MicaSense

Founded in 2014 by Aaron Fyke, Jeff McBride, Gabriel Torres, and Justin McAllister, MicaSense established itself as a specialized developer of advanced drone-based sensors for agricultural remote sensing. The Seattle-based company directs its offerings toward agronomists, researchers, and growers, providing tools for vegetative analysis. Its business model centers on the sale of high-precision multispectral and thermal imaging hardware, which is complemented by data processing and analytics services. The company's revenue is generated through the global distribution of its sensor products in over 70 countries.

MicaSense's product line features rugged, professional-grade multispectral cameras designed to be integrated with a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These sensors capture data across multiple light spectrum bands, including red-edge and near-infrared, which are invisible to the human eye but crucial for assessing plant health. This capability enables the early detection of issues such as water stress, nutrient deficiencies, pests, and diseases, allowing for timely intervention. Key products have included the RedEdge series, the Altum (which combines thermal, multispectral, and high-resolution RGB imaging), and the Dual Camera system for 10-band spectral analysis. The company also developed Atlas, a cloud-based service for processing, storing, analyzing, and visualizing the multispectral data collected by its sensors.

A significant milestone in the company's history was its acquisition by Parrot, a European drone group, which invested $2 million in 2014 and an additional $7.4 million in a Series A round in 2016. This relationship evolved until January 2021, when AgEagle Aerial Systems, a drone systems and solutions provider, acquired MicaSense from Parrot for a total of $23 million in a cash and stock transaction. This strategic move integrated MicaSense's imaging technology with AgEagle's drone platforms, aiming to create comprehensive solutions for various industries beyond agriculture, including energy, insurance, and package delivery safety. Following the acquisition, MicaSense continues to operate as a brand within AgEagle's portfolio.

Keywords: multispectral sensors, precision agriculture, drone imaging, remote sensing, agricultural technology, crop monitoring, vegetation analysis, drone sensors, agtech, plant health, aerial mapping, farm management, drone hardware, thermal imaging, UAV sensors, RedEdge, Altum, agricultural analytics, crop scouting, vegetative indices