“More than anything else, we are responsive to the real-world needs of our customers, and that is because the engineers at Edge Autonomy have many opportunities to build a product from the ground up.”
Nauris Broks, Manager of Research & Development (R&D) Mechanics for Edge Autonomy’s Riga, Latvia facility, believes his team’s enthusiasm for the innovative products they design is the core motivation behind their success.
As the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for aircraft like the VXE30 Stalker and the Penguin C VTOL, Edge Autonomy’s engineers don’t just design a part of the UAV—in many instances, they develop the aircraft from start to finish. Serving as the OEM not only results in high-quality products and a consistency across specifications that minimizes operational issues, it gives Edge Autonomy customers direct access to training programs and a diverse team of experts.
“We are proud of every product we create, and our team is genuinely excited about the design process,” says Nauris. “The UAS landscape is evolving quickly, and we have the ability to pivot our innovations to keep up with the challenges faced in the field. Our Penguin C VTOL has been meeting our customers’ mission needs across 78 countries – and counting. And with well over 100,000 flight hours this aircraft continues to prove its value in multiple challenging environments.”
The innovations from our R&D Mechanics team have a direct and fast-moving impact, which is crucial as uncrewed aircraft are expected to fly farther and carry more. Built with a modular open systems approach (MOSA), the Penguin C VTOL can carry a wide variety of payloads, from the Edge Autonomy Octopus ISR gimbal cameras to third party solutions with a 12+ hour flight endurance and up to 180 kilometer range.
“Our aircraft are designed with the knowledge that each mission and scenario is unique. Our customers need a platform that can carry the payloads and software they need to succeed. MOSA has become the universal language of adaptability, and our engineers ensure that it is at the forefront of every design consideration we make.”
Setting a High Bar: Developing Agile and Modular Drones
“While people in Latvia are familiar with and interested in drones, most think of older or more common models, such as quadcopters or large military aircraft.” says Nauris. “Our Group 3 /NATO Class 1 UAS are capable of so much more.”
With the flexibility, portability, and reduced logistical footprint of a smaller drone and the robust range, endurance, and payload capacity of a larger aircraft, the Penguin C VTOL can perform missions that used to be allocated to larger and more cumbersome drones. A crew of only two people can assemble this aircraft in under an hour, it does not need a dedicated runway or special equipment to go from assembly to air, and it can be easily transported in a helicopter, van, or pickup truck.
Such mission-driven solutions mean Edge Autonomy engineers work closely with customers to integrate components that meet their unique needs.
“And we’re always building on our technology and capabilities—we work closely with our customers to make sure they have the capabilities and components to meet their unique mission needs,” says Nauris. “The engineers who come work for our team are learning things they wouldn’t be able to learn anywhere else in this region.”
Advanced EO/IR payload capability and long-range endurance equip the Penguin C VTOL for a variety of observation, inspection, and surveillance tasks in the areas of national security and commerce. These include day and nighttime object tracking and small moving target indication, which make the Penguin C VTOL a nimble platform for meeting multi-mission needs.
Investing in Innovation Means Investing in the Team
“It takes a creative, inventive, and engaged R&D team to design and develop the level of technology we are working on” Nauris says.
“We foster growth and development in our people as much as we foster those qualities in the products we deliver. Everyone’s voice matters here, no matter if you are a junior engineer, if you are making a career transition from another discipline, or if you are a senior member of the team. That’s how meaningful innovation is built.”
This is not only important for individual career growth, but Nauris believes it strengthens the bonds between his team members and their sense of ownership when it comes to the department’s achievements.
“Some of my engineers may be junior, but they all have a talent for forward-thinking and problem solving. As a leader I am always ready to invest in my team’s career development – I have never been disappointed in the ideas that are brought forth and allowed to mature in the R&D department. The career growth our team members experience is unparalleled.”
Results Rely on More than Just Engineering
“It isn’t just the technical skills that are important when it comes to delivering a product that is successful in the field,” Nauris explains. “Truly understanding and responding to customer needs means building meaningful relationships – both with the client and within our team. We serve as an important connection point between real-world needs and technical development.”
A genuine enthusiasm for Edge Autonomy’s products and an ability to communicate with customers and other employees is a vital part of the R&D Mechanics team’s success—but so is a willingness to forge a strong team internally.
“We are a group that is passionate about developing cutting-edge technology,” says Nauris. “What makes us such a robust team is so much more complex, though. We are close-knit and have common interests beyond just engineering.”
Interested in learning more about our innovative UAS and how they are making an impact in the field? Take a look at our uncrewed systems and connect with our team to discover how our solutions can help meet your mission needs.
And if joining a collaborative team like this sounds like an exciting next step in your career, learn more about Edge Autonomy’s open positions in Europe and the United States.
