First NASA Large UAS Flight in Public Airspace without Chase Plane

A Detect and Avoid (DAA) avionics system developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) was the key technology that enabled an unmanned aircraft flight through the National Airspace System (NAS) after taking off from southern California on Tuesday. Continue reading →

Rafael Unveils New Tactical Loitering Weapon System for Urban Warfare

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. has unveiled a new variant in its Spike family of precision engagement weapons systems designed for light manoeuvring ground forces. The weapon, known as FireFly, was designed for dismounted soldiers fighting in urban areas where precision is critical, but the enemy is behind cover and the soldier’s situational awareness is limited. Continue reading →

Biomimicry of Bats to Help Drones Navigate in Dark, Dust or Smoke

To get drones to fly around complicated obstacles in the dark by themselves, University of Cincinnati researchers are turning to the pros. Bats have evolved to use sound and echolocation to navigate and find food. Their sonar is so keen, in fact, that nectar-loving bats can “spot” their favourite flowers in pitch darkness using only sound. Continue reading →

FAA’s Safety Rules for Commercial Drones Are Overly Strict, Report Says

Introducing drone operations into the nation’s airspace can provide substantial benefits to society, such as preventing derailments, inspecting cell phone towers, delivering medical devices to patients in cardiac distress, and assisting firefighters, says a new congressionally mandated report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Continue reading →