RIEGL Honored with Innovation Vanguard Award for Payload Technology by Inside Unmanned Systems at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2025

The award, organized by Inside Unmanned Systems, recognizes outstanding achievements in unmanned systems innovation and technological advancement.

RIEGL received this recognition for its miniVUX-series with integrated RiLOC-E25, a payload that exemplifies cutting-edge design and performance. At the heart of this system is the RiLOC-E25 subsystem, which tightly integrates a MEMS-based Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), GNSS receiver, and RIEGL’s proprietary software—all within the compact miniVUX LiDAR housing. This seamless integration enables a streamlined, user-friendly workflow, with all post-processing handled through RIEGL’s RiPROCESS software suite, eliminating the need for third-party tools and significantly reducing operational complexity.

The system delivers high-speed data acquisition at up to 300,000 measurements per second, supports a full 360° field-of-view, and features multi-target resolution—allowing it to capture fine details in complex environments such as dense vegetation and urban infrastructure. These capabilities are powered by RIEGL’s Waveform-LiDAR technology, ensuring exceptional accuracy, precision, and data fidelity.

"We are incredibly proud to receive the Innovation Vanguard Award for "Innovator in Payload Technology, which I am accepting on behalf of my Austrian Technical Leads and Development Colleagues” said My-Linh Truong, RIEGL USA Division Manager of Unmanned Laser Scanning. “This recognition reflects our team’s unwavering dedication to advancing LiDAR technology and delivering solutions that truly meet the evolving needs of our clients and the geospatial industry. The development of the RIEGL RiLOC-E25 technology is a clear example of our commitment to empowering UAV operators with greater flexibility, enhanced performance, and a streamlined user experience.”

A Breakthrough in Payload Design
The miniVUX with RiLOC-E25 sets a new standard for UAV LiDAR payloads by combining compact form factor with powerful onboard processing and seamless software integration. Its lightweight, NDAA-compliant design makes it ideal for a wide range of commercial UAV platforms, offering unmatched performance in a cost-effective package.

Expanding Access to Advanced LiDAR
Designed with accessibility and scalability in mind, this solution opens new opportunities for small businesses, research institutions, and government agencies. Its compact size allows for integration with a variety of UAVs, while its affordability lowers the barrier to entry for high-precision geospatial data collection.

The innovation also paves the way for future advancements, including the newly introduced RIEGL RiLOC-F IMU/GNSS system, which extends compatibility across RIEGL’s VUX-series and VMY mobile mapping systems—enabling dual-use operations and greater operational efficiency.

RIEGL extends its sincere thanks to Inside Unmanned Systems and the Innovation Vanguard Awards judging panel for this recognition and looks forward to continuing to lead innovation in the unmanned systems industry.

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