Xavier de la Rue has been a pro snowboarder since he was 17 and has been world champion seven times. Although he still boards, de Le Rue’s life has recently taken a different course, he tells the audience at the Pioneers Festival in Vienna. He is now also a filmmaker, an inventor and a tech entrepreneur. Continue reading
Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS
Camcopter Helps Save 2800+ Refugees in Mediterranean
As part of the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) operation Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS (Unmanned Air System) helped to save the lives of over 2800 refugees in the Mediterranean Sea during several missions.
Alaska Researchers use HexaCopters to Find Hibernating Bears
For the first time, Alaska researchers plan to use hexacopters with thermal cameras to detect hibernating polar bears and grizzly bears on the North Slope. The University of Alaska Fairbanks team is working without dedicated funding, but is seeking industry support for the project. For now, they’re relying on UAF resources like the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration. Continue reading
Hawaii University Uses UAS to Map Lava Flow
Researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo successfully mapped the active flow front of the June 27, 2014 Kilauea lava flow on Hawai‘i Island with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on October 22. In a collaborative partnership with Hawai‘i County Civil Defense and the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the flight team from the UH Hilo Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization (SDAV) Laboratory used a Sensefly SwingletCAM with a visible camera to collect high resolution stills later merged into a mosaic for use by Civil Defense emergency planners.
Drones Spotted Over French Nuclear Plants
Reports of unidentified drones flying over seven French nuclear plants this month are being investigated, France’s interior minister said.
Danish Sniffer UAS Monitors Maritime Sulphur Emissions
Denmark’s Explicit has receive recognition and extra funding for its “sniffer” UAS, produced to monitor sulphur emissions from ships. The company was one of only ten finalists at the 2014 Ocean Exchange innovation contest in Savannah, Georgia. Continue reading
@rupertmurdoch Flies DJI Phantom
Rupert Murdoch has posted a picture on social media of him flying his new quadcopter. In a Tweet sent on October 28, the media mogul posted a picture of himself flying a quadcopter over a beach during the WSJD live technology conference in Laguna Beach, California. Continue reading
AeroVironment in Pipeline Security Contract in Turkey
Turkish military electronics specialist Aselsan has team up with an American UAS manufacturer and a joint venture to bid for a Turkish contract designed to build integrated security systems for all oil and natural gas pipelines in Turkey. Continue reading