Teledyne FLIR Defense has expanded its Third-Party Payload Integration Program by certifying Emesent’s Hovermap LiDAR payload for use across the company’s unmanned aerial systems, ground robots and radiation detection platforms.
The announcement was made at Modern Day Marine 2026 in Quantico, Virginia. The companies said the integration is intended to support operations in GPS-denied environments where unmanned systems can lose connectivity, including tunnels, dense urban structures and CBRN-contaminated spaces.
Hovermap uses LiDAR-based simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) to generate 3D maps without GPS or external infrastructure, according to the release. Teledyne FLIR said the payload has been certified for use on its SkyRanger R70 and R80D SkyRaider UAS platforms, and on its SUGV 325 ground robot.
Teledyne FLIR also said Hovermap can be integrated with its MUVE R430 radiation detection payload on the SUGV, with the aim of giving operators a geo-referenced view that links the robot’s movement through an environment with radiation readings.
Stefan Hrabar, co-founder and chief strategy officer at Emesent, said the integration could support real-time situational awareness for CBRN teams by combining spatial mapping with radiation detection without placing personnel in hazardous areas.
Tung Ng, vice president of unmanned systems North America at Teledyne FLIR Defense, said the combination is intended to provide operators with a fused spatial view of the threat environment. He added that the company expects more capability to be delivered through certified third-party payloads.
Teledyne FLIR said certified payloads are assessed for mechanical fit, electrical interface, software compatibility and flight performance. The companies said the partnership also establishes a technical foundation for future work, including autonomous navigation and expanded multi-sensor fusion beyond radiation to additional CBRN detection modalities.
The integrated systems were scheduled to be shown at Teledyne FLIR Defense booth #1724 at Modern Day Marine 2026, running April 28–30 at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
