Emerging technologies will take center stage when speakers from NASA and Indiana State University address logistics leaders at the 13th annual Indiana Logistics Summit on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Indiana Convention Center. Unmanned systems, which include drones and robots, will be a primary theme for presentations by Frank Jones, Associate Director for Research Services Directorate at the NASA Langley Research Center and Dr. Richard Baker, director of Indiana State University’s new Center for Unmanned Systems. Continue reading
Registrations Take Off at Drone World Expo
Living up to it aim of being a truly ‘World’ event, more than 600 commercial drone end users representing 17 countries have already registered for Drone World Expo. These companies and more than 1,000 others will gather November 17 and 18 at the San Jose Convention Center in the heart of Silicon Valley to hear real-world solutions to their business challenges and see the latest products and services from industry leaders. Continue reading
GAO Reviews FAA Progress on UAS Integration
Federal aviation regulators by September expect to develop a foundation for a detailed plan to integrate drones into U.S. airspace, and then enact it in December, congressional investigators said in a new report. Continue reading
Helicopter Operators Consider RPAS
Remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) present new opportunities for helicopter operators and some industry representatives in Europe suggest operators supplement their fleets with these aircraft, which can fill roles that rotorcraft cannot.
AeroVironment Gets $3.4M Raven Contract for Spain
AeroVironment, Inc. announced it has received a contract from the United States Army totalling $3.4 million for RQ-11B Raven unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to supply the Spanish Ministry of Defence via the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
Red Bull Air Race Ascot 2015 Roundup
Britain’s Paul Bonhomme was crowned the winner of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship stop at the famous Ascot Racecourse on Sunday, flying brilliantly under pressure in the world’s fastest motorsport series. The victory was Bonhomme’s third this season and second straight win at Ascot to the delight of more than 40,000 spectators. Continue reading
US Naval Research Lab’s Flying-Swimmer (Flimmer) UAV/UUV
NRL is merging two separate research areas — unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) — to significantly improve tactical availability of UUVs in time critical situations. Common across the services, autonomous vehicles are being seen as an effective projection of force, both above and below the water’s surface. Unlike an air-deployed Sonobuoy, ongoing research into novel bio-inspired UUV finned propulsion has potential benefits for autonomous motion beyond the insertion point. This combination of an airplane mode for UUV insertion is the thrust of the Flimmer program. Continue reading
Boeing Directed Energy: Blasting Targets with Lasers
Engineers at Boeing are building laser systems to protect troops. The US Army’s High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD) directs powerful light beams that stop UAVs, mortars and artillery in midair. Continue reading