RCbenchmark, a Canadian manufacturer serving the drone industry, announced today that it has changed its name to Tyto Robotics. The name change is accompanied by several major changes as the company releases a new product line and enters the wind tunnel testing space.

Founded in 2014, the company originally offered small 5 kgf test stands for the RC (remote-controlled) community, hence the name ‘RCbenchmark’. Since launching the company, they have continuously added larger products to their catalog, including test stands measuring up to 75 kgf of thrust with propellers up to 70” in diameter. This year they also added custom wind generators to their roster thanks to a partnership with Swiss company WindShape, which provide an open-air alternative to traditional wind tunnel testing.

With this series of major additions, it was time for a rebranding.

“Our new company name reflects the profile of the customers we serve”, says founder and CEO Charles Blouin, ”the majority of our clients are commercial manufacturers and aerospace leaders such as Volocopter, Volansi, and Matternet.”

‘Tyto’ refers to the genus of owls known for their efficient, silent flight. The company’s tools help their clients achieve these enviable qualities, which is why they chose the bird as their namesake. ‘Robotics’ as a field integrates computer science and engineering, which are both areas of expertise for the company’s team.

This year, Tyto Robotics will also release a new line of test stands, the ‘Flight Stand’ series, which have a higher sampling rate, better calibration standard, and allow for the testing of up to eight powertrains simultaneously. “We listened to our clients and we are pleased to offer tools which will allow them to take their testing to the next level”, says Blouin.

Along with the name change, the company also announced that it is actively seeking distributors in several regions, hoping to offer their new test equipment to markets with up and coming drone industries.

While the company rebrands as Tyto Robotics, their first generation of test stands and software will be renamed the ‘RCbenchmark’ series.