Best Drone Sensor Integration Companies (2026)
The best drone sensor integration company is the one that already works with your sensor type and can deliver the gimbal, compute, power and data path as one tested payload. For custom EO/IR payloads built into an OEM’s own aircraft, Aerora Technology leads this list; for lidar, hyperspectral and gas imaging, specialists like Phoenix LiDAR, Inertial Labs, Headwall and Sierra-Olympia are strong picks.
Integration is where most payload programs slip. A sensor that works on the bench still needs stabilization, timing and georeferencing, onboard processing, thermal management and a clean interface to the flight controller. The firms below do that work, either for your aircraft or as ready-to-mount payloads.
We cover EO/IR (electro-optical and infrared), lidar, hyperspectral and optical gas imaging (OGI). For standalone sensors and cameras, see our guide to the best drone payloads for inspection.
How we chose
Quick comparison
| Name | HQ | Best for | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerora Technology | Santa Clara, CA | Custom EO/IR payloads for OEMs | Teledyne FLIR Hadron on Qualcomm edge compute |
| Gremsy | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Gimbal-based EO/IR payloads | Lynx ISR payload on Lantronix compute |
| Phoenix LiDAR Systems | Austin, TX | Survey-grade lidar payloads | Acquired by Revolution Geosystems, 2026 |
| Inertial Labs | Paeonian Springs, VA | Lidar with in-house INS | RESEPI platform, a VIAVI company |
| Trillium Engineering | Hood River, OR | Defense EO/IR gimbals | HD-series gimbals for Group 1-3 UAS |
| Headwall | Bolton, MA | Hyperspectral payloads | Flight-ready airborne hyperspectral sensors |
| Sierra-Olympia Technologies | Hood River, OR | Thermal cores and gas imaging | Ventus OGI payload for Freefly Astro |
| Sentera | St. Paul, MN | Agricultural and mapping sensors | Owned by John Deere since 2025 |
Aerora Technology
Aerora is a Santa Clara ODM that lists payload and sensor integration among its core capabilities. In one program, an OEM needed dual EO/IR. Aerora integrated a Teledyne FLIR Hadron (640×512 thermal plus 64 MP optical) with Lantronix Open-Q SOMs running Qualcomm processing, mounted on a 3-axis gimbal, which shortened the OEM’s development timeline. The same approach extends to multispectral sensors for agriculture and OGI sensors for methane detection. Lantronix announced its collaboration with Aerora on edge-AI visual navigation in June 2025 (read the post).
Aerora’s own gimbal payloads offer LiDAR, RGB plus thermal, laser range meter, oblique and multispectral options on a 7 nm Qualcomm processor, and it builds to NDAA (FY2020 §848 / FY2024 §1823-1826) sourcing requirements. See products and ODM services.
Worth checking: Aerora manufactures in Vietnam, so ask for the FCC authorization and Covered List exemption status of the payload you buy. Aerora is not on the Blue UAS Cleared List or Framework.
Gremsy
Gremsy makes camera payloads and gimbals for UAVs and robotics and is headquartered in Saigon Hi-Tech Park, Ho Chi Minh City, with a U.S. arm, Gremsy USA. In October 2025 it announced a camera gimbal platform built on Lantronix’s Open-Q 5165RB module, powering its Lynx ISR payload for use with the Teledyne FLIR Hadron 640R. Its VIO F1 payload pairs a 4K zoom camera with a 640×512 radiometric Teledyne FLIR thermal sensor and a 2,400 m laser rangefinder, and Gremsy describes it as NDAA compliant.
Worth checking: Gremsy is Vietnam-based, so, as with any offshore build, confirm FCC authorization and exemption status for the specific payload.
Phoenix LiDAR Systems
Phoenix LiDAR, based in Austin, Texas, builds integrated lidar systems for unmanned and crewed aircraft and mobile mapping, with its own mission planning, acquisition and processing software. It pairs lidar with high-resolution cameras, thermal and hyperspectral sensors for multi-layer capture. Revolution Geosystems of Huntsville, Alabama acquired Phoenix in February 2026 and said existing products remain supported.
Worth checking: Ask how the acquisition affects product roadmap, support contacts and lead times.
Inertial Labs
Inertial Labs, based in Paeonian Springs, Virginia, has been part of VIAVI Solutions since January 2025. Its RESEPI platform combines Inertial Labs GNSS-aided inertial navigation, a data logger and a choice of lidar scanners (Ouster, Teledyne, Velodyne, Livox and others) with RGB cameras. Variants include RESEPI GEN-II, LITE and Ultra LITE, and SnapFit adapters mount them to DJI, Freefly, Inspired Flight, Wingtra and other aircraft. Inertial Labs states that specific configurations are designed to current NDAA requirements.
Worth checking: NDAA status varies by configuration and scanner, so confirm it for the exact build you order.
Trillium Engineering
Trillium, in Hood River, Oregon, designs and manufactures gimbal imaging systems. Its lineup runs from the HD25 through the HD80 and HD95, plus Clarity-HD. The 8-inch HD80 carries MWIR and EO zoom cameras with laser designator options at under 11 lb. Trillium also offers SkyLink software and NyxCore, an AI engine integrated with its sensors.
Worth checking: Its products target tactical ISR, so confirm the export classification of your configuration before you plan sales outside the U.S.
Headwall
Headwall, in Bolton, Massachusetts, makes flight-ready airborne hyperspectral payloads for drones and aircraft. The Nano HP is a VNIR hyperspectral sensor with an integrated GPS/IMU and optional built-in lidar, and Headwall says it is ready to fly on the DJI Matrice 350. The Co-Aligned HP pairs VNIR and SWIR spectrographs covering 400 to 2500 nm, with lidar as an option. Headwall’s software controls both instruments and merges spectral data with the 3D point cloud.
Worth checking: Hyperspectral payloads need calibration and processing workflows, so budget for training and software.
Sierra-Olympia Technologies
Sierra-Olympia, in Hood River, Oregon, designs, integrates and tests its infrared camera cores there. Its Viento cores include the Viento HD10 at 1280×1024. The Ventus OGI payload, sold for Freefly’s Astro, uses a cooled 640×512 MWIR detector to image methane, butane, benzene and other gases, and Freefly lists it as NDAA compliant with EPA OOOOa/b/c and Appendix K certification.
Worth checking: The Ventus OGI kit is priced near $100,000, so build a clear inspection business case first.
Sentera
Sentera, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, was acquired by John Deere in May 2025 and continues to sell cameras to drone makers and end users. Its 6X Multispectral captures radiometric multispectral imagery at 3 cm GSD, and the 65R is a 65 MP global-shutter RGB sensor. In 2026 both became compatible with Inspired Flight’s IF800 and IF1200.
Worth checking: Confirm long-term availability for non-agricultural uses under John Deere ownership.
Common questions
What does a drone sensor integration company actually do?
It turns a sensor into a working payload. That covers the gimbal or mount, power, onboard processing, timing and georeferencing, the link to the flight controller and ground station, and flight testing. Some firms integrate into your own aircraft. Others sell a finished payload with adapters for popular drones.
How long does it take to integrate a new sensor on a drone?
It depends on how much already exists. Mounting a supported payload with a ready adapter can be quick. A new EO/IR payload with custom gimbal, compute and software is a full development program with prototype, validation and production stages. Ask each partner for a schedule based on their past integrations of the same sensor.
Is an NDAA-compliant payload automatically allowed under FCC rules?
No. NDAA rules cover which components U.S. government funds can buy. In December 2025 the FCC added foreign-produced UAS critical components, including sensors and cameras, to its Covered List. A payload can meet NDAA sourcing and still need an FCC exemption if it is made abroad. Check both.
Which sensor should I use for methane leak detection?
Optical gas imaging (OGI) cameras, usually cooled mid-wave infrared, are built for this job. Sierra-Olympia’s Ventus OGI is one example available as a drone payload. Match the camera to the gases you must detect and any regulatory method you need to follow.
Plan your payload with Aerora
If you need an EO/IR, multispectral or gas-imaging payload designed into your own platform and built to scale, contact Aerora. For more on the sensor side, see the best drone payloads for inspection and the best sensors for autonomous navigation.
Related reading: Best drone use cases in agriculture.
Sources (23)
- https://www.lantronix.com/newsroom/press-releases/lantronix-edge-ai-drone-solution-integrates-gremsy-and-teledyne-flir-platforms-for-longer-more-efficient-flight-times/
- https://gremsy.com/
- https://gremsy.com/products/vio
- https://irlock.com/products/gremsy-vio-f1
- https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2026/07/gremsy-expands-drone-ecosystem-showcases-ndaa-compliant-payloads-at-tokyo-exhibition/
- https://phoenixlidar.com/
- https://phoenixlidar.com/resource/news/revolution-geosystems-announces-phoenix-lidar-acquisition/
- https://inertiallabs.com/products/resepi-lidar-remote-sensing-payload-instruments/
- https://inertiallabs.com/inertial-labs-has-officially-joined-viavi-solutions/
- https://www.viavisolutions.com/en-us/news-releases/viavi-expands-market-reach-strategic-acquisition-inertial-labs
- https://www.trilliumeng.com/
- https://www.trilliumeng.com/gimbals/hd80
- https://headwall.com/
- https://headwall.com/airborne-hyperspectral-payloads/
- https://headwall.com/nano-hp-vnir-hyperspectral-imaging-system-is-ready-to-fly-on-the-dji-matrice-350/
- https://headwallphotonics.com/products/remote-sensing/co-aligned-hp-400-2500nm-hyperspectral-imaging-package/
- https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/company/trillium-engineering/hd80/
- https://sierraolympia.com/company/
- https://sierraolympia.com/introducing-viento-hd10/
- https://store.freeflysystems.com/products/ventus-ogi-payload
- https://sentera.com/2025/05/23/john-deere-acquires-sentera-to-integrate-aerial-field-scouting/
- https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2026/05/cutting-edge-uav-remote-sensing-solutions-for-high-accuracy-aerial-insights/
- https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/insights/publications/2026/01/foreign-produced-uas-and-critical-components-added-to-fccs-covered-list
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