RapidFlight, a Virginia-based unmanned aircraft manufacturer, has announced the successful acquisition of Local Motors’ intellectual property portfolio. This strategic move demonstrates RapidFlight’s unwavering dedication to deploying additive manufacturing (AM) technologies to meet the needs of its national security customers.
RapidFlight delivers superior-quality unmanned aircraft systems that outperform industry standards in terms of time-to-market and scalability by leveraging the power of 3D printing and other AM techniques.
RapidFlight’s access to Intellectual Property Portfolio
Local Motors was a Phoenix, Arizona-based American automobile manufacturing company founded in 2007 by John B. Rogers Jr. The company was a pioneer in the use of large format additive manufacturing technologies, having built large scale transportation vehicles and autonomous buses such as the Olli™. Local Motors accumulated a sizable intellectual property portfolio while making significant contributions to the development of affordable and practical commercial deployments of AM technologies.
“We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Local Motors’ IP portfolio, which aligns perfectly with our mission to revolutionize the unmanned aircraft industry through advanced additive manufacturing technologies. We are bringing cutting-edge technologies from the venture-funded commercial sector to the national security space and delivering products to the DoD with them.”
– Jay Gundlach, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, RapidFlight
RapidFlight gains access to Local Motors’ extensive intellectual property portfolio, including patents, designs, and engineering expertise, as a result of this acquisition. RapidFlight’s product development efforts are accelerated by this infusion of knowledge and assets, allowing the company to demonstrate its ground-breaking UAS products in weeks rather than years.
According to Brad Schneider, RapidFlight’s Chief Operating Officer, “Local Motors was in business for more than a decade. It was funded through millions of dollars of venture investment and developed critical large format AM technologies in partnership with some of the most reputable US government laboratories. We have acquired the fruits of all that labor and are bolstering RapidFlight’s own family of patent applications through this acquisition.”
About RapidFlight: RapidFlight is a Manassas, Virginia-based integrated designer and manufacturer of unmanned aircraft. RapidFlight is reducing the time it takes from concept to flight while developing aircraft systems that meet the demanding challenges, evolving requirements, and tight timelines inherent in our national security. RapidFlight is ushering in a new era of aircraft manufacturing with next-generation manufacturing processes and a team of industry leaders.
