A startup called Airware is working with NASA on a project exploring how to manage the swarms of commercial drones expected to start appearing in U.S. skies. The four-year programme will create a series of prototype air traffic management systems and could shape how widely commercial drones can be used. Airware’s main business is selling control software and hardware to drone manufacturers and operators.
3D-Printing May Enable Troops to Make UAS on Demand
In the future, it may be possible for military jet pilots to manufacture and deploy small 3D-printed drones to conduct surveillance or help perform search-and-rescue missions. That capability to produce unmanned aerial systems on demand could be onboard aircraft in 2040 or even earlier, BAE Systems scientists and engineers said in a series of promotional videos released this summer. Continue reading
UAS Inspect Water Standpipe
At 160 feet tall, the Prairie Standpipe in northern Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is said to be the largest structure of its kind in the world. That’s impressive, but it also makes determining the condition of its exterior a challenge.
X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Lands after 2 Years in Space
No one seems to know much about the Air Force’s X-37B secret space plane except that it appears to be working exactly as designed. The unmanned Boeing-built craft, which resembles a miniature space shuttle, returned to Earth on Friday after nearly two years — 674 days, to be exact — in space. It’s the X-37B program’s third mission to space and by far the longest. Continue reading
German Luna UAS Cannot fly in Ukraine in Winter
Germany’s Luna UAS cannot fly in Ukraine during the winter period for technical reasons, so the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitors will not be able to use them, the Bild newspaper said on Friday.
Football Stadium UAS Flights Investigated by UK Civil Aviation Authority
UAS spotted flying over English football grounds are being investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The remote-controlled aircraft flew over stadiums recently in Nottingham and Derby as games were under way. The flights could be in breach of legislation that states they must not be flown within 150m of built-up areas.
Student UAS Project to Monitor Natural Gas Pipelines
Cedarville geology and geoscience students are working on two senior projects using an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), , as part of a partnership with Remote Intelligence, LLC., in Wellsboro, Pa. Remote Intelligence is partnering with Cedarville to provide guidance and material resources to students. Cedarville and Remote Intelligence are also in preliminary talks to study how UAS systems could help in the planning, construction, and monitoring of natural gas pipelines.
Second Insurance Company Requests FAA Permit
State Farm Insurance Company is seeking permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to test the use of drones to capture images, including damage to roofs, during catastrophes.