As drones become increasingly autonomous, researchers and engineers are finding new ways to let unmanned aerial vehicles manage menial tasks that are usually relegated to crews of workers and valuable time being lost in the process. For researchers at the University of Leeds and University College London, the focus is on slowly but surely kickstarting drone-infused smart-cities with UAVs that could repair roads efficiently, saving time, cost, and the efforts of manual labour. Continue reading
Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS
Researchers Map the San Andres Fault with Drones
Scientific study of the evolution of the southern end of the San Andreas Fault is of vital importance given the earthquake-prone nature of southern California. Mapping fault zones and land surface changes that resulted from previous earthquakes can deepen the understanding of hazards posed by the fault, including the possibility of future temblors. Continue reading
Dropcopter Pollinates 300 Acre Apple Orchard
Insitu Gets Interior Contract Award for sUAS Services
Insitu has received a first-of-its kind contract from the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to provide fire suppression services within the contiguous 48 states and Alaska using its ScanEagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). Continue reading
Ohio to Integrate Drones into Transport Infrastructure
Ohio may soon be using unmanned aerial systems to communicate with smart vehicles and transportation infrastructure to monitor traffic and roadway conditions. Continue reading
100m Flying Height Best for Forest Analysis
Scientists with the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of New Hampshire recently analyzed effectiveness of Unmanned Aerial Systems – that’s drones, to you and me – to collect meaningful information about the health and status of forests. Continue reading
Ball Aerospace Remote Sensing Technology Detects Methane Leaks During Mobile Monitoring
Ball Aerospace demonstrated its methane remote sensing technology flying on board a piloted aircraft during the Stanford University and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Mobile Monitoring Challenge, resulting in high-resolution, geo-referenced imagery of simulated methane leaks in near real-time. Continue reading
Aevum’s New Rocket-Drone Airplane Duo Could Launch Satellites Every 3 Hours
A space launch every 3 hours may soon be possible using rockets carried on a fully autonomous unmanned airplane, a new startup company suggests. Alabama-based startup Aevum aims to per mission, using an air-launch system called Ravn. Continue reading