The U.S. Air Force recently zapped an Islamic State drone with an electronic weapon, the service’s top civilian said. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James on Monday said the service targeted a small, weaponized drone operated by militants “a week or two ago” because it was responsible for killing four non-U.S. citizens in the Middle East.
No GPS, No Problem: Next-Generation Navigation
A team of researchers at the University of California, Riverside has developed a highly reliable and accurate navigation system that exploits existing environmental signals such as cellular and Wi-Fi, rather than the Global Positioning System (GPS). The technology can be used as a standalone alternative to GPS, or complement current GPS-based systems to enable highly reliable, consistent, and tamper-proof navigation. Continue reading
Centrik Operational Management Systems Now Available for UAS Operators
UAS operators concerned by growing calls over regulation of the sector can now hold the key to successful self-regulation, thanks to operational management system Centrik. Already used by airlines, operators, airports and regulators worldwide, Centrik is now available for unmanned operators who require robust, high-quality management systems built on a firm aviation foundation.
AIRFENCE, A New Counter-Drone Defense Capability
Anti-drone company, Sensofusion, is set to protect Denver International airport later this year with its AIRFENCE technology, which the company said “could have big implications for homeland security.” Continue reading
Draganfly Tests Miniaturized Hyperspectral Sensors
Draganfly Innovations has announced that they have signed an agreement with Optical Filter Corporation, a subsidiary of Corning Incorporated to integrate their miniaturized advanced hyperspectral camera system into Draganfly’s UAVs. Continue reading
US Army Wants to Blend Arrow UAS and Persistent Surveillance Systems Capabilities
The US Army intends to award North Eastern Aeronautical Company (NEANY) Inc. a USD 49.2 Million sole-source contract to modernise and merge the capabilities of the company’s Arrow unmanned aircraft system (UAS) with the service’s lighter-than-air (LTA) Persistent Surveillance System (PSS). Continue reading
China Develops Solar-Powered Drone for Pipeline Monitoring
Aviation researchers in China are developing solar-powered drones capable of staying airborne for at least a month, a senior designer has revealed. Shi Wen, head of unmanned aircraft development at the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, said in an exclusive interview that his team has developed prototypes to demonstrate new technologies and equipment. Continue reading
Drones Used in Railroad Safety Inspections
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway became part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Pathfinder Program in creating a frame work for the commercial use of drones. Continue reading