Lantronix announced on May 1 that it will debut its Open-Q 8550CS micro system-on-module (µSOM) and showcase its new Drone Reference Platform at the upcoming XPONENTIAL event, scheduled for May 11–14, 2026, in Detroit.
The announcement highlights Lantronix’s focus on providing solutions for autonomous and defense drones with compliance to the National Defense Authorization Act. The company’s new products are designed to support rapid development in a growing market for unmanned aerial systems.
The Open-Q 8550CS µSOM is powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS8550 and features a compact design with low power consumption. It supports advanced artificial intelligence models and multimodal capabilities, which make it suitable for integration into drones requiring edge computing performance. The module includes an on-device AI engine with a Qualcomm Hexagon Tensor Processor, optimal size-weight-and-power efficiency, scalability for high-volume production, and is intended to meet advanced AI/machine learning requirements.
Lantronix’s Drone Reference Platform is also based on the Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS8550-based Open-Q 8550CS µSOM. According to the company’s statement, this platform delivers advanced on-device AI capabilities optimized for both autonomous commercial applications and defense use cases. It integrates edge compute functions, sensing technologies, and flight control into a single NDAA- and Trade Agreements Act-compliant solution. The platform aims to help original equipment manufacturers accelerate development from concept to prototype within weeks instead of months.
A live demonstration of the Drone Reference Platform will take place during XPONENTIAL at booth #20013 hosted by Unusual Machines. The demonstration will feature new artificial intelligence features such as object detection and tracking using electro-optical/infrared cameras. Lantronix reports that their reference platform demonstrates seamless interoperability between compute modules, control systems, and flight controllers when integrated into Unusual Machines’ H7 Flight Controller.
Saleel Awsare, CEO of Lantronix said: “The XPONENTIAL showcase underscores our expansion in autonomous systems, drones and defense.” Awsare added: “Lantronix is focused on equipping commercial and defense customers with secure, scalable platforms that significantly reduce time to market.”
Looking ahead, Lantronix stated that its comprehensive portfolio aims to enable customers across smart cities as well as enterprise IT environments seeking secure connectivity solutions or resilient out-of-band network management.