Single Predator B RPA Amasses 20,000 Flight Hours

Predator B

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) has announced that a Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper RPA has reached a record 20,000 flight hours on a single aircraft, signifying the highest flight time of any Predator B. The milestone was achieved while performing a 17-hour combat mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on December 23. Continue reading

BASF Develops Simple 3D Sensor

basf3dcamera440Chemicals giant BASF SE has developed a single-lens passive optical sensor that can measure distance to an object and thereby 3D position detection and 3D imaging. The company hopes to develop the sensor for a broad range of applications from consumer electronics such as cameras and smartphones to automotive, transportation, medical and machine vision and security and surveillance.

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Desert Hawk in Near Miss with RAF Helicopter

merlin_

The British Army almost brought down a troop-carrying RAF helicopter when one of its own drones flew within 60ft of the giant aircraft, a report found. The £15million Merlin vehicle and metre-long Desert Hawk surveillance drone should have been flying in their own restricted areas. But they came close to crashing during a massive military training exercise, as crews blamed map-reading errors and a dispute over airspace for the near catastrophe. Continue reading