The White House launched a new effort Tuesday to help increase the use of drones and showcased how government agencies have become a proving ground for a wide array of new drone concepts and technologies.
Woolpert Deploys Drones to Monitor Landslides
Woolpert has tasked its unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, with monitoring landslide areas and potential landslide areas in northern West Virginia.
Sense and Avoid Capability for Swiss Hermes 900
Switzerland is planning to operate its future Hermes 900 unmanned air vehicle fleet in its domestic airspace, and work is under way by manufacturer Elbit Systems to certify a sense-and-avoid system aboard the type. Continue reading
New Water Rescue Tactic using Drones
microdrones recently collaborated with the DLRG Horneburg/Altes Land e.V. (German Lifeguard Association) to simulate a mission to rescue a drowning swimmer, demonstrating the life-saving potential of a tactic that combines two cutting-edge technologies: unmanned aerial systems (UAVs) and RESTUBE.
USAF Pilots add Electronic Warfare to UAV Training
As the US Air Force faces both pilot shortages and increased demand for its unmanned air vehicle operations in contested environments, the service is offering operators new training to allow them to continue carrying out their missions while under electronic attack.
F-35A is Combat Ready
Air Combat Command chief General Hawk Carlisle said that the F-35 is “combat ready,” and he would have no reservations about sending it into battle. Speaking with reporters at the Pentagon on August 2nd, Carlisle declared Initial Operational Capability for the F-35A, saying the 388th Fighter Wing and the associated 419th Reserve Wing have the requisite number of planes (15 versus the six necessary), maintainers, and trained pilots—and have demonstrated their capabilities in realistic exercises—such that he is “comfortable” sending the fighters anywhere that a regional combatant commander asks for them. Continue reading
Google’s Project Wing Approved for Testing
Google’s Project Wing drone delivery trial has been financially backed by the United States government, which believes the unmanned aircraft systems industry could create as many as 100,000 jobs.
FAA: Half Million Drones Registered by Hobbyists
The FAA has registered more than a half million drones flown by hobbyists in the past eight months, its top administrator said at a White House gathering, but commercial drones haven’t been tackled yet.