Xcel Energy and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are launching a new program to research the safe operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to inspect 20,000 miles of electrical transmission lines in 10 states. Continue reading
Slovak Special Forces Deploy Skylark I-LEX
The Slovakian Army’s 5th Special Forces Regiment (5. Pluk Specialneho Urcenia: 5.PSU) has taken into service Elbit Systems’ Skylark I-LEX unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Continue reading
Serbia’s EDePro Hornet VTOL on Show at IDEX-2017
Serbia’s EDePro is developing a lightweight rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the X-01 Strsljen (Hornet). Speaking to Jane’s at IDEX 2017 in Abu Dhabi, the company’s lead engineer, Dr Predrag Matejic, said that development of the aircraft commenced in 2012 and was driven by an analysis of customer requirements and market demands. Continue reading
Drone Advisory Committee Builds Consensus
The Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) held its second meeting on January 31 in Reno, NV. The DAC is an RTCA Federal Advisory Committee comprised of executives who represent a wide array of stakeholders including: unmanned aircraft manufacturers and operators, traditional aviation groups, labor organizations, radio and navigation equipment manufacturers, airport operators, state and local government officials, and academia. Continue reading
Stemme and S-PLANE Automation to Develop OPA
Stemme AG and S-PLANE Automation (Pty) Ltd have announced an agreement to integrate S-PLANE subsystems into the ECARYS ES15 aircraft to create an Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV). A comprehensive solution will be created, including the Ground Control Station, suitable for a variety of mission profiles. Continue reading
DroneDeploy’s Software Bundled for Ag Customers
DroneDeploy has announced that its cloud-based platform has been selected by CNH Industrial – a global leader in agricultural equipment and other capital goods – as the software for a unique, all-in-one UAV system. Continue reading
Redkite Wide-Area Sensor First Flight with Integrator
Logos Technologies and Insitu, a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, are proud to announce the successful initial flight test of the Redkite wide-area sensor aboard the Integrator small tactical unmanned aircraft. Continue reading
1,000 Drones at Annual Lantern Festival in Guangzhou
People in a city in southern China celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with a modern twist as 1,000 illuminated drones were launched into the night sky in a record-breaking display. The event was jointly organised by the Tianhe district government in Guangzhou, Guangdong province and the drone maker Ehang, according to a report on Visitgz.com, a tour information website run by the city’s tourism bureau. Continue reading