Sense and Avoid? The Logic of Intel's Drone Manufacturer Purchase

There is a point of view that holds Intel should have had the sense to avoid an arguably transitory product category like drones.

But a founding partner of the once dominant Wintel technology alliance (Microsoft Windows plus Intel for those who don't remember - or weren't even born...)who largely missed that whole smartphone thing isn't taking any chances this time around, no matter how fleeting the opportunity may be. JL

Sean Gallagher reports in ars technica:

In an effort to bolster its position in the growing "Internet of Things" market and the exploding unmanned air vehicle market, "sense and avoid" software is part of Intel's strategy in the drone market.
In an effort to bolster its position in the growing "Internet of Things" market and the exploding unmanned air vehicle market, Intel is acquiring German drone company Ascending Technology. The purchase was announced today in a blog post by Josh Walden, Intel's senior vice president and general manager of the company's New Technology Group.
Ascending had previously partnered with Intel to use Intel's RealSense real-time depth sensing technology as part of its "sense and avoid" software, which helps drones detect objects and navigate around them safely. That software development is a key reason for the acquisition, Walden wrote. "With Ascending Technologies, Intel gains expertise and technology to accelerate the deployment of Intel RealSense technology into the fast growing drone market segment," he said. "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."
Ascending is focused on "professional" drones. The company sells unmanned systems packages based on its Falcon 8 drone for tasks like surveying, professional photography, and "precision agriculture" (using optical and infrared sensors to monitor crop growth, soil properties, and the need for application of fertilizer and pesticides). Ascending also offers a number of research-oriented drones for universities and robotics development laboratories, and the company's research drones are all based on Intel processors.