GSS: S410 multi-sensor gimbal
By Oliver Johnson
Gyro-Stabilized Systems’ (GSS’s) S410 is a 10-inch lightweight gyro-stabilized multi-sensor system, designed for critical situational awareness and high-impact missions.
The system is offered with three sensors as standard, including a high-definition infrared (HD-MWIR) camera, a 4K/HD daylight camera, and a laser rangefinder. Optional functions include a video tracker, moving target indicator, image blending, geo-pointing, a moving augmented reality map and searchlight slaving.
Jason Fountaine, managing director of GSS, said the company was “sensor agnostic” when it came to selecting the systems for the gimbal.
“We’re not a camera manufacturer, so we will put the best in the world that we can find to integrate into the gimbal,” he said.
The S410 is the latest — and smallest — platform offered by GSS, with the company’s other three platforms ranging from 12 to 20 inches.
“It rounds out our size range because now we can put various sensors with various sized optics,” said Fountaine.
The S410 is a single LRU system — so all the electronics are contained within the gimbal — and weighs about 35 pounds (16 kilograms).
Fountaine said the S410 is likely to appeal to those in law enforcement, firefighting, homeland security, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. There are no ITAR controls on the standard configuration, enabling a more straightforward acquisition process for overseas operators.
Verticon represented the first time a working prototype of the S410 was on display, after more than a year of development. The system is now being flight tested, and GSS hopes to have it available for order by the end of this year.
Podium 1/Helicopter Institute: R44 & R66 Training Simulator
By Dayna Fedy-MacDonald
Podium 1, known for developing racing simulator systems, has designed and built a Robinson R44 and R66 full-motion training simulator, which the company is bringing to market in partnership with Helicopter Institute. The new sim was demonstrated during this year’s Verticon in Atlanta.
Podium 1’s co-founder, Chandler Welling, says the trainer targets a gap in the market for high-fidelity rotorcraft simulation at a more accessible price point. Available in both single- and dual- seat configurations, the former is priced at US$115,000. The dual seat, which is in the process of becoming an FAA-approved Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD), is set at a price point of US$250,000.
Built on a six-degree-of-freedom motion platform, the simulator is designed to replicate the physical and sensory cues of helicopter flight. Features such as dual G-force belt tensioners and a fully integrated motion system provide pilots with tactile feedback, including changes in load, yaw, and lift.
“What we see lacking in the flight sim market is fidelity and feel,” said Welling. “You need to feel what the helicopter is doing. If you don’t have that, you’re experiencing it for the first time in the aircraft.”
The cockpit incorporates OEM components, including a real R66 cyclic, Robinson seats, integrated avionics such as the Garmin G500 and GTN 750, and mechanically linked flight controls. A 180-degree visual system, comprised of five 77-inch OLED display panels, allows pilots to maintain situational awareness during maneuvers such as confined-area and slope landings.
The simulator is intended for both civilian and military-style training applications, including the Robinson TH-66 Sage for the U.S. Navy’s Contractor Operated Pilot Training – Rotary (COPT-R) program, which Helicopter Institute holds the contract for.
The companies expect to achieve FAA AATD approval for the dual-seat simulator before the end of 2026.
Axnes: CPX Wireless Intercommunication System
By Jen Boyer
Axnes unveiled its CPX Wireless Intercommunication System at Verticon, a next generation passenger address headset solution aimed at increasing passenger comfort and crew control. Designed to bring high-quality, cable-free communication to passenger transport and mission operations such as offshore, tours, air medical, and VIP, the system features noise attenuation, Bluetooth connectivity, and automatic crew announcement priority.
At the heart of the system is the VST 250 base station, a compact unit weighing under a pound. Mounted in the aircraft, it supports up to 50 wireless headsets.
The headsets, available with or without a boom microphone, feature built in rechargeable batteries with 10 to 12 hours of battery life. They deliver up to 33 dB SNR noise attenuation standard, with active noise reduction capability as an option. Buttons on the headset allow passengers to manually control volume, audio modes, and communication functions, eliminating the handset typically incorporated into a headset cord.
With the CPX, pilots and crew can play inflight audio entertainment and make announcements through the wireless headsets. Using Bluetooth connectivity, passengers can also pair their own devices to individual headsets to listen to their own downloaded audio content. Crew announcements will always have priority over personal content.
Fully qualified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the CPX wireless headset system operates on unlicensed radio bands. They are expected to be released on the market in Q3 2026.
Overwatch Imaging: Multipoint Stare capability
By Oliver Johnson
Overwatch Imaging, a developer of autonomous airborne imagery intelligence systems, displayed a new feature for its Automated Sensor Operator (ASO) platform at Verticon this year.
ASO is a sensor autonomy software that upgrades third-party EO/IR video gimbals with a wide range of AI-enabled search, detection, tracking and mapping capabilities. The newly developed Multipoint Stare capability allows multiple targets to be identified and autonomously tracked through a single gimbal.
“You can select two or more objects of interest, and the camera will automatically slew between those locations,” said Jesse Thrush, business development director at Overwatch Imaging. “The operator doesn’t have to steer the gimbal anymore — it automates that whole process.”
Additional capabilities can be added to further enhance the operation, he explained.
“You can say, ‘I want to know when a white pickup truck arrives at this location,’ or, ‘I want to know when a person comes out of this house,’ — and those automatic detections will notify the operator when those things occur.”
The ASO product is about two years old, but the latest functions are new to market.
“We’re continuing to improve it and add new models, new detectors and new capabilities,” said Thrush. “We’re constantly improving our maritime detection model as well. We’re integrating AIS into it now, so when you detect a ship on the ocean, it also shows its AIS signal — shows the vehicle’s registration, where it’s coming from, where it’s going to, the speed, the direction, and all that sort of information.”
Such a capability is increasingly needed in an age of shadow fleets with AIS spoofing, he noted.
“A lot of our improvements come from operators’ real-world experience, when they say ‘Wouldn’t be cool if….’ — and then we take that and develop that capability and roll it out to everybody,” said Thrush.
Helitak: Sea Scooper
By Oliver Johnson
One of the most talked-about new products at Verticon was Helitak’s new Sea Scooper. Displayed in the form of a prototype on a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk (the type for which it has been predominantly designed), the Sea Scooper will ultimately be available for use with a range of platforms, said Riley Schellaars, field service manager at Helitak.
A previous version of the scoop, designed for McDermott Aviation, used a pump to transfer water through it. The Sea Scooper requires no pump, and is entirely force-fed — the water is pushed through the scoop by the aircraft’s forward momentum.
“It allows us to pick up the saltwater by flying forwards and staying out of that saltwater rotorwash,” said Schellaars. This helps minimize the resulting corrosion problems caused by extended exposure to saltwater when refilling in a hover.
The Scooper is designed to be carried through the water at about 30 knots and from a height of about 15 feet. Operators will have the ability to raise and lower it from the cockpit, as well as dumping it if needed as a safety feature.
The design has been in various stages of development for the last couple of years, but work has intensified over the last six months, said Schellaars.
The Scooper was set for flight tests in California immediately following Verticon, and Schellaars said Helitak is hoping to be able to begin fielding it with customers this summer.
He said Europe is the biggest initial market for the Scooper, which would be particularly well-suited to somewhere like Greece, which has demanding fire seasons and much better access to saltwater than freshwater.
DIT-MCO: AMP Cable Manager Software
By Dayna Fedy-MacDonald
Wiring and cable testing specialist DIT-MCO International showcased its AMP Cable Manager Software (ACMS) at Verticon, a new digital tool designed to help helicopter operators track, maintain, and optimize their cable inventories for long-term health. The software tool brings greater visibility and control to what Tom Woosley, marketing manager at DIT-MCO, says is an often overlooked but critical asset.
Adapter cables play a central role in connecting test systems to aircraft, with a single helicopter requiring multiple different cables. For operators with mixed fleets, the number of adapter cables multiplies. This can make cable management tricky — including ensuring each cable is working properly.
According to Woosley, manual management methods, such as spreadsheets, can lead to inefficiencies, unexpected failures, and costly downtime. The ACMS software addresses these problems by providing a centralized system that monitors cable inventory, usage, and condition in real time.
“We’re trying to get people to treat their cables as instruments, not as a conveyance,” Woosley explained. “They’re just as important as the test system itself.”
The software tracks lifecycle data and usage history to help teams make more informed decisions about when to service, repair, or retire a cable. By identifying wear trends and potential issues early, ACMS allows for more proactive maintenance planning. This can help prevent faulty cables from being deployed to the test floor, where they may otherwise cause false failures and troubleshooting delays.
ACMS also supports production planning by aligning cable availability with scheduled testing requirements. Woosley says this helps reduce bottlenecks and improves overall workflow efficiency.
Currently in a beta phase, the software is being implemented internally within DIT-MCO’s own manufacturing and test operations. The company hopes to bring ACMS to market before the end of 2026.
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Wyoming Bucket LLC: Wyoming Bucket
By Oliver Johnson
Based in Worland, Wyoming, Wyoming Bucket LLC is a new presence in the aerial firefighting bucket sector, offering another option for power-fill and dip-and-go bucket systems.
The company was established by Ed Keller, who said it developed from a “lifelong habit of fixing things.”
Keller spent eight years at Sky Aviation as the operator’s innovation specialist, where he handled tooling, field repair, site management, and crew logistics for long line firefighting helicopters. It was there he discovered a persistent problem: firefighting buckets were difficult to repair in the field. When a bucket went down, the helicopter could be grounded for hours, and that lost time pushed him to imagine something better.
Keller took everything he had learned and in late 2023, founded Wyoming Bucket LLC. The bucket he has created includes a multi-function power booster system that he and his in-house design team created. The modular design allows components to be swapped in the field without specialized expertise.
“Every component can be replaced within an hour,” said Keller. “The electronics are just two wires and six bolts.”
Less downtime means more water drops, which can save structures and lives.
The bucket is available in three sizes: 660 US gallons (3,000 liters), 900 US gallons (4,090 liters), and 1,150 US gallons (5,230 liters). They can be reconfigured to change capacity in under 40 minutes, to 400 US gallons (1,820 liters), 660 US gallon (3,000 liters), and 900 US gallons (4,090 liters), respectively. The bucket’s bright blue reflective material has been chosen for durability and visibility.
Keller strives to source as many of the bucket’s components as possible within the state. “I want to represent Wyoming and the U.S.A. as best we can,” he said.
Becker Avionics: 3D audio capability
By Brent Bundy
At Verticon, Becker Avionics highlighted the growing importance of advanced cockpit audio management, placing emphasis on its 3D audio capability integrated within the company’s Digital Voice Communication System (DVCS) Plus. Becker also introduced the upcoming AMU6520, a new digital Audio Management Unit (AMU) that mirrors the functionality of the AMU6500 but removes the LCD screen in favor of tactile controls preferred by many helicopter operators.
For crews operating in demanding environments such as airborne law enforcement, search and rescue (SAR), and aerial firefighting, monitoring multiple radio channels at once can quickly become one of the more challenging tasks in flight. Becker’s 3D audio capability addresses this by assigning each communication source its own position around the listener, allowing the brain to naturally separate transmissions.
“You’re going to hear it coming from different locations,” Becker’s David Oglesbee explained. “It’s like hearing it from different positions around you, so you can mentally separate them out.”
Within Becker’s system, radios, alerts, and crew communications can be placed at specific positions around the pilot rather than blending together. The primary user can access eight positions across a 360-degree audio field, while secondary users have five.
Because the system is software-driven, it can integrate with a wide range of avionics architectures without requiring additional panel space. “It can be put into any radio,” Oglesbee said. “We can go behind the glass of another manufacturer and not take up any additional space.”
Alongside the focus on advanced audio capabilities, Becker introduced the AMU6520, a new control head designed to provide the same capabilities as the AMU6500 without a display.
While the 3D audio capability is available now, the AMU6520 is expected to be on the market by the end of the third quarter of 2026, further expanding Becker’s lineup of digital cockpit communication systems.
Shotover Systems: Oscar platform
By Oliver Johnson
Shotover Systems introduced its new Oscar Linux-based hardware platform, which is capable of integrating its Ion 2 digital video recorder and Airscape augmented reality mission management system.
The Oscar can run Ion 2 independently as a dedicated digital video recorder, or run Ion 2 and Airscape simultaneously, allowing operators to record mission video while using advanced augmented reality tools for situational awareness and mission coordination.
Tom Churchill, founder and CEO of Shotover Systems, said one of the drivers for the development of the Oscar was to provide the ability to securely transmit video from the air to the ground.
With the rapidly evolving geopolitical situation around the world, transmitting data through cellular datalinks and Starlink connectivity could expose aircraft to adversaries, he said.
“We have to pay a lot more attention now to cyber security,” said Churchill. “This is based on Linux rather than Windows, which is inherently less vulnerable.”
The Oscar can be connected to various systems within the aircraft — such as cameras, AIS, and ADSB — and either record that data or send it to the ground.
“This is our lightest, smallest, most powerful computer so far,” said Churchill, noting that the Oscar uses Nvidia processors for power efficiency and capability — but also AI performance.
“You hear AI thrown around as sort of a buzzword now . . . but there are instances in which it can make a meaningful difference,” he said. “We use it in things like automatic license plate recognition, where you may have a paper license plate that will only flap in a position to be readable for too short a period of time for a human, but the AI can read it very quickly and identify it.”
Lake Fusion Technologies: Situational Awareness System
By Brent Bundy
Lake Fusion Technologies unveiled SitAwS (Situational Awareness System), a sensing platform designed to give pilots a real-time, three-dimensional, multi-color understanding of their surroundings. The system detects terrain, wires, and obstacles with high probability and presents them visually to the pilot, effectively turning invisible hazards into actionable information.
“It’s two LiDAR sensors with a camera below them, running back to a very small computer that you can put in your avionics bay,” Lake Fusion’s Alex Freidin explained to Vertical Plus.
With a 120-degree field of view approaching a windscreen-spanning perspective, it provides pilots with a dynamic picture of their operating environment. Terrain contours, obstacles, and even slope gradients can be displayed in real time, allowing crews to make faster, more informed decisions during critical phases of flight.
“It’s going to be able to see everything: fence posts, wires, terrain,” Freidin said. “Most aircraft are slope-limited in terms of where they can land. With the next iteration of our software, the slope degree will be visible to the pilot. You’ll know right away, ‘I can’t land there.’”
That capability has already captured the attention of operators worldwide. Freidin noted strong interest from utility and aerial firefighting sectors, segments where low-level flight and confined-area operations are routine. “Some of the largest firefighting agencies in the world want our system,” he said.
Despite its advanced capabilities, the package remains relatively lightweight, around 20 pounds (nine kilograms) installed. According to Lake Fusion, it can be adapted across a wide range of helicopter types, further broadening its potential impact.
The company is targeting regulatory approval in the U.S. for the UH-60 Black Hawk by October 2026, followed by the Airbus H125 in early 2027. Additional platforms, including the Boeing CH-47 Chinook and Airbus Super Puma, are expected to follow. Meanwhile, parallel certification efforts are underway in Europe.
