Yesterday at NASA’s UTM Convention, Amazon laid out its vision for a multi-tiered superhighway in the sky, one in which all drones flying above 200 feet would have the ability to communicate with — and ideally sense and avoid — other aircraft.
Black Dart 2015
The Defense Intelligence Agency conducted the first Black Dart exercise in 2002 under a veil of secrecy, and the annual event stayed veiled through 2013. Now run by the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization (abbreviated JIAMDO and pronounced “jye-AM-doe), Black Dart’s existence was revealed in 2014, and select media were invited for a day last year “just to let everybody know that the Department of Defense is aware of this problem, we’re concerned about it and that we’re working on it”. Continue reading
Fully Dynamic 3D Geospatial Restriction System for UAS
Seattle based Transtrex released the beta version of the first dynamic geospatial restriction system for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), at the NASA UTM Convention at Moffett Airfield, yesterday. Continue reading
Dentons Law Firm Hires ex FAA Manager
International law firm Dentons named Jim Williams, formerly manager of the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Office, as a principal in its public policy and regulation practice. Based in McLean, Va., Williams will advise clients on “aviation technology, regulatory and compliance issues with particular emphasis on the military, consumer and commercial use of unmanned aircraft,” said Dentons on July 27. Continue reading
3D-Printed UAV Launched from Royal Navy Ship
A team from the University of Southampton has successfully launched an unmanned air vehicle produced via 3D-printing from the bow of a Royal Navy ship, demonstrating the potential of lightweight platforms to be utilised for short-range surveillance. Continue reading
FAA Investigates Armed Drone Video
An 18-year-old from Connecticut has posted a video on YouTube showing a small drone hovering about ten of fifteen feet above ground in a wooded area while a gun strapped to it was firing shots. The FAA said it was investigating whether Austin Haughwout of Clinton violated the agency’s regulations, which ban the careless or reckless operation of a model aircraft. Continue reading
eBee is Canada’s First Compliant Fixed-Wing Drone
Swiss professional drone manufacturer, senseFly, has announced that its eBee has become the first fixed-wing system to be designated a ‘compliant small UAV’ by Transport Canada—a distinction that moves organisations that use this drone a critical step closer to achieving Compliant Operator status.
US Army Addresses New Threat – Drones as IEDs
As drone technology gains greater public attention, along with its potential for hostile action against American targets, Army engineers adapt ongoing research to counter aerial systems that could threaten Soldiers.