Hexagon AB, a global leader in digital reality solutions combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies, today announced the Leica BLK2FLY has been named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2022.

The BLK2FLY, recognised for its productivity and innovation, is the world’s first fully integrated autonomous flying laser scanner. It’s part of Hexagon’s BLK suite of autonomous reality capture sensors known for their speed, portability, ease-of-use and mobility.

To compile the list, TIME solicited nominations from TIME’s editors and correspondents around the world, and through an online application process, paying special attention to growing fields – such as the electric vehicle industry, green energy, and the metaverse. TIME then evaluated each contender on a number of key factors, including originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.

“Having our reality capture technology recognised by TIME as one of the year’s best inventions is both humbling and inspiring. It validates our mission to build Smart Digital Realities™ that empower an autonomous, sustainable future,” says Hexagon President and CEO Ola Rollén. “Our technologies aim to change the world for the better, turning concepts that were once thought impossible into real solutions that benefit everyone. By optimising quality, productivity, efficiency and safety – profitably – we can help industry achieve sustainability through mitigated risk, less waste and reduced cost.”

As a LiDAR-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the BLK2FLY addresses costly and complex issues, quickly and accurately capturing everything from large outdoor spaces to complex structures and environments. For example, when renovating building structures, it can easily capture exterior dimensions of previously inaccessible or difficult-to-reach areas such as rooftops and facades. The resulting colourised 3D point clouds are instrumental in building information modeling (BIM) processes, documenting site conditions and improving any asset’s operation – from infrastructure to utilities to industrial facilities.

See the full list of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2022 here: time.com/best-inventions-2022

For further information, please contact:
Anton Heikenström, Investor Relations and Business Analyst, Hexagon AB, +46 8 601 26 26, ir@hexagon.com
Kristin Christensen, Chief Marketing Officer, Hexagon AB, +1 404 554 0972, media@hexagon.com

Hexagon is a global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. We are putting data to work to boost efficiency, productivity, quality and safety across industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, public sector, and mobility applications.

Our technologies are shaping production and people related ecosystems to become increasingly connected and autonomous – ensuring a scalable, sustainable future.