Next-Gen Edge AI Solutions for the Real World: Autonomous Navigation for Drones, Surveillance and Robotics

Rhea-AI Summary

Lantronix (NASDAQ: LTRX) has announced a strategic collaboration with Aerora to develop advanced Edge AI solutions for drones, robotics, and surveillance applications. The partnership leverages Lantronix's Open-Q System-on-Module powered by Qualcomm Technologies chipsets and Aerora's NDAA-compliant propulsion and AI payload systems. The solution incorporates Teledyne FLIR Hadron 640R module for thermal and RGB imaging capabilities. This collaboration aims to accelerate development timelines for OEM manufacturers while maintaining high standards. The global drone market is projected to reach $163.6 billion by 2030, with a 15% CAGR. The integrated solution features 4K video streaming with high-resolution thermal video, targeting applications in logistics, agriculture, infrastructure, and public safety sectors.

Positive

• Partnership targets a rapidly growing drone market projected to reach $163.6 billion by 2030
• Solution is NDAA-compliant, opening opportunities in government and private sectors
• Integration reduces development timelines and engineering overhead for OEM manufacturers
• Advanced features include simultaneous 4K video streaming and high-resolution thermal imaging

Negative

• None.

Insights

Technology Market Analyst

Lantronix's partnership with Aerora leverages Edge AI for drone solutions, targeting a projected $163.6B market with 15% CAGR through 2030.

Lantronix's new collaboration with Aerora represents a strategic positioning in the rapidly expanding drone and Edge AI market. The partnership combines Lantronix's Open-Q System-on-Module technology with Aerora's NDAA-compliant propulsion and AI payload systems to create solutions for autonomous navigation in drones, surveillance, and robotics.

The market opportunity is substantial—Grandview Research projects the global drone market to reach $163.6 billion by 2030 with a 15% CAGR, with some commercial segments potentially growing even faster. This growth trajectory is being fueled by expanding applications across logistics, agriculture, infrastructure, and public safety sectors.

What makes this partnership particularly significant is the focus on NDAA compliance, which opens access to government contracts and security-sensitive applications. By integrating Teledyne FLIR Hadron 640R modules and Prism software for thermal and RGB imaging capabilities, the solution addresses sophisticated requirements for situational awareness and real-time decision-making.

For OEMs, the value proposition centers on accelerated development timelines and reduced engineering overhead. The full-stack solution pre-integrates critical components including cameras, gimbals, motors, housing, telemetry, and interfaces—allowing for simultaneous 4K and high-resolution thermal video streaming. This comprehensive approach helps drone manufacturers meet technical requirements while maintaining compliance standards that are increasingly important for both government and enterprise customers.

Lantronix and Aerora positioned to advance technologies in AI-powered drone solutions

IRVINE, Calif., June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lantronix Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRX), a global leader in compute and connectivity IoT solutions enabling Edge AI Intelligence, today announced its collaboration with Aerora, a provider of integrated NDAA-compliant propulsion, ground control and precision AI payload systems. This collaboration delivers Edge AI-driven solutions that significantly accelerate advancements in drones, robotics and surveillance applications delivered by Aerora’s OEM platform for AI-Powered Visual Navigation.

“Lantronix’s collaboration with Aerora promises to advance the development of AI-powered drones and other intelligent applications, equipping developers with cutting-edge tools from leading embedded compute technologies,” said Saleel Awsare, CEO and president of Lantronix. “This breakthrough in advanced AI-driven solutions delivers a transformative impact, opening doors to new opportunities in both private and government sectors.”

Grandview Research estimates that by 2030, the global drone market will reach $163.6 billion. Most forecasts predict a CAGR of 15 percent through 2030, with some commercial segments expected to grow even faster, especially as drone applications expand into logistics, agriculture, infrastructure and public safety. The U.S. Federal Government also acknowledges the importance of unmanned aircraft systems, such as drones, for commercial and government industries and has enabled support of drone manufacturers.

Aerora’s solution is supported by Lantronix’s Open-Q™ System-on-Module (SoM) powered by Qualcomm® Technologies chipsets, which provides unparalleled processing capabilities for AI-driven situational awareness, advanced computational imaging and real-time decision-making.

With Lantronix’s Open-Q SOMs, developers can confidently build AI-powered solutions while knowing they are backed by industry-leading embedded compute technologies.

As part of the integrated solution, Aerora has incorporated the Teledyne FLIR Hadron 640R module and Prism software, enabling advanced thermal and RGB imaging capabilities. OEMs of drones, robotics and surveillance solutions face increasing pressure to shorten development timelines while maintaining high standards for imaging and control systems. New Edge AI technologies, such as this solution, can help reduce or eliminate engineering overhead and shorten time-to-market.

Aerora’s full-stack solution includes pre-integration of the camera, gimbal, gimbal motors, housing, telemetry and interface while featuring 4K video stream simultaneously with high-resolution thermal video. Aerora is working with multiple OEM drone manufacturers, integrating its platform of an integrated camera + gimble solution, which helps meet the industry’s technological requirements while ensuring NDAA compliance.

“At Aerora, our core mission is to deliver rapid integration, flexible sensor solutions and fully NDAA-compliant manufacturing at scale. By collaborating closely with industry leaders like Lantronix and Qualcomm and integrating advanced imaging technologies such as Teledyne FLIR’s Hadron 640R, we empower drone OEMs to significantly reduce development timelines, expand their operational capabilities and confidently meet demanding market requirements,” said Ghel Ghedh, chief technology officer for Aerora.

To learn more about this innovative solution, download the complete white paper here.

About Lantronix

Lantronix Inc. is a global leader of compute and connectivity IoT solutions that target high-growth industries including Smart Cities, Automotive and Enterprise. Lantronix’s products and services empower companies to succeed in the growing IoT markets by delivering customizable solutions that address each layer of the IoT Stack. Lantronix’s leading-edge solutions include Intelligent Substations infrastructure, Infotainment systems and Video Surveillance, supplemented with advanced Out-of-Band Management (OOB) for Cloud and Edge Computing. 

For more information, visit the Lantronix website.

About Aerora

Aerora™ accelerates drone and robotics innovation by offering fully integrated, NDAA-compliant propulsion, ground control, and precision AI payload systems. Managing the entire supply chain and overseeing all manufacturing processes—both onshore and offshore—we empower manufacturers to effortlessly scale, streamline operations, and faster time to market without compromising quality or compliance. Aerora™ is based in Santa Clara, California.

For more information, visit the Aerora website.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements related to Lantronix products and awards. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, future business, financial condition, or performance to differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement contained in this news release. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as the effects of negative or worsening regional and worldwide economic conditions or market instability on our business, including effects on purchasing decisions by our customers; our ability to mitigate any disruption in our and our suppliers’ and vendors’ supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other outbreaks, wars and recent tensions in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, or other factors; future responses to and effects of public health crises; cybersecurity risks; changes in applicable U.S. and foreign government laws, regulations, and tariffs; our ability to successfully implement our acquisitions strategy or integrate acquired companies; difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights; the level of our indebtedness, our ability to service our indebtedness and the restrictions in our debt agreements; and any additional factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on Sept. 9, 2024; as well as in our other public filings with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in our future filings. The forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and we do not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Lantronix Media Contact:
Gail Kathryn Miller 
Corporate Marketing & 
Communications Manager 
media@lantronix.com 
949-212-0960 

Lantronix Analyst and Investor Contact:
investors@lantronix.com

FAQ

What is the collaboration between Lantronix and Aerora focused on?

The collaboration focuses on developing Edge AI-driven solutions for drones, robotics, and surveillance applications, utilizing Lantronix's Open-Q System-on-Module and Aerora's NDAA-compliant systems.

What is the projected size of the global drone market by 2030?

According to Grandview Research, the global drone market is projected to reach $163.6 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 15%.

What key features does the Lantronix-Aerora solution offer?

The solution offers 4K video streaming, high-resolution thermal imaging, advanced AI-driven situational awareness, and NDAA compliance, powered by Qualcomm Technologies chipsets.

Which industries are targeted by this LTRX drone solution?

The solution targets multiple industries including logistics, agriculture, infrastructure, public safety, and both government and private sectors.

What imaging technology is integrated into the Aerora solution?

The solution incorporates the Teledyne FLIR Hadron 640R module and Prism software, enabling advanced thermal and RGB imaging capabilities.