Crossbow Technology
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Navigation devices, sensor networks |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Mike A. Horton |
| Fate | Acquired by Moog Inc. in 2011 |
| Successor | Sensor Networks and Systems segment of Sumitomo Precision Products (Crossbow Japan) |
| Headquarters | California , United States |
Area served | Global |
Key people | Mike A. Horton (founder) |
| Products | Gyroscopes, guidance, navigation and control systems, AHRS500GA, eKo Pro Series System, NeoMote |
| Parent | Moog Inc. (since 2011) |
Crossbow Technology, Inc.—also referred to as XBOW—was a company headquartered in California that focused on manufacturing navigation-related devices, including gyroscopes and systems for guidance, navigation, and control.
History
Established in 1995 by Mike A. Horton, Crossbow's product development was rooted in innovations originating from the University of California, Berkeley, with backing from A. Richard Newton. In 2005, the firm secured funding from prominent investors such as Cisco, Intel, and the Paladin Capital Group. Notably, Crossbow was among the initial providers of Berkeley-style MICA sensor nodes known as "motes," which operated on the TinyOS operating system.
The company received several accolades within the industry, including the "Best of Sensors Expo Gold 2006" award and the BP Helios Award.
Crossbow Japan eventually evolved into the Sensor Networks and Systems segment of Sumitomo Precision Products. On June 5, 2011, the business was purchased by Moog Inc. for an estimated $32 million.
Products
Introduced in 2003, the AHRS500GA was a fully solid-state attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) certified by the FAA. This device was incorporated into the Eclipse Aviation model 500 very light jet and was utilized within the US FAA's Capstone Program.
In 2008, Crossbow launched the eKo Pro Series System—a wireless sensor platform designed to monitor agricultural fields, vineyards, and environmental parameters. That same year, Crossbow Japan released the NeoMote product aimed at tracking energy consumption in buildings and facilitating visualization for energy conservation efforts.