November 21st, 2025
Strengthening Collaboration to Enhance IGC Platform and Software-Enabled Hardware Integration
San Luis Obispo, CA (November 21, 2025) – Inspired Flight Technologies (IFT), a leading U.S. manufacturer of NDAA-compliant drone platforms, today announced the expansion of its partnership with Ascend Engineering, a UAV software development firm specializing in control, autonomy, and system integration.
Building on a two-year collaboration, Ascend’s dedicated team has grown to support IFT’s expanding software initiatives, most notably the Inspired Ground Control (IGC) platform, the central hub of the Inspired Suite. IGC delivers a clean, secure, and intuitive interface for mission planning, in-flight management, and seamless payload integration.
Together, the teams have delivered several key achievements, including:
“Partnering with Ascend accelerates our software-enabled hardware strategy,” said Nick Winsick, VP of Technology at Inspired Flight Technologies. “Their team has been instrumental in advancing IGC, and together we’re delivering new capabilities that empower our customers to operate more efficiently.”
This growing partnership strengthens Inspired Flight’s commitment to pairing American-made, NDAA-compliant hardware with advanced software intelligence, creating complete mission-ready systems for government, commercial, and research applications.
For more information, visit www.inspiredflight.com or learn more about Ascend Engineering at www.ascendengineer.com.
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About Inspired Flight Technologies
Founded in 2017, Inspired Flight Technologies is a leading American drone manufacturer dedicated to advancing secure, mission-ready aerial systems. The company’s integrated hardware and software platforms are NDAA-compliant, cyber secure, and certified under the U.S. Department of Defense’s Blue UAS program as well as AUVSI’s Green UAS program, making them trusted for high-consequence government and commercial missions.
Inspired Flight’s platforms support applications in Inspections & Maintenance, Research, and Surveying & Mapping.
For more information, please contact marketing@inspiredflight.com
About Ascend Engineering
Ascend Engineering is a Chicago-based software and engineering firm specializing in drone technology. As a group of UAV software engineering consultants, Ascend Engineering helps companies build and integrate UAV projects into their workflows. With expertise in PX4, QGroundControl, MAVSDK, MAVLink, and ROS2, the company offers comprehensive services from autopilot development to backend integration. Founded by industry experts, the company is committed to advancing UAV technology and providing tailored solutions for businesses looking to leverage drones in their operations.
For more information, visit ascendengineer.com/contact-ascendengineering