UAV-Based Thermal-Imaging Protocol to Find Toylike “Butterfly” Land Mines

A type of land mine called the “butterfly” has a particularly insidious reputation for two reasons: It is known for killing or crippling children who may pick up what looks a lot like a green plastic toy, and its mostly nonmetallic construction means it often evades traditional mine detectors. Butterfly mines’ light-touch detonators go off easily if stepped on by a fighter—or farmer—and their relatively small charge often maims people without immediately killing them. Continue reading →

University of North Dakota Tests Multi-User, BVLoS Broad-Purpose Network for Commercial Drone Activity

The University of North Dakota, along with research partners from Harris Corporation and the Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site (NPUASTS), achieved a major industry milestone on Friday, Dec. 21, with the first-ever test flights over a specially developed UAS network of technologies that opens the skies for broad commercial use of drones. Continue reading →

China Plans Heavy Fuel Engine for CH-4 UAV Family

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is developing a new variant of its Cai Hong 4 (Rainbow 4, or CH-4) armed reconnaissance medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV), which will feature an indigenously manufactured heavy fuel engine (HFE), company sources confirmed with Jane’s on 21 December. Continue reading →