XTEND Acquires Drone Inspection Specialist Performance Rotors

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

Human-guided autonomous machine system developer XTEND has acquired drone inspection specialist Performance Rotors, allowing XTEND to improve its ability to offer human-guided, remote interactive operations in various inspection scenarios, as well as grow its global business.

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“Our acquisition of Performance Rotors marks the latest step in furthering XTEND’s vision of making remote interactive operations accessible to everyone, in a range of scenarios, including inspection, public safety and security,” said XTEND co-founder and CEO Aviv Shapira. “Every day, people risk their lives to make our world safer. Inspection is just one area, among many, where machines, robots and drones can be used to accomplish what people can’t, in a more economical, efficient, and safer manner. We are delighted that Keith Ng, Performance Rotors’ co-founder and CEO, and his team are joining XTEND on our journey towards making XOS the operating system of choice for controlling drones, robots, vehicles, smart devices, and smart machines remotely, safely, and intuitively.”

XTEND offers human-guided autonomous machine systems allowing operators to carry out complex and accurate maneuvers with minimal training. Its XOS operating system allows for reliable autonomy, combining human intelligence with machine autonomy to improve the operator’s abilities and lower the risk of injury. This system lets professionals operate drones and smart machines, performing intricate operations requiring human interaction and decision-making from a remote position.

“Performance Rotors’s mission has always been to develop drones and robotics solutions for data acquisition in GPS-denied and confined space environments, without the risk to human lives,” said Performance Rotors co-founder and CEO Keith Ng. “Our extensive client base spans many of the world’s major oil and gas, maritime and infrastructure projects, and our hardware is being used across the World, particularly in APAC. We are confident that combining XTEND’s innovation XOS software with our world-class technology brings the best of the industry together in one powerful and easy to use solution that comprehensively addresses the critical challenges facing our customers today.”

The acquisition was led by global private equity firm Chartered Group. “The acquisition of Performance Rotors not only enriches XTEND’s offering in industrial inspection, but it will also enable Aviv and his team to further diversify their expertise in oil and gas, maritime and infrastructure projects, and develop XTEND’s software business globally, particularly here in APAC and Japan,” said Chartered Group Chairman Eyal Agmoni.

XTEND was recently awarded several multi-million dollar contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense and MAFAT, the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s Research & Development Directorate, to optimize their drone operations. Both entities already employ XOS, allowing military drone operators to interactively operate multiple smart machines from a remote, safe distance, with no training necessary.

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Ian attended Dominican University of California, where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and a keen interest in technology, he is now contributing to DroneLife as a staff writer.