Parrot Invests in Two Swiss Spin-offs

By Frank Tobe | August 15, 2012

Parrot, a global leader in wireless devices for mobile phones and car entertainment systems, went out of character a few years ago with the introduction of the augmented reality quad copter AR.Drone, an instant success.

Now Parrot is investing $2.4 million in Pix4D and $5 million for a majority in sensFly, two spin-off companies from Switzerland’s EPFL.

Pix4D provides a unique software package that converts thousands of standard pictures into a professional geo-referenced image and a highly accurate 3D model.

senseFly has a lightweight hi-res camera and flight planning system for drones.

Both investments enable civilian UAVs – and Parrot’s AR.Drone – to advance into the next-generation mapping, surveying and who knows what else.

About The Author

Frank Tobe

Frank Tobe is the founder of The Robot Report and co-founder of ROBO Global which has developed a tracking index for the robotics industry, the ROBO Global™ Robotics & Automation Index. The index of ~90 companies in 13 sub-sectors tracks and captures the entire economic value of this global opportunity in robotics, automation and enabling technologies.