Researchers from UC San Diego’s structural engineering department are using drones to capture unique views of the earthquake damage to Napa’s historic landmarks. Continue reading
City of Cape Town to Test UAS
Last week, JP Smith, the City of Cape Town’s Mayco Member for Safety and Security, said in a meeting with the police that the City aims to test drones within the next two months. He said that different departments within the City – Metro Police, Disaster Management, Fire and Rescue and Engineering departments – have had to spend money on hiring helicopters for aerial surveillance. The acquisition of a drone (for around R600 000) could be more cost-effective. Continue reading
General Atomics Gets $41M Reaper Software Contract
General Atomics – Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a $40,906,190 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (0033) on contract FA8620-10-G-3038 for development of requirements description documents for the MQ-9 Reaper Block 1 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and the MQ-9 Reaper Block 5 UAS with the 904.6.0 system/software release. Continue reading
Northrop Grumman Aims X-47B at UK
Northrop Grumman is pitching the unmanned combat air vehicle technology derived from its US Navy-sponsored X-47B demonstrator to the UK, to feed into its Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme. Continue reading
Israel to Increase Use of Small UAS
The Israeli military is being offered new versions of Elbit Systems-produced small unmanned systems, with the heavy use of such equipment during the recent Protective Edge operation in the Gaza strip expected to create fresh demand to supply other units. Continue reading
Aerial Cinematography – Drones Do It Better
Aerial MOB is one of a growing number of aerial cinematography companies utilizing drones for filming in commercials, TV shows and feature films. It has done work for shoe companies, car companies, Ivy League universities and even MTV, but a major part of its current focus isn’t on the next high-profile client. It’s on the Federal Aviation Administration. Continue reading
UAE Students Build UAS for Ajman Civil Defence
Ajman University of Science & Technology and Ajman Civil Defence signed an agreement for a unique initiative. ACF called for 5 selected students of AUST Engineering College to design and build a drone. The successful handover of the “Civil Defence Support Drone” to Ajman Civil Defence was completed recently.
India’s Rustom Develops ATOL
Defence scientists at the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) are closing in on enabling the country’s Rustom-1 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with the automatic take-off and landing (ATOL) capability. The ATOL configuration, to be demonstrated by this yearend, would increase the endurance and payload-carrying capacity of the UAV. Continue reading