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DARPA’s Towed Airborne Lift of Naval Systems (TALONS) research effort recently demonstrated its prototype of a low-cost, elevated sensor mast aboard a commissioned U.S. Navy vessel for the first time. The crew of USS Zephyr, a 174-foot (53-meter) Cyclone-class patrol coastal ship, evaluated the technology demonstration system over three days near Naval Station Mayport, Florida. Continue reading
A team from the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command simulates the operation of the future MQ-25 during a demo of the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.
The US Navy says it is moving full-throttle on plans to fly unmanned aircraft off of carriers. The planned MQ-25A will serve primarily as a refuelling platform, with the capacity to carry out some intelligence missions. The first unmanned craft to fly off a carrier, it is slated to deploy on the aircraft carriers Dwight D. Eisenhower and George H.W. Bush as early as 2019. Continue reading
The first full inspection of Airlander’s hull was completed last week by HAV’s team of aerospace technicians as part of ongoing analysis during the Flight Test Progamme. Continue reading
Yan Wan – University of Texas at Arlington
Yan Wan, an associate professor in UTA’s Department of Electrical Engineering, is the team lead on a three-year, $998,803 grant from the National Science Foundation that will develop a networked airborne computing platform for multiple unmanned aerial systems.
FlightWave Aerospace Systems, Inc., a California-based startup brings new capabilities to customers who need a sustained aerial presence in high-wind, maritime, or terrestrial missions. The company also announced an investment from Breakout Labs, the Thiel Foundation’s programme of support for deep technology companies. Continue reading
Robotic Skies announced it has raised a round of venture capital financing. The investment round was led by Kickstart Seed Fund of Salt Lake City, Utah, and included participation by Sun Mountain Capital of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The capital will accelerate the expansion of the Robotic Skies maintenance network for high-end commercial unmanned aircraft systems. Continue reading
The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has opened submissions for its review into commercial and recreational operations of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), or drones. Continue reading
Unmanned aircraft do not have a long, storied history like the Coast Guard. But they already play a role in one of the Coast Guard’s earliest missions – guarding against illicit trade. Continue reading