The US Navy, which already operates the catapult-launched ScanEagle and Blackjack, is interesting in procuring more tactical small unmanned aerial systems to provide ISR in day and night operations, as well as in adverse environmental conditions.
Flying Camera has $34 million in Pre-Sales
Antoine Balaresque, who co-founded the Lily company in the basement of a University of California, Berkeley robotics lab, set out to make the simplest drone — make that, flying camera, or one that didn’t require any flight skills. Continue reading
Drone Policies at US Ski Areas
Last January, at a seminar on drone use held during the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) Eastern Winter Conference hosted at Killington Resort, members heard that a policy would be needed at ski areas and that there were many potential uses for drones, from an operations standpoint—lift and trail inspections, searches for lost persons, etc.—to guest use and commercial usages. However, it was noted that FAA regulations were in progress and that privacy and safety concerns made it a complex issue.
DHS to Expand Drone Testing to Improve Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security researchers are spearheading a push to better protect the nation’s coasts and borders by consolidating research efforts and standardizing unmanned operations between two of its agencies. Continue reading
FAA: 181,000 Drones Registered in Two Weeks
The Federal Aviation Administration says 181,000 drones were registered in its new system in the two weeks since it launched. FAA administrator Michael Huerta said the number is a strong one considering the program started Dec. 21. Under its rules, all craft of a certain size must be registered to fly outdoors by Feb. 19 or face civil or criminal penalties. Continue reading Cockpit Holograms for Manned-Unmanned Teaming
The US Army wants to convert data from multiple distributed sensors into a 3-D hologram beamed inside a cockpit. The goal is to ease the workload on Army pilots overwhelmed by flying their own aircraft while trying to operate unmanned aircraft in manned-unmanned teaming, according to the Army research solicitation.
Drone Controlled by Apple Watch
A Taiwanese technology research team has found a way to pilot drones and manipulate light using gestures from an Apple Watch, which could mean a realistic future for The Force not on the “Star Wars” movie screen, but in the palm of your hand.
FAA Releases B4UFLY Smartphone App
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta has announced the public release of the B4UFLY mobile application following an initial beta testing period.