an independent online news service for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems world
AeroVironment, Inc. has announced that it has begun a year-long study with California State University, Fresno to research how unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery and analytics could potentially detect varying levels of water stress in almond trees and give producers smarter insights to make more effective in-season decisions regarding water management. Continue reading
The Hydrogen Engine Center (HEC-TINA) and Arcturus UAV have announced a joint partnership to develop a hydrogen fuelled internal combustion engine capable of supporting the T-20 family of unmanned aircraft. Continue reading
The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th Generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Three variants of the F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16 for the U.S. Air Force, the F/A-18 for the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the U.S. Marine Corps, and a variety of fighters for at least ten other countries. Continue reading
China Daily website (chinadaily.com.cn) has joined forces with a drone maker to improve digital news coverage. The website and domestic drone company EHang Inc signed a collaboration agreement on Wednesday, which will see reporters given training on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) photography. Continue reading
NASA has awarded Human Automation Teaming Solutions Inc. (HATS) a $1 million contract for a yearlong effort to develop R-HATS technology that will reduce the number of human operators needed to manage complex systems. By allowing the seamless sharing of tasks and responsibilities between automation and human, a single ground operator using R-HATS will simultaneously assist and monitor multiple manned or unmanned aircraft. Continue reading
A team from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has created a software tool that allows even relative novices to drag and drop standard components—including propellers, support rods, and a range of core body frames—and craft their own drone designs. Continue reading
Drone USA, Inc., a developer, manufacturer and distributor of low altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and related technologies announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (“ESAero”). Headquartered in San Luis Obispo, California, ESAero is best known for their work on the NASA SCEPTOR X-57 “Maxwell” X-Plane contract, a 3,000 lb. electric flight demonstrator and NASA’s first manned experimental rocket in approximately 30 years. Continue reading
China is gearing up to strengthen its role in global aviation with the drone industry taking off. Chengdu Aircraft Design & Research Institute (CADI), a subsidiary of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, has gained the world’s attention with its Wing Loong Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). Continue reading