Intel Acquires German Company Ascending Technologies To Dominate Drone Market

In a pre-CES announcement featured on their official blog, Intel has signed a definitive agreement to acquire German manufacturer and designer of drones and their accompanying technology, Ascending Technologies.

Going forward, Intel plans to utilize Ascending Technologies as part of its effort to make RealSense a bigger player in the booming drone space. Numerous company’s products are used in niche markets for visual inspections or 3-D map-making.

Kent Tibbils, vice president of marketing at ASI, a Fremont, Calif.-based Intel system builder, said the acquisition is “not completely surprising”.

The acquisition is the latest deal in an Intel buying spree, as the world’s No. 1 chipmaker looks for new markets and business opportunities amid a slumping PC market.

Ascending Technologies’ Firefly drone is a showcase for Intel’s RealSense technology. “Either way, it’s not a risk to Intel if it doesn’t work”.

The company added that it expects Ascending Technologies to support its current customers while also aiding Intel’s Perceptual Computing team in its development of technology which will allow drones to travel with increased awareness of their environments.

Intel wants to power more than PCs.

In August, Intel invested more than $60 million in Chinese drone maker Yuneec Holding Ltd. Also a year ago, Intel announced a partnership with Ascending Technologies that included Intel take a minority stake in the firm and also made an undisclosed investment in San Francisco-based Airware.

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich is expected to offer more insight on the acquisition during his keynote at CES on Tuesday.