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The Stanford Intelligent Systems Laboratory (SISL) is part of a broad partnership led by NASA Ames to create an unmanned aerial system traffic management system, or UTM, to manage the expected surge in unmanned flights. “UTM is meant to fulfill a lot of the functions of air traffic control, but it will be in the cloud and largely automated,” said SISL Director Mykel Kochenderfer, an assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics. Continue reading
FLIR Systems, Inc. announced a new technology collaboration with DJI Innovations. Under the strategic arrangement, the companies also announced plans to develop their first joint product, the DJI Zenmuse XT stabilized camera featuring FLIR’s thermal imaging technology for DJI’s Inspire 1 and Matrice aerial platforms.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) jointly flight-tested the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Lakshya from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Odisha coast last Friday.
The German Defense Ministry is assuming the leadership role for development of a European drone, the so-called Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted aircraft system or MALE RPAS. In a statement, the ministry also announced that Spain will participate as an equal fourth partner in the project.
The British Army has moved to accelerate the training of pilots for its £1.2bn Watchkeeper by sending them to the tropical Ascension Island for the winter after problems were found flying the aircraft in British weather. Continue reading
The US Air Force has outlined steps it will take to improve the health and morale of its remotely piloted aircraft force, including new operating bases and doubling the total number of RPA flying squadrons. The steps, outlined in a news release follow a months-long review of the RPA force, called the Culture and Process Improvement Program.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just announced a streamlined and user-friendly web-based aircraft registration process for owners of small unmanned aircraft (UAS) weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less than 55 pounds (approx. 25 kilograms) including payloads such as on-board cameras. Continue reading