Appareo

Appareo is a product development and technology company specializing in software and hardware for industrial and commercial electronics. Founded in 2003 by Barry Batcheller, the company researches, develops, designs, and manufactures technology utilizing artificial intelligence, mechatronics, and innovative electronics for both the aviation and agricultural sectors. Batcheller, who studied aerospace and electrical engineering at North Dakota State University, has been involved in the startup of six companies and previously served as director of technology growth at John Deere. His son, David Batcheller, took over as president and CEO in the fall of 2017.

The company operates in the aviation and off-road markets, including agriculture and construction, providing custom electronics and software design for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Appareo’s business model focuses on end-to-end product development, with in-house engineering, manufacturing, and technological capabilities. It delivers aftermarket solutions through its brands: Stratus for aviation, and Intelligent Ag and Galeo for agriculture and off-road customers. In December 2021, AGCO, a global manufacturer of agricultural machinery, announced its acquisition of Appareo, which was expected to close in January 2022. AGCO stated its intention to retain the Appareo team and its facilities in Fargo, North Dakota, and Paris, France.

Appareo is known for its Stratus line of general aviation products, which includes ADS-B receivers providing real-time weather and traffic data, flight data recorders, and TSO-certified USB chargers. One of its notable products is the AIRS-400, a lightweight recorder that captures 4K Ultra HD video, audio, and detailed flight data. The company has also developed an AI-powered speech recognition system, ATC Transcription, for aviation. For the agricultural and off-road industries, Appareo provides communication, monitoring, sensing, tracking, and control systems.

Keywords: avionics, agricultural technology, mechatronics, electronic manufacturing, flight data monitoring, hardware development, software engineering, ADS-B receivers, custom electronics, off-highway equipment, telematics, flight data recorders, OEM solutions, Stratus, Intelligent Ag, Galeo, airborne image recording, AI speech recognition, situational awareness, operational efficiency