Japanese drone maker ACSL is sharpening its pitch to U.S. enterprise and public safety customers with some bigs news this week, including the debut of its NDAA-compliant TAITEN smart controller and a new deal with Teledyne FLIR, which is an American company that leads in the thermal camera space. There’s also some new upgrades to its SAMO thermal payload.

All of these moves underscore ACSL’s strategy to gain a stronger foothold in the U.S. market, where NDAA-compliant drone alternatives (and in particular, drones that are not made in China) are in growing demand.

TAITEN controller and how it could prop up the SOTEN drone

The TAITEN controller, which features a 7-inch, high-brightness display and rugged IP54 weather resistance, is set to launch in September. Pricing is still under wraps, though ACSL CEO Cynthia Huang said in an interview with The Drone Girl that it will be announced once customs and tariff calculations are finalized (likely in September).

It’s designed to work with ACSL’s flagship SOTEN drone, which launched in the U.S. in early 2024. The NDAA compliant SOTEN drone stands out for its strict security standards and features, including the option to encrypt collected photo and video data before it’s recorded to the on-board memory card. Meanwhile, communication between the drone and the controller is always encrypted. There’s also a proprietary controller.

Some of SOTEN drone’s other specs include:

• 25-29 minute flight time
• Dustproof and waterproof ability equivalent to class IP43 (though ACSL advises against flying in rain or fog, nonetheless).
• 3.8 pound weight.

The controller is the next expansion of ACSL’s lineup of Japanese-made drone products. And though it’s currently only compatible with SOTEN Huang noted that won’t always be the case.

“Yes, currently only compatible with SOTEN, but we are looking to enable compatibility across our ecosystem. More to come on that in the future,” she said in an interview with The Drone Girl.

That ecosystem strategy also extends beyond hardware. Huang confirmed ACSL is actively working to open its platforms to outside developers through an SDK and third-party payload integrations. Though little details were given, she said the company was actively working to enable more options and collaboration opportunities.

Targeting U.S. adoption

ACSL, which is already Japan’s largest drone manufacturer, has been steadily building traction in the U.S. over the past year.

For now, ACSL is particularly focused on the energy and public safety sectors. While Huang didn’t confirm specific contracts, she pointed to increasing adoption.

“We have seen tremendous increase in momentum with energy companies as well as public safety customers in recent months,” she said, adding that ACSL will be co-releasing case studies and white papers with customers later this year.

That focus tracks with broader market demand: U.S. utilities and first responders have been under pressure to replace Chinese-made drone fleets with NDAA-compliant alternatives. With this, it’s clear that ACSL hopes SOTEN — and now its TAITEN controller — can fill that gap.

The FLIR effect

A central pillar of ACSL’s U.S. strategy is its newly announced collaboration with Teledyne FLIR under the Thermal by FLIR program. FLIR is a thermal sensor maker based in Oregon, and it has provided sensors for many drones including DJI enterprise drones.

Related read: Radiometric thermal cameras from FLIR level up capabilities of drones

The new partnership integrates FLIR’s Hadron 640R thermal module and MSX® imaging capabilities into ACSL’s SAMO payload, offering operators sharper thermal and optical data.

Huang called the FLIR relationship “an important part of our U.S. growth strategy,” explaining that the collaboration brings more than just superior thermal performance.

“Not only does it give us the obvious benefit of integrating industry-leading thermal hardware and software, but it also helps build brand recognition and trust,” she said. “By working closely with such a reputable company like FLIR, we can give end users even more confidence in adopting our drone solutions. Together, we’re pairing ACSL’s continuously evolving drone technology with FLIR’s proven imaging capabilities to deliver a combination that’s both familiar in performance and innovative in form factor.”

Navigating regulatory uncertainty — and what’s next

The key question looming over ACSL’s U.S. expansion is the regulatory landscape. Lawmakers have floated additional restrictions on foreign-made drones beyond existing NDAA compliance rules.

Though most of those restrictions focus on Chinese-made drones (in which case ACSL drones to not apply), it’s still a tricky time for drone companies. Many businesses (and even Drone Girl readers) are only interested in purchasing drones made in the U.S.

Though ACSL launched in the U.S. in 2023 with a subsidiary in Santa Clara, California, its drones are still made in Japan.

On this point, Huang was cautious.

“Because U.S. drone legislation remains in flux, we don’t have a comment to share right now, though we’re obviously tracking everything closely,” she said.

ACSL will showcase the TAITEN controller and updated SAMO payload at Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas, which runs from September 2-4, 2025.

Besides that, ACSL’s key priorities arecourting U.S. agencies and enterprises seeking NDAA-compliant alternatives. With growing momentum in energy and public safety markets — and the credibility boost from Teledyne FLIR — the company is betting its Japanese pedigree and focus on security will resonate with American buyers.

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