The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will award a sole source cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to New Mexico State University Physical Sciences Laboratory (NMSU/PSL). This contract is for the acquisition of facilities, materials and support for flight testing for the Vulture programme flight demonstrator (FD) air vehicle.
Category Archives: Applications & Testing & Experience
MIT uses Kinect for Autonomous Flight and Mapping
Students at MIT have developed a real-time visual odometry system that can use a Kinect to provide fast and accurate estimates of a vehicle’s 3D trajectory.
EuroHawk Undergoes Electromagnetic Interference Testing in USA
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) testing on the European version of Northrop Grumman’s Global Hawk– the Euro Hawk – was performed recently by engineers with the 772nd Test Squadron at the Benefield Anechoic facility (BAF) at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Inside the Quadrotor Thunderdome
Filmed at Zurich’s Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control inside the Flying Machine Arena, two Quadrotors demonstrate their extreme manoeuvrability by playing ball with a human, then with each other…
Smart Bird – Bird Flight Deciphered by Festo
Stuttgart-based Festo claims to be inspired by nature, having deciphered bird flight with its Smart Bird. The ‘bird’ is highly aerodynamically efficient, even turning its head like real gulls do to refine aerobatic turns, and can take off and land by itself.
Wales Launches Project to use UAS Remote Sensing for Use in Land Applications
The Welsh Assembly Government has just launched a two year research and development programme to explore the potential for advanced remote sensing, using small unmanned aircraft, for use in land applications, primarily high input arable farming. The programme is called Project URSULA – UAS Remote Sensing for Use in Land Applications.
After 600,000 Combat Hours Shadow Fleet Improvements Save $5M per Year
The AAI RQ-7B Shadow 200 Tactical UAS, which won the prestigious Performance-Based Logistics Award from the Secretary of Defence last autumn, continues to improve performance and efficiency after 600,000 combat hours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Phantom Eye Arrives at NASA for Testing
Boeing’s unmanned hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye HALE demonstrator aircraft has arrived at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Centre for assembly and preparations for flight tests.