The AscTec (later Intel) Falcon 8 is a series of octocopter camera drones originally released by the German company Ascending Technologies (AscTec) in 2009. Intel continued to produce the Falcon 8 after acquiring Ascending Technologies in 2016.
Serial production of the Falcon 8 began in 2009. The Falcon 8 is an octocopter intended for aerial photography, with its eight motors being arranged on a V-shaped frame to keep them out of the camera's view. The drone has a stabilized gimbal which is compatible with cameras from several manufacturers, including Sony (ñ7R, ñ6000, HDR-PJ810E, and NEX-5N), Sigma (DP1 Merrill), and Panasonic (Lumix DMC-TZ71), as well as a FLIR Tau 640 thermal camera. The Falcon 8 is capable of carrying a payload has a maximum flight time of 20 minutes with a standard payload. By January 2016, the Falcon 8 was capable of using the AscTec Trinity autopilot system with a triple-redundant inertial measurement unit. That same month, Ascending Technologies was acquired by Intel. That July, Intel demonstrated a modified Falcon 8 with RealSense cameras at the Farnborough International Airshow, during which it performed a visual inspection of an Airbus airliner.
In October 2016, Intel released an updated version as the Falcon 8+ for the North American market. The Falcon 8+ has a payload capacity of and is controlled with a weatherproof Intel Cockpit controller. Among the payloads compatible with the Falcon 8+'s three-axis gimbal include a Sony ñ7R camera with a Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA lens. Power is provided by two Powerpack 4000 batteries, giving the drone a maximum flight time of 26 minutes with no payload or 16 minutes with a maximum payload.