Calgary [Alberta], November 1, 2022 – Landing Zones Canada, Shearwater Aerospace, and Lockheed Martin Canada CDL Systems today announced a strategic collaboration to enhance the route planning and flight endurance of remote piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) that leverage Landing Zones Canada’s novel uncrewed aerial vehicle, Shearwater’s Smart Flight^TM world leading AI technology, and Lockheed Martin Canada CDL Systems’ next generation VCSi ground control station software.

Shearwater’s Smart Flight^TM software generates and dynamically adapts AI-optimized routes that make use of weather and terrain data in smarter ways. By finding tailwinds and updrafts, uncrewed aerial systems can reach their destination considerably faster and stay in the air loitering significantly longer.

“As the complexity and amount of real-time data grows, faster decision-making is essential. Smart Flight has the unique ability to generate faster, more efficient flight routes in an automated manner, turning any operator into an expert planner,” said Michael Baker, General Manager of Lockheed Martin Canada CDL Systems.

“VCSi is by far the most advanced and proven ground control software in the market today, so we are clearly pleased to be using it” said Spence Fraser, Founder and CEO of Landing Zones Canada. “By adding Shearwater’s Smart Flight AI optimization technology, we have an unparalleled navigation solution that places us in the forefront of uncrewed aerial technology today. We will be able to enhance the performance of our vehicle by simply leveraging the wind energy it finds itself operating in, an abundant energy resource that until today has gone untapped by RPAS.”

“We’re thrilled to be working with Lockheed Martin Canada CDL Systems and Landing Zones Canada. The addition of our AI technology to this collaborative development effort is game changing and affords a large leap over anything available in the RPAS market today, with the potential to be utilized in many more applications,” commented Chad Armstrong, CEO of Shearwater Aerospace.

With a focus on enhanced route planning and flight endurance, one of the first priorities of this partnership will be to advance solutions for aerospace environmental challenges.

About Lockheed Martin Canada

Headquartered in Ottawa, Lockheed Martin Canada is the Canadian unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation, a global security and aerospace company that employs some 114,000 people worldwide. Lockheed Martin Canada has been Canada's trusted defence partner for over 80 years, specializing in the development, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services.

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About Lockheed Martin Canada CDL Systems

Lockheed Martin Canada CDL Systems is a division of Lockheed Martin Canada that specializes in the development, integration, and application of unmanned systems software for commercial, civil, and military customers.  For more than 30 years, Lockheed Martin Canada CDL Systems has provided open, standards-based command and control solutions for the operation of over 40 types of UAS that have operated for over 2.5 million flight hours, including the US Army’s MQ-1C and RQ-7B platforms. 

About Landing Zones Canada Inc

Landing Zones Canada is a clean tech aerospace company developing, manufacturing, and operating novel uncrewed aerial systems to remove hazardous e-waste and plastic pollution from the environment. The company’s rugged, reliable, and reusable products offer cost effective and practical solutions to support government initiatives to minimize the deleterious effects of modern air transportation systems.

About Shearwater Aerospace

Shearwater is pioneering innovative, autonomous technologies to continuously challenge the limits of flight and enable drones to fly efficiently, just like birds. Their Smart Flight^TM software exponentially increases the operating time of RPAS by flying AI-optimized routes that leverage air currents, such as tail winds and updrafts. Shearwater strongly believes that collaboration and partnerships are key to delivering the most innovative solutions to customers.

Press Contact

For any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Spencer Fraser at 289-541-6832 or email spencer.fraser@landingzonesinternational.com