Onboard Video Processing Explained

Building on 15-Year Presence Developing Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles and Optical ISR Gimbal Payloads in Latvia

San Luis Obispo, CA and Riga, Latvia – June 6, 2025 – Edge Autonomy, a leading provider of autonomous uncrewed aircraft systems, advanced optics, and resilient energy solutions, is nearly doubling their existing engineering, design, and manufacturing footprint in Riga, Latvia. The company marked the opening of the new expanded facility with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 5, 2025 to celebrate a continued commitment to technological innovations, financial growth, and export business in Latvia.

With a presence in Latvia that spans more than 15 years, Edge Autonomy has been established as a leader in the production of Group 2 and 3 drones in Europe. Edge Autonomy is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the Penguin fixed-wing uncrewed autonomous vehicle (UAV) and Octopus line of optical gimbal payload solutions – both of which are developed and produced in Latvia – as well as the Stalker UAV, which is produced in the United States.   

“Our uncrewed aerial systems and ISR gimbal solutions have hundreds of thousands of flight hours and are field proven in extreme temperatures, adverse weather conditions, and conflict situations. They are designed, tested, and manufactured all in the EU, and are non-ITAR – so our solutions can be easily exported nearly anywhere in the world,” said Joshua Stinson, Chief Growth Officer at Edge Autonomy. “Our increased capacities and ongoing presence in Europe enable us to respond quickly and efficiently to meet the needs of our customers, both here in the EU and worldwide.”

Evika Siliņa, Prime Minister of Latvia, addressed attendees at the event, emphasizing that Latvia is quickly becoming a drone hub, driven by companies like Edge Autonomy expanding activities in Latvia. U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Chris Robinson also spoke about the strong relationship between Latvia and the United States and the importance of technology development and collaboration.

European leaders in technology, business, and government also attended the grand opening event. Edge Autonomy has long been a proud member of the community in Riga, and the opportunity to showcase the products and solutions coming out of the new facility was an important part of the continued support of the community as a whole.

This underscores the need to continue to strengthen long-term cooperation within the Latvian defense industry, especially given the country’s strategic position in Eastern Europe. Edge Autonomy’s new office in Riga, Latvia, not only demonstrates the company’s rapid yet sustained growth, but also its ongoing dedication to customers and partners in the Baltics, European Union, and beyond.

About Edge Autonomy

Edge Autonomy is a leader in providing innovative autonomous uncrewed aircraft systems, advanced optics, and resilient energy solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Federal Civilian Agencies, allied governments, academic institutions, and commercial entities around the world. We believe that innovation – in all forms, from all sources, and at all stages of development – creates solutions that enable mission success. Our highly engineered uncrewed technology systems are utilized in nearly 80 countries in a wide variety of military, civil, and academic applications.

With a team of more than 700 employees, Edge Autonomy draws on nearly four decades of proven aerospace engineering, manufacturing expertise, and advanced technology. With headquarters in San Luis Obispo, CA and over 300,000 square feet of manufacturing and production capabilities across the U.S. and in the European Union, Edge Autonomy’s experienced team delivers proven solutions based on real-world mission needs.

Media Contact

Susan Hoffman
Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
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571-305-0442

All high performance long-range gimbals today have an onboard video processor and there are many good reasons for that. The onboard processor is a dedicated hardware processor which receives the video stream from the sensors inside the gimbal, processes the video and sends it to the datalinks. Here is a list of the key functions that the processor performs:

  • Software Stabilization of the video stream
  • Encoding of the video stream, usually to H.264 / H.265 format. After this, the video can be sent through an IP datalink
  • Object tracking. Video processor steers the gimbal to maintain the object of interest inside the video frame, even if the object is moving and the aircraft platform is moving. Scene steering is similar function, but the entire scene is kept in the video frame. Scene steering is useful when the object of interest is stationary, for example when surveillance is being done on a building.
  • Roll Correction of the video corrects the disturbances in the roll axis.
  • Moving Target Indication or MTI – this is an advanced functionality that is only available with the newest generation of high performance miniature gimbals.

There are several additional image processing functions that improve the usability of the gimbal:

  • Overlays on the video
  • Digital zoom
  • Video & Snapshot recording to internal flash drive
  • Multi camera presentation, such as picture-in-picture or image blending

What is an onboard processor?

The onboard processor is a piece of hardware, a miniature computer. In the newest generations of gimbals the onboard video processor is integrated inside the gimbal and is not noticeable from the outside. The older technology uses image processors that are external to the gimbal and essentially is a separate electronics box.

The most capable gimbals user integrated processors to deliver key benefits:

  • the smallest system size
  • the ability to access the digital video stream directly from the sensor without the need to transmit it through gimbal rotary joints
  • a more cost-effective solution since there’s no need to manufacture extra wiring harnesses and enclosures

Gimbals using external image processors generally have the following limitations that user / potential users should be aware of:

  • the requirement for additional electronics enclosures
  • an increase in the quantity of wiring
  • an increase in weight resulting in less overall payload capacity
  • a need to transmit video over the rotary joint
  • potential limitations in the type of data transmitted

Overall, these items combine to increase the price, both initially and over time, due to increase due to more parts, an increase in maintenance cost due to the complexity, and a corresponding need for greater and more skilled labor.

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