NOAA’s Drones Document Gray Seal Pups

NOAAFor several days this month, scientists are gathering in the largest gray seal pupping area in U.S. waters to study weaned gray seal pups, aided by images from an airplane and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly called drones. The researchers hope to gather data from these sites and other breeding sites in Maine to move a step closer to answering a nagging question – how many gray seals are there in Northeastern waters? – and expand their studies on the health of the animals.

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Finnish UAV Solutions for Indian Power Industry

Sharper-Shape-Next-Eagle-UAVIndia’s largest private developer of independent transmission systems, Sterlite Grid and Finland’s leading UAV solutions provider, Sharper Shape, have entered into a strategic partnership to deliver cutting-edge UAV technologies for the power transmission industry. The alliance will provide business solutions to transmission line operators and help them in reducing delivery time of projects, and increase the uptime of power systems.

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US Navy Halts Funding for X-47B

X-47B landing

As it reconsiders its unmanned aviation strategy, the Navy has decided to cease funding the X-47B bat-winged drone that made aviation history in recent years. The first-ever autonomous unmanned aircraft to be launched from and recovered on a carrier deck, the X-47B, is likely to run out of funding by the end of fiscal year 2016. The Navy has not requested money for the program in its fiscal year 2017 budget.  Continue reading