’s recognition of the tremendous technical achievement embodied in this solution. Rather than reducing capability in order to create a smaller product, Sagetech’s engineering team created a fully capable device in an amazingly small form-factor. Attaining full functionality like diversity (dual antennas), full output power, and integrated ADS-B receivers in a miniature device was an extremely challenging endeavor.”
Sagetech’s MX12B will save lives by improving knowledge of drone intent, reducing fratricide, and enabling assured protection from enemy drones. Additionally, Sagetech’s technology will greatly expand how drones are used in military forces now and in the future, enabling a greater breadth of frontline missions and more drone sales, and reduces the size, weight, and cost for piloted aircraft equipment. The industry has already adopted this technology, and Sagetech has shipped the MX12B to multiple military customers (including international) against a backlog of POs that were awaiting this year’s official product certification and release.”
“During the last year, the unmanned systems industry rose to meet urgent new challenges posed by the pandemic. It is inspiring to see organizations and companies that led this charge among the XCELLENCE Awards finalists,” said Brian Wynne, President and CEO of AUVSI. “As unmanned systems become increasingly integrated within our society, AUVSI is pleased to recognize this distinguished group for their innovative work that will accelerate our industry forward toward assured autonomy.”
XPONENTIAL offers a broad-based and balanced educational program brimming with cutting-edge content and inspirational insights, ranging from policy implications and technical challenges to use cases and best practices across vertical markets and everything in between. The AUVSI XCELLENCE Awards honor innovators in the unmanned systems industry, including individuals and organizations, with a demonstrated commitment to advancing autonomy, leading, and promoting safe adoption of unmanned systems, and developing programs that use these technologies to save lives and improve society.
For media registration for XPONENTIAL, click here or contact Jackie Beckwith at jbeckwith@auvsi.org. For more information about XPONENTIAL and the AUVSI XCELLENCE Awards, visit xponential.org.
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About Sagetech Avionics
Sagetech Avionics is an aerospace technology company empowering safe flight in unmanned aircraft with situational awareness solutions built from mission-critical transponders, software, and related technologies. Currently serving military and civil duty on most small to medium UAVs, Sagetech solutions are mission-proven and offer decades of program experience, certifications, and millions of flight hours to deliver maximum value over the life of an unmanned platform. Today, Sagetech is expanding its technology platform to create comprehensive, certifiable systems such as detect and avoid solutions. Every day, Sagetech works in concert with its extensive ecosystem of OEM customers, technology partners, and resellers to ensure UAVs fly safer with Sagetech on board. Learn more at sagetech.com.
About AUVSI
The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)—the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics—represents corporations and professionals from more than 60 countries involved in industry, government, and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil and commercial markets. For more information, visit AUVSI.org.
About XPONENTIAL
AUVSI XPONENTIAL is the largest, most significant event for the unmanned systems industry. The 2021 exhibit hall will showcase hundreds of cutting-edge companies from around the world and the conference will feature educational programming by unmanned systems experts, providing information about the future of policy, technology and business solutions and trending topics.
