Researchers used an unmanned aircraft to map the sea ice north of Barrow in April as part of a cooperative effort between the Native community of Barrow and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Continue reading
Category Archives: Research
US Navy Needs Help to Defeat UAS Cyber Threats
The US Navy says it’s not sure what kind of cyber threats its drones, sensors and missiles are up against. That’s because aerial weapons systems were not expected to become part of the so-called Internet of Things, the present-day entanglement of networked appliances, transportation systems and other data-infused objects.
Quadcopters Perform Sticky Landings
Researchers from the mechanical engineering lab at Stanford University working with researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, they have figured out how to enable a quad-copter drone to stick a landing — at any angle — much like a flying gecko or a bat. Without any kind of suction or sticky, the flying robot can now perch on a slippery surface. Continue reading
DARPA TERN Programme Produces Spin-Offs
The Tern program, which seeks to develop long-range drones that can launch from the deck of a ship, has already got a couple of spinoffs.
Drexel University Joins FAA UAS Research Team
Drexel University is one of several core research institutions that will be part of the FAA’s recently-announced National Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, led by Mississippi State University, alongside dozens of associate research, commercial and government partners.
Flapping-Wing Robotic Bird
University of Maryland Professors S.K. Gupta (ME/ISR) and Hugh Bruck (ME) and their students have developed and demonstrated a new robotic bird, “Robo Raven,” whose wings flap completely independently of each other, and also can be programmed to perform any desired motion, enabling the bird to perform aerobatic maneuvers. This is the first time a robotic bird with these capabilities has been built and successfully flown. Continue reading
Docking System for Mid-Air Recharging
New Zealand-born Daniel Wilson, a researcher at the University of Sydney’s Australian Centre for Field Robotics, has developed a method to allow UAVs to dock and recharge in mid-air, much like military jets do. He believes his team’s successful UAV docking in November last year was a world first.
UND Study to Automate Wind Turbine Inspections
University of North Dakota’s Technology Accelerator research center is conducting a two-year study to develop unmanned aircraft technology to automate inspections for the wind power industry and others, according to director Kevan Rusk. Continue reading