Surveillance UAS launched from Royal Navy ships could be sent to scour the Mediterranean as part of Britain’s effort to combat the migrant crisis, under plans being drawn up by defence chiefs. Continue reading
Docking System for Mid-Air Recharging
New Zealand-born Daniel Wilson, a researcher at the University of Sydney’s Australian Centre for Field Robotics, has developed a method to allow UAVs to dock and recharge in mid-air, much like military jets do. He believes his team’s successful UAV docking in November last year was a world first.
Indago Quadcopter Helps Project Lifesaver International
To augment humanitarian search and rescue efforts, Lockheed Martin has announced it is teaming with Project Lifesaver International and Loen Engineering Inc., bringing advanced technology to first response agencies. The Indago small unmanned aerial system (UAS) will be integrated with an innovative lightweight antenna and receiver developed by Loen Engineering. The system allows Project Lifesaver agencies and first responders to rapidly locate special needs individuals who have wandered from their homes.
Arcturus Pitches Jump 20 for SOCOM RFP
California-based Arcturus UAV has unveiled a new iterative development of its Jump 20 vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle that it intends to pitch for a major US Department of Defense requirement. Continue reading
UND Study to Automate Wind Turbine Inspections
University of North Dakota’s Technology Accelerator research center is conducting a two-year study to develop unmanned aircraft technology to automate inspections for the wind power industry and others, according to director Kevan Rusk. Continue reading
Skyward Raises $4M in Expansion Seed Capital
Skyward, the information management platform for commercial drone operators, announced a $4.1 million round with participation from Draper Associates, Founders CoOp, Moment Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Techstars Ventures, Verizon Ventures, and Voyager Capital. This round will be used to expand the engineering and product development team.
AOPA Comments on FAA Draft Rules
AOPA is asking the FAA to close gaps in the agency’s proposed rules governing small commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The association made the recommendations in formal comments filed April 22 in response to the FAA’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). Continue reading
Scientists Use UAS to Study Artic Sea Ice
Christopher Zappa , an oceanographer at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, wants to understand the details of exactly how sea ice breaks up and melts, and he is going to call on a quintessentially 21st century technology to help him do it. Zappa is among a small group of scientists globally who are pioneering the use of unmanned airborne systems in a campaign to better understand Earth’s changing climate.