At Ascend Aeronautics®, our passion is empowering people to capture life from the skies. For over 10 years, we have been pioneering innovative drone technology that makes aerial imaging and videography accessible to everyone.
Our Story
The spark for Ascend Aeronautics® came in 2009 when our founder, James Wilson, received a drone as a gift. As an avid photographer and videographer, James immediately recognized the potential of drone technology to give people a new perspective. However, consumer drones at the time were limited in their capabilities and often tricky to operate.
James had a vision to create drones that were both powerful and easy to fly. After months of research and development in his garage, the first Ascend Aeronautics® drone took flight. We set out to make drones that opened up new creative possibilities while remaining safe, reliable, and intuitive to use.
Over the next few years, James steadily refined and improved the technology. Our drones quickly gained recognition for their excellent image quality, long flight times, and smart features that made capturing stunning aerial footage simple. As demand grew, we transitioned from a hobby into a full-fledged business.
Today, Ascend Aeronautics® is a leading drone company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Our team of engineers, designers, and aviation experts work tirelessly to push the boundaries of what consumer drones can do. While our technology has become more advanced, our mission remains the same: to give people the power of flight.
Our Drones
At Ascend Aeronautics®, we believe drones should empower your creativity, not limit it. Our flagship consumer drones combine portability, ease of use, and professional-grade aerial imaging capabilities.
Phantom Series
The Phantom series packs powerful features into a compact, portable form factor. It features our proprietary HorizonSteadyTM stabilization system for smooth, shake-free footage and photos. Intuitive controls make the Phantom easy to maneuver even for beginners. Meanwhile, advanced creative options allow videographers and photographers to achieve stunning professional-level results.
The latest Phantom 4 Pro has a high-performance camera able to capture 20MP photos and 4K/60fps cinema-quality video. It also includes sophisticated safety systems such as obstacle detection and automated flight modes that take the stress out of piloting. For wide-angle views, the Phantom 4 Zoom has a 24-48mm optical lens able to zoom in on subjects from a distance.
Mavic Series
With an ultra-portable foldable design, the Mavic series redefines possibilities for aerial imaging on-the-go. Despite weighing less than 0.5kg, Mavic drones deliver powerful performance thanks to optimized propulsion systems and transmission technology.
The flagship Mavic 3 excels at aerial photography with its dual-camera Hasselblad system and 5.1K video recording. The Mavic 3 Cine premium model takes it further with a larger 4/3 CMOS sensor able to capture 6K video with more dynamic range. For travelers and adventurers, the compact Mavic Mini packs impressive 4K/30fps video and 12MP photos into a drone barely larger than a smartphone when folded.
Matrice Series
Our professional Matrice drones meet the demands of commercial users across industries. Modular systems allow integrating specialized cameras, sensors, and other payloads. Rugged, reliable construction stands up to regular heavy usage in demanding conditions, while advanced safety features meet regulatory requirements.
The Matrice 300 RTK can equip a variety of high-end cameras like the Zenmuse H20 for hybrid 20MP stills and thermal imaging. Powerful onboard image processing yields rich aerial data even in low light or hazy conditions. The Matrice 600 Pro has a high payload capacity up to 6kg for carrying multiple sensors or other equipment. Both models support worldwide real-time kinematic positioning for precision navigation during surveys or inspections.
Drone Technology
Cutting-edge technology makes our drones exceptionally versatile aerial imaging tools. Some of our most innovative features include:
- HorizonSteadyTM stabilization – Our proprietary stabilization systems effectively neutralize vibration and turbulence to obtain clear, smooth footage during flight. Sophisticated sensors and mechanical gimbals work together to produce stable video even in windy conditions.
- OmniSightTM obstacle sensing – Using multiple onboard cameras and sensors, our drones can detect obstacles in their path and navigate around them. This provides an added layer of safety when flying in complex environments.
- DeepFocusTM camera tech – Advanced camera systems developed in-house allow our drones to capture incredible high-resolution photos and cinema-quality video. Sophisticated lenses, larger sensors, and better low light capabilities expand their creative potential.
- CrystalSkyTM displays – Our integrated screens feature ultra-bright displays with powerful processors optimized to show vital flight data and crystal-clear drone camera views. You can focus on framing shots, not squinting at a tiny smartphone screen.
- POWERUPTM power systems – Intelligent battery management and propulsion technologies give our drones longer flight times. Batteries can recharge to 80% capacity in just 35 minutes.
- SKYLINKTM transmission – Our long-range HD video transmission allows controlling drones smoothly from distances up to 8km. It also makes it possible to stream live feeds to multiple devices.
Made for You
At Ascend Aeronautics®, we design each drone to empower your unique creative vision. Whether you’re an amateur enthusiast, a professional photographer, or a commercial enterprise, our range of drones makes aerial imaging accessible.
Consumers & Creators
For creative individuals, our drones open up new artistic possibilities that were previously difficult or impossible. Take breathtaking aerial photos without chartering a plane. Get immersive sweeping shots of landscapes and cityscapes. Capture exciting new perspectives of adventures and sports. We make these experiences achievable through user-friendly designs requiring minimal training. Intelligent flight modes also allow you to focus on composition while the drone handles navigation and camera controls.
Professionals
Many professional photographers and videographers now rely on drones to give their work an elevated perspective. Our prosumer models combine portability with capabilities for capturing stunning high-resolution, cinema-quality footage. The enhanced stability, extended flight times, and other smart features allow professionals to get the shots they need with less effort. For commercial pilots, our modular drones can equip the specialized camera gear needed for their assignments.
Businesses & Organizations
Drones are invaluable tools for enterprises across industries like construction, surveying, mining, agriculture, and more. Our commercial systems excel at these aerial inspection, monitoring, and mapping applications with enterprise-level durability, safety, and data capabilities. Integrated sensors allow collecting visual data even in remote or dangerous environments inaccessible to manned aircraft. The highly customizable platforms can equip the specific payloads each industry requires.
Safety First
While drones open up amazing creative opportunities, safety should always come first. Our drones are engineered with multiple features to make each flight secure:
- Sophisticated sensor systems detect obstacles in the drone’s path and automatically steer around them. This reduces risks of collisions and crashes.
- Geofencing prohibits entering restricted areas like airports without authorization. Altitude limits and speed governors also promote safe operation.
- Battery management prevents potentially hazardous issues like overcharging or over-discharging during flight. Automatic landing kicks in when power runs low.
- For commercial users, built-in tracking allows identifying and monitoring each drone. Flight data logs track missions for auditing and regulatory purposes.
We want customers to feel completely comfortable operating our drones safely. So we provide full manuals and in-app tutorials on using our safety features responsibly. We also invest heavily in ongoing research to continually enhance reliability and security.
Built to Last
In addition to being safe, our drones are engineered for durability and resilience. Lightweight yet rugged materials withstand the wear and tear of regular use. Water and dust resistance allow operating in varied environments. We rigorously test components and software to root out any potential vulnerabilities before launch. While accidents happen, our drones are designed to take the occasional bump or scrape in stride. We want to give you the confidence to take our drones on any adventure knowing they can handle it.
Customer Commitment
While cutting-edge technology powers our drones, our customers motivate everything we do at Ascend Aeronautics®. We are constantly listening to feedback from the pilot community to understand how we can improve. Our designs, features, and services focus squarely on empowering what you aspire to create. We also aim to provide exceptional support through channels like:
- Ascend Flight Academy – At our training centers or online courses, new pilots can develop safe flying and videography skills. We want to set you up for success before your first flight.
- Technical Support – Our knowledgeable support teams are available by phone, online chat, email, and social media. We provide troubleshooting, warranty service, repairs, and expert tips.
- Software Updates – We continually refine and enhance our drones through new firmware versions. This keeps them current as technology advances and adds new capabilities.
- Community Forum – Interact with fellow Ascend fans, get advice, showcase your work and more on our community forums. We’re building a culture of aerial creativity here!
Your success and satisfaction means everything to us. Please reach out anytime with questions, concerns, or suggestions. We want to hear from you as we chart the future course of Ascend Aeronautics® together. The sky is calling – let’s fly!