Corporations in South Korea froma wide variety of industry sectors are turning their eyes toward drone technology, which is expected to create a great number of new business opportunities down the road.
New Mexico State to Perform UAS Dam Inspection
The Bureau of Reclamation has selected New Mexico State University to perform the first Reclamation dam inspection using an unmanned aircraft system (UAS). New Mexico’s team will perform research at Elephant Butte Dam in New Mexico, a project estimated at $35,000 that the Bureau will fund.
The New Mexico team will work with Reclamation staff to develop the concept of operations, address safety requirements, select the UAS and appropriate sensors, validate flight procedures and perform the inspection. The flight is expected to take place in the next couple of months. Continue reading
Krossblade Introduces Emergency Response UAS
As unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) become a more familiar presence in American skies, new companies are getting in on the action. Krossblade Aerospace Systems, a startup created in 2014, aims to put a drone that could transform emergency response systems on the market soon.
General Atomics Gets $121M US Army Contract for 19 Gray Eagles plus Satellite Communications Terminals
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, was awarded a $121,350,000 modification (P00028) to contract W58RGZ-13-C-0109 for 19 Gray Eagle unmanned aerial vehicles and 19 satellite communications air data terminals.
Moths Could Gift Low-light Vision to new Micro-UAS
A team at Georgia Institute of Techology figured out that moths can purposefully slow their brain activity so as to see better in low-light conditions, keeping their nectar-sipping position at flowers even when the plants are moving, and potentially opening the door to future machine vision systems that can react accurately even in the depth of night.
NOAA Upgrades UAS for Hurricane Season
Just in time for this year’s hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be upgrading its Coyote drones for storm research and climate data collection.
Skycatch – Uber for Drones
Drones cost money, and companies have to know how to operate them safely. Depending on the business, some firms may need a drone for only a short period of time, which in turn makes the investment impractical. San Francisco startup Skycatch has a product called Workmode that it claims solves that dilemma. A service called Workmode matches companies wanting a drone with qualified pilots who own and operate them. Hence the claims that it’s “the Uber for drones.” Continue reading
US Army Completes Gray Eagle Flight Tests
The US Army has finished its Follow On Test and Evaluation on the MQ-1C Gray Eagle and Initial Test and Evaluation on the One System Remote Video Terminal at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California.