HUVRData LLC, a drone-based data analytics startup, has completed a $2 million Series A round of funding from angel investment organizations including Central Texas Angel Network (CTAN), Houston Angel Network (HAN) and the Texas HALO Fund. In the past 1.5 years, HUVR has built out its technology, secured the full FAA approval for its commercial drone applications, and established its value to first target markets of wind, solar, oil and gas and precision agriculture.
Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS
Unmanned Helicopter Tested for Rainwater Removal
Washington State University is partnering with Digital Harvest Corp. to test an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that could provide a safer, less expensive means to blow rainwater off cherry orchards to avoid fruit losses.
OSU Gets $6M Grant for Weather Research UAVs
The National Science Foundation has awarded Oklahoma State University and three partner universities $6 million to collaboratively develop an integrated unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to improve weather forecasting through the study of atmospheric physics. The four-year grant will support the collaboration led by OSU and including the universities of Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kentucky. Continue reading
Insitu Conducts Successful Arctic Search and Rescue Demonstrations for U.S. Coast Guard
Launching its ScanEagle unmanned aircraft from Oliktok Point at the North Slope of Alaska, Insitu conducted flight operations for the U.S. Coast Guard 13-15 July. The successful demonstration was part of the Coast Guard Research and Development Center’s Arctic Technology Evaluation 2015 Search and Rescue exercise (SAREX 2015).
Austraian Operator Begins Nation-Wide Expansion
Private drone operating firm, Australian UAV, announced this week the opening for business of its New South Wales offices. With over 1400 safe and successful flights for commercial and government clients, Australian UAV is fast establishing itself as one of the country’s most experienced civilian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators. Its existing client base includes survey, forestry, precision agriculture, industrial and natural resource management, as well as general aerial photography and filming. Continue reading
NAAA Launches UAV Safety Campaign
The National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) has launched a UAV safety campaign to raise awareness and prevent accidents between UAV operators and low-altitude manned aircraft. The first public outreach tool in the safety campaign is a UAV “safety stuffer” designed for aerial applicators to share with farmers and other agricultural stakeholders.
Successful Drone Measuring Campaign for Meteorological Soundings
During the first two weeks of July, Meteomatics performed a drone measurement campaign for meteorological soundings in the eastern part of Switzerland. Over 450 sounding flights were conducted with drones flying on five locations simultaneously: Altenrhein, Amlikon, Bad Ragaz, Oberriet and Schänis. During the campaign, the self-developed Meteodrone covered a flight distance of more than 700km.
Drones Monitor Traffic in Netherlands
The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment has announced that it has successfully used three Altura Zenith ATX8 drones, manufactured by Aerialtronics, to monitor the traffic leading to and from the Concert at Sea festival in Zeeland. The drones monitored an area of 30 square kilometres and were supported with a strong wireless network connection provided by T-Mobile.