PrecisionHawk

PrecisionHawk

Company type	Private
Industry	Drone technology, data solutions
Predecessor	WineHawk
Founded	2010 (2010)
Founder	Ernest Earon, Gabriele D'Eleuterio
Defunct	December 2023 (2023-12)
Fate	Filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy; ceased operations
Headquarters	Raleigh , United States
Area served	United States, Canada
Key people	Bob Young (CEO 2015–2017), Michael Chasen (CEO 2017–2020), James Norrod (CEO 2020–2023)
Products	Drones (Lancaster), DataMapper software suite, LATAS safety platform, TerraServer imagery services

PrecisionHawk was established in 2010 as a commercial enterprise specializing in drone technology and data solutions, with its main office located in Raleigh, North Carolina and an additional branch in Toronto, Canada. The firm produced drones, notably the Lancaster model, and developed software tools such as DataMapper for aerial data interpretation and LATAS for drone safety management. PrecisionHawk was involved in the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Pathfinder Initiative and collaborated on the NASA UTM Program. In 2015, angel investor and Red Hat founder Bob Young assumed the role of CEO. The company became the first in the United States to receive FAA approval for drone operations beyond visual line of sight in 2016.

History

Originally founded as "WineHawk" in Toronto by Ernest Earon and Gabriele D'Eleuterio in 2010, the company’s initial focus was on creating autonomous fixed-wing UAVs designed to protect vineyards from bird interference. Christopher Dean joined as CEO later that year, steering the company toward aerial data collection by equipping drones with cameras.

The company rebranded to PrecisionHawk in 2012 and positioned itself as a pioneer in commercial drone applications for agricultural data acquisition. Notable achievements include launching the Lancaster drone in 2012, establishing DataMapper in 2014, introducing LATAS in 2015, acquiring TerraServer that same year, forming a partnership with DJI, and producing various sensor technologies by 2016. The Series C financing round in 2016 attracted major investors including Intel, Dupont, Verizon, Yamaha, USAA, and NTT Docomo. While agriculture remained a primary sector, PrecisionHawk expanded its services to industries such as energy, insurance, mining, construction, emergency management, and environmental monitoring.

Bob Young served as CEO from 2015 until 2017 when Michael Chasen, cofounder of Blackboard Inc., took over leadership. In January 2018, the company secured $75 million in funding led by Third Point Ventures with contributions from Intel Capital, Comcast Ventures, Verizon Ventures, NTT Docomo Ventures, Yamaha Motor, Constellation Technology Ventures, and Syngenta Ventures. This capital infusion supported workforce growth, product innovation, and strategic acquisitions.

Shortly thereafter, PrecisionHawk acquired two commercial drone pilot platforms—Droners and AirVid—creating a network of approximately 15,000 certified pilots under the Droners brand to serve both external customers and its internal enterprise clients. In 2018, Eli Tamanaha, co-founder of rival DroneBase, joined as VP of Strategic Initiatives but exited within a year.

By December 2019, following substantial capital investment efforts, PrecisionHawk raised an additional $32 million, bringing total financing to around $130 million. Leadership changed again in January 2020 when James Norrod succeeded Michael Chasen as CEO.

In December 2023, PrecisionHawk filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection and terminated all business operations.

Drones

The Lancaster drone developed by PrecisionHawk—named after Canadian Football League quarterback Ron Lancaster—has undergone five development stages. Specifications for the Lancaster 5 model include:

• Configuration: Single electric motor fixed-wing
• Weight without payload: 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 3.55 kg (7.8 lbs)
• Wingspan: 1.5 meters (4.9 feet)
• Typical cruising speed: 12–16 m/s (43.2–57.6 km/h)
• Top speed: 22 m/s (79 km/h)
• Operational survey altitude range: 50–300 meters (164–984 feet)
• Maximum flight altitude: 2,500 meters (8,200 feet)
• Survey coverage per flight: Approximately 300 acres at 100 meters altitude
• Flight duration: Up to 45 minutes
• Communication range: 2 kilometers (1.2 miles)
• Processor: Dual-core Linux CPU at 720 MHz
• Power supply: Battery rated at 7000 mAh
• Maximum operating temperature: 40°C (104°F)

The Lancaster is equipped with a modular payload bay compatible with various sensor types including visual cameras, thermal infrared imagers, multispectral sensors, lidar units, and hyperspectral instruments. PrecisionHawk offers both internal training programs and external courses for effective use of its hardware.

In May 2016, PrecisionHawk collaborated with DJI to market DJI Matrice drones bundled with a one-year subscription to DataMapper software under the "Smarter Farming Package," aimed at agricultural applications featuring multispectral and visual sensor integration. A comparable offering named the "Precision Aggregates Package" targets mining and construction sectors.

PrecisionMapper

PrecisionMapper represents the software and data services branch of PrecisionHawk, delivering a suite of specialized drone applications, including:

• PrecisionFlight: A mobile application compatible with DJI and Lancaster drones that ensures high-quality data collection for precise mapping and detailed analysis.
• PrecisionViewer: A tool for reviewing flight coverage on-site and integrating Ground Control Points, supporting all drone models.
• PrecisionMapper Local: A desktop photogrammetry solution enabling offline conversion of aerial images into detailed 2D and 3D orthomosaic maps.
• PrecisionMapper Cloud: A cloud-based platform offering automated photogrammetric processing and advanced analytics powered by proprietary algorithms accessible through the Algorithm Marketplace.
• Algorithm Marketplace ("AlgoMarket"): The inaugural app store dedicated to drone data analytics, featuring applications created by internal GIS experts and external collaborators that provide valuable insights such as volumetric measurements, vegetation health (NDVI), plant counts, and height assessments.

These software offerings strengthen PrecisionHawk’s business framework by seamlessly combining hardware capabilities with sophisticated data analytics, thereby enhancing its competitive position within the drone sector.

LATAS

LATAS (Low Altitude Traffic and Airspace Safety) serves as PrecisionHawk's safety management platform designed to address the increasing number of drones operating in both domestic and international airspace. Available through a web-based dashboard and the DataMapper InFlight application, LATAS allows users to monitor drone positions relative to terrestrial obstacles like buildings and power lines, as well as airborne threats including airplanes and helicopters. Development is underway for automated avoidance features. LATAS is a critical component of PrecisionHawk's engagement in the FAA Pathfinder Initiative. Notable corporate collaborators include Verizon, Harris Corporation, and DigitalGlobe. In 2016, LATAS entered into an exclusive partnership with Harris Corporation to incorporate real-time manned aircraft data for continuous live airspace monitoring.

TerraServer

In March 2015, PrecisionHawk broadened its service offerings by acquiring TerraServer, a commercial platform specializing in aerial and satellite imagery. TerraServer is recognized for being among the first to provide public satellite imagery online during the late 1990s and currently operates as a reseller in partnership with DigitalGlobe and USGS. PrecisionHawk is actively developing new GIS products that leverage TerraServer’s extensive imagery assets to expand its geospatial data service capabilities.