
General Atomics on 6 August performed a 42-hour endurance flight with its Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) variant, a 68% increase over the stamina of its Gray Eagle predecessor. Continue reading
AT&T Takes Cell Tower Inspections to the Next Level
AT&T already has contracted with vendors who conduct drone inspections of towers. Now, the video analytics team at AT&T Labs has joined forces with our National Drone Team to bring automated cell tower inspections a step closer to reality. With automation in the mix, we can do the job faster, better and more efficiently. With regulatory changes and further research, we hope that automated inspections will be possible. Continue reading
FreeWave Technologies New Rugged Radio for UAS
FreeWave Technologies, Inc. has announced general availability of its new rugged and secure MM2-5 Watt 1.3 GHz (13X5W) integrated radio for unmanned systems, military and OEM applications. Continue reading
Avion Unmanned and Huntsville Utilities Employ UAS in Daily Operations
With the help of Avion Unmanned, Huntsville Utilities will soon be able to employ UAS in their daily operations. This means a reduction in the level of risk and agency costs associated with the inspection of power poles, line connections, and associated equipment that is typically inspected using aerial vehicles (bucket trucks), or by the physical means of climbing a pole. Continue reading
Predator Crashes on Takeoff from Incirlik
While departing Incirlik Air Base, a U.S. Air Force MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft crashed at approximately 10:15 p.m. local time, Aug. 17, 2017, near Adana, Turkey. Continue reading
The Drone World Expo 2017 Interviews – Hector Ubiñas
In the third of a series of interviews with key figures involved in the success of Drone World Expo, we talked to Hector Ubiñas, Aviation Services Manager, San Diego Gas and Electric. Hector joined SDG&E in September 2016 and has been overseeing the Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) program since starting with the company. In this role, Hector is responsible for the daily operations of the UAS program and continuing to develop new work methods for its application in the utility industry. Continue reading
MQ-9B SkyGuardian Completes FAA Approved Flight
On August 16th General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) flew a MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) from Laguna Airfield at Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., through National Airspace, to its Gray Butte Flight Operations facility near Palmdale, California. Continue reading
Walmart Takes on Amazon with Flying Warehouses
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has opened a new front in its battle with Amazon.com Inc. The world’s largest retailer has applied for a U.S. patent for a floating warehouse that could make deliveries via drones, which would bring products from the aircraft down to shoppers’ homes. Continue reading




