The U.S. Forest Service’s controversial UAS programme, at first earmarked to spy out illegal marijuana cultivation in California, may have found new life, according to agency documents posted last week by the watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS
Louisville Hosts Quadcopter Battle
LVL1 Hackerspace is hosting a “Quadcopter Ultimate Arial Combat Competition (QUACC) – Louisville’s first ever Quadcopter battle.It is limited to 16 competitors, who have to use a specific quadcopter, chosen for it’s low price tag. The quadcopters can be modified for battle, but everyone has to start with the same base model to keep things fair (a Syma X1 Model). Continue reading
ARA Nighthawk UAS Demonstrates Search and Rescue and Accident Reconstruction Value
As a result of ongoing conversations with law enforcement personnel, the Unmanned Systems & Security Product (USPD) Division of ARA recently had the opportunity to demonstrate the usefulness of the Nighthawk IV Micro Unmanned Air System (UAS) to the Vermont State Police search-and-rescue and accident reconstruction teams and an Army Civil Support Team (CST). Continue reading
UPS Also Researching Parcel Delivery by UAS
Amazon isn’t the only company researching how to harness the potential of small unmanned aircraft: The Verge has learned that the world’s largest parcel service, UPS, has been experimenting with its own version of flying parcel carriers. Continue reading
Photogrammetry Training in Australia
Tim Lucas, a young Australian developer of Autonomous Unmanned Systems and payloads, made this video to demonstrate how UAS carrying photogrammetry payloads can be used in the industry. Continue reading
Olaeris Moves to North Carolina to Produce AEVA UAS for Emergency Response Operations
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) company Olaeris has selected North Carolina as its top choice for a U.S. headquarters facility. They are currently engaging Piedmont economic development leaders to identify the most promising location for what they believe can become a leading R&D hub to the global UAS industry. Continue reading
Jeff Bezos Promises Half-hour Shipping by UAS with Amazon Prime Air
Jeff Bezos is nothing if not a showman. Amazon’s CEO loves a good reveal, and took the opportunity afforded by a 60 Minutes segment to show off his company’s latest creation: drones that can deliver packages up to five pounds, to your house in less than half an hour. They’re technically octocopters, as part of a programme called “Amazon Prime Air.” Continue reading
Cloud Seeding in Sierra Could Get Boost from UAS
Efforts to coax a little extra punch out of the Sierra’s winter storms could soon involve the use of UAS, with the unmanned aircraft potentially offering significant benefits when it comes to boosting the region’s water supply and putting more snow on its ski slopes. Continue reading