VIRES Aeronautics, developers of a revolutionary airplane wing design, has announced a $1 million Series AA round of financing. The funding will enable VIRES Aeronautics to meet increasing customer demand for extended flight time in the rapidly growing industry for unmanned aircraft systems. Draper Associates led the round with participation from Lemnos Labs, VegasTechFund, Promus Ventures, Lance White, Don Hutchison, and Toivo Annus. Continue reading
Author Archives: The Editor
Aeronautics to Supply 2 Dominator UAS to Mexico
Aeronautics has signed a contract to supply two Dominator XP unmanned air systems to the armed forces of Mexico. Based on Diamond Aircraft’s twin-engined DA42, the Dominator XP has a flight endurance of 28 hours and is capable of carrying a 300 kg (660lb) payload. The modified aircraft can be flown to an altitude of up to 30,000ft (9,150 m) and has a top speed of 190kt (351 km/h). Continue reading
Two RC Helicopters Lift a Woman into the Air
A German company claims to have broken a world record: the first time a human has been lifted into the air with a remote-controlled helicopter. Heligraphix, an RC helicopter company known for its gravity-defying stunts, enlisted the help of H.U.L.C. — Heavy Ultra Lift Crane model helicopters. Continue reading
Facebook in Talks to Acquire Titan Aerospace for $60M
Facebook, one of the primary backers of the Internet.org initiative, which aims to bring affordable Internet access to the 5 billion people in the world who still lack connectivity, is in talks with a company that could help further that agenda. Facebook is buying Titan Aerospace, makers of near-orbital, solar-powered UAS which can fly for five years without needing to land. According to a source with access to information about the deal, the price for this acquisition is $60 million. Continue reading
Turkey May Request Unarmed Reaper
Turkey’s defence bureaucracy could soon follow in the footsteps of a 2013 French move and request U.S. congressional approval for the sale of an unarmed version of an American UAS after its appeal for an armed version failed. Defence sources said Turkey acknowledged its prior request and could now renew it for an unarmed version of the Reaper, made by the U.S. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Continue reading
Germany Reports High Rate of UAS Losses
According to Israel’s Homeland Security, the German Army has reported a record attrition rate of UAS in the last decade. Continue reading
UAS Film Napa Valley Vineyards
Two Napa Valley filmmakers are using emerging and somewhat controversial technology to capture spectacular aerial footage of vineyards, wineries and other wine country locations. Adam Krolfifer and Bret Lyman teamed up last year to purchase a custom-made, remote-controlled helicopter and create their aerial cinematography company, ActionChopper. Continue reading
US Air Force to Flight Test Hyperspectral Sensor
The US Air Force is planning to test a high-powered spectral sensor for unmanned aircraft systems capable of spotting such things on the ground as improvised explosives or camouflaged targets by identifying what those objects are made of. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center has announced plans to negotiate a contract with Raytheon Co. to test a podded version of the Airborne Cueing and Exploitation System-Hyperspectral (ACES-HY) on the Predator UAS. Continue reading