ACSL TAITEN & SAMO: New NDAA-Compliant Smart Controller and Thermal Payload

When ACSL entered the U.S. market in late 2023 with the SOTEN, their goal was clear: offer a compact, NDAA-compliant drone that could meet the needs of public safety teams and industrial operators alike. The SOTEN platform checked a lot of boxes (it was secure, portable, and offered swappable payloads), there were still a couple pieces missing in the broader ecosystem.

In September 2024, ACSL released the TENSO, a new GSC that gave operators more control and better visibility in the field. And now, almost exactly a year later, ACSL is back again with two new releases: the TAITEN smart controller and the SAMO thermal payload.

Both are built for real-world missions. The TAITEN smart controller features a 7-inch, 1500-nit integrated display, extended battery life, and a rugged IP54-rated housing. SAMO includes 20× visible zoom alongside the radiometric Hadron 640R thermal sensor, plus planned MSX® fusion support thanks to ACSL’s collaboration with Teledyne FLIR.

“This is a big moment for ACSL… advancing mission-ready drone solutions,” said Cynthia Huang, CEO of ACSL Inc., as the company formally joined the Thermal by FLIR® program. The partnership is designed to accelerate thermal innovation and shorten the path from sensor development to operational deployment.

In the sections ahead, we’ll break down what’s new, what’s improved, and how ACSL’s expanding ecosystem is shaping up for serious work.

TAITEN Smart Controller: Hardware Overview

TAITEN is ACSL’s most capable ground control unit to date. Built specifically for the SOTEN platform, it introduces new tools for extended missions, brighter conditions, and multi-operator workflows.

TAITEN features a 7-inch integrated display that reaches 1500 nits of brightness, easily viewable in full sun without relying on sunshades or third-party monitors. It runs Android 13 and ships with ACSL’s TAKEOFF app pre-installed, offering responsive gimbal and flight control with minimal latency.

TAITEN’s ruggedized housing is IP54-rated against dust and splashes, making it perfect for field work in harsh environments. A high-capacity power system enables up to 8 hours of operation on a single charge, with USB-C pass-through for extended runtime. Dual-band radio (2.4 GHz + 5.8 GHz) with AES-256 encryption supports an unobstructed operating range of over six miles (where permitted.)

The system also supports multi-controller pairing, allowing up to three units to be linked to a single aircraft. This unlocks instructor-pilot configurations, payload specialist roles, or safe handoffs.

Key Features at-a-Glance

SAMO Thermal Payload: Overview and Key Features

SAMO is a swappable, NDAA-compliant thermal imaging payload designed for the ACSL SOTEN platform. At its core is the Teledyne FLIR Hadron 640R, an ITAR-free, dual-sensor module that combines radiometric thermal imaging with high-resolution visible video in a compact, efficient form factor.

The payload captures radiometric thermal imagery using a 640 × 512 Boson sensor with a 12 μm pixel pitch, alongside a 64 MP visible sensor with a 67° horizontal field of view. Recent updates have introduced a 20× optical zoom on the visible path, supporting long-range target identification, inspection workflows, and situational awareness during low-visibility missions.

SAMO is tightly integrated with ACSL’s ecosystem. Operators can mount or remove the payload with a single touch, control the camera and gimbal from the TAKEOFF ground control app, and view radiometric data in real time on the TAITEN smart controller. The design also preserves SOTEN’s overall maneuverability, adding just under 2 ounces to the aircraft’s weight.

As part of ACSL’s official entry into the Thermal by FLIR® program, SAMO will soon support MSX® (Multi-Spectral Dynamic Imaging). This feature fuses visible and thermal data to create sharper overlays and reveal key features like pipes, seams, and lettering.

Key Features at-a-Glance

• Dual-sensor payload: Radiometric Boson 640 × 512 thermal + 64 MP visible

• 20× visible zoom: Supports long-range inspections and thermal confirmation

• MSX® fusion (roadmap): Combines visible edge detail with thermal overlays for better context

• Thermal optics: 13.6 mm EFL with ≈32° HFOV

• Visible optics: 4.8 mm EFL with ≈67° HFOV

• Thermal sensitivity: <20 mK (typical)

• Temperature accuracy: ±5 °C (0 to 100 °C range)

• Power draw: ~1.8 W typical, ≤2.9 W max

• Ingress protection: IP54 sealed module

• Weight: ≈56 g (≈1.98 oz)

• Size: ≈50 × 36 × 43 mm

• Integration: Compatible with SOTEN, TAKEOFF, and TAITEN

• Compliance: NDAA-compliant, ITAR-free, Remote ID not applicable at the payload level

Advexure’s Take

We’ve had the chance to get our hands on the TAITEN, and the difference is noticeable from the moment you power on. The new smart controller is very user-friendly and intuitive to operate.

The inclusion of dual-band radio is one of the most meaningful upgrades over previous controllers. In our testing, it has all but eliminated the link instability and signal drop issues that were occasionally seen with earlier versions. The connection between controller and aircraft is now more resilient, with faster recovery and more reliable performance in areas where interference or poor line of sight might have caused problems in the past.

The original controller worked well enough to get missions off the ground, but it left plenty of room for improvement. TAITEN addresses key customer feedback and introduces upgrades that make the SOTEN platform more reliable and practical to fly.

As ACSL continues to refine their lineup and respond to dealer and end-user input, the ecosystem is starting to take shape. With TAITEN and SAMO now in the mix, the SOTEN platform feels more complete.

Learn More

To explore detailed specs, pricing, and availability for either product, visit the links below:

• ACSL TAITEN Smart Controller

• ACSL SAMO Thermal Camera