Aria Insights, formerly known as CyPhy Works, has shut down, The Robot Report has learned. Danvers, Mass.-based Aria Insights raised $39 million over seven funding rounds, according to Crunchbase. The last funding came in June 2018 when it raised $4.6 million in debt financing. Continue reading
South Africa Sends Hand-Launched UAVs to the Congo
The South African National Defence Force is deploying hand-launched unmanned aerial vehicles to its peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the first time. This appears to be the Indiza, locally developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Continue reading
USAF Buys Four More Predator B’s and Control Stations
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designers at General Atomics in Poway, California, will provide the U.S. Air Force with four new MQ-9 Block 5 Reaper attack drones and four mobile ground-control stations under terms of a $123.3 million contract announced last week. Continue reading
GA-ASI $123M Gets Netherlands MQ-9 Contract
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems was awarded a $123 million contract for four MQ-9 Reaper drones for the Netherlands. The not-to-exceed $123,293,911 contract (FA8620-19-F-2310) provides for four MQ-9 Block 5 unmanned air vehicles, four Mobile Ground Control Stations, spares, and support equipment. Work is expected to be complete by December. 31, 2020. Continue reading
NASA UTM Study in Downtown Corpus Christi
Officials from NASA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management project selected Corpus Christi as one of two nationwide test sites. Continue reading
DARPA Reveals Details of CODE Program
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has given further details on the capabilities of its Collaborative Operations in Denied Environment (CODE) program aims to adapt and respond to unexpected threats for existing unmanned aircraft that would extend mission capabilities and improve U.S. forces’ ability to conduct operations in denied or contested airspace. Continue reading
Oklahoma State University Gets FAA Authorization to Fly in Swarms

Student Seabrook Whyte and USRI research engineer Taylor Mitchell performing test flights at the FAA UAS IPP site
Oklahoma State University’s Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI) received its certificate of authorization from the FAA to permit flights of a fixed wing aircraft swarm within national airspace, making them the first in the country to receive this authorization. Continue reading
DroneShield Signs MoU with Saudi Telecoms Company
DroneShield and Saudi Arabia’s national telecommunications company Saudi Telecoms Company (STC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) committing to the exploration of the potential for collaboration on counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) opportunities for government customers in the Middle East. Continue reading






