Turkey’s Islamist government is facing scrutiny over its purchase of an unmanned aircraft system designed to battle civilian protesters. The opposition has questioned the government over its purchase of the Skunk Riot Copter.
North Carolina State University Wins AUVSI Student Competition
The Seafarer Chapter of AUVSI held the Student UAS Competition 18-22 June, with North Carolina State University vaulting to the top of the list after taking second place last year. Continue reading
US Marine Corps Shifts Money from Shadow to Finance Blackjack Engine Upgrade
The US Marine Corps (USMC) has requested that the US Congress allow it to shift USD18.75 million from its RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to its RQ-21 Blackjack UAV programme in order to extend the latter’s range.
Holloman MQ-1B Predator Accident Report Released
Loss of telemetry downlink signal and an unprogrammed pitch over caused the crash of an MQ-1B Predator 7.5 nautical miles North of Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Oct. 30, 2013, according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released on Thursday. Continue reading
Interactive Map of UAS Regulations in US States
As the federal government decides how to regulate drones in the U.S., states are moving on their own. Check out the status of drone legislation in individual states here.
Source: Market Watch
University of Denver Researchers Develop Radar-Based ‘Sense-and-Avoid’
The key challenge in developing a “sense-and-avoid” system has been developing technology that can reliably detect the presence – and the course – of other aircraft and to engineer it into a package small enough and light enough for UAS. Researchers at the University of Denver’s Unmanned Systems Research Institute may have the answer.
Australians Develop ‘Projector Drone’
Melbourne-based company, I-Drone, has developed the ‘Projector Drone’ which is capable of beaming news, games and advertising over the walls of buildings. The proof of concept aircraft is able to fly for 12 minutes at a time, features its own on-board data storage and a 500 lumens projector. Continue reading
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI – Low and Noisy!
There’s nothing quite like the whistling sound of a Supermarine Spitfire as it dives down toward you on the ground. Crank the volume up on this one which shows a few clips from a Spitfire display at Omaka Aerodrome, Blenheim, New Zealand. Continue reading