Lockheed Martin‘s Group 1 family of unmanned aircraft systems is migrating to enhanced automation capabilities using its Kestrel™ “Fly Light” flight control systems and industry-leading mobile Ground Control Station (mGCS) software. The increased automation allows operators to focus on executing the mission, rather than flying various aircraft.
1917 Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a
The SE5 fighter was designed by H P Folland at the Royal Aircraft Factory and became the most celebrated aeroplane to emerge from those workshops. A total of 5,205 was built including a number of two seat trainers. Unlike many contemporary rotary engined Sopwith and Nieuport fighters which were sensitive and tricky to handle, the SE5 was designed around a Hispano-Suiza V-8 and intended to be relatively stable and easy to fly for the sketchily trained pilots of the period. Continue reading
I-CARE-US Projects Unites UAS with Ballet
For the length of a battery life the AR.Drone took flight and engaged in a memorable dialogue with human and artificial performers at the MONSTRA in Lisbon. Evoking an alternative version of the ancient Greek myth, I-CARE-US is a new interactive digital performance that anticipates a not-so-distant future, where Unmanned Aerial Vehicles will be part of our domestic air space. Continue reading
Airbus Defence and Space Launches High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite Zephyr 8 Programme
Airbus Defence and Space officially announced that it has launched the Zephyr 8 programme to develop the next generation of the world-record setting Zephyr 7 system and invites potential customers and partners to undertake joint in-flight demonstrations of their payloads and applications.
Infotron Sold for $10M
Groupe Gorgé, via its subsidiary ECA S.A., has acquired French UA helicopter provider Infotron for €2.5 million and 375,000 shares of ECA – a combined value of around $10 million. The acquisition supplements ECA’s line of unmanned underwater and aerial devices and systems with a proven line of mini helicopter-type vertical takeoff UAS.
Sapphire Optics to Protect Gimbals
Custom-fabricated sapphire, germanium and zinc-selenide optics for use in gimballed systems and front surface protection in unmanned air and undersea vehicles are available from Meller Optics, Inc. of Providence, Rhode Island (US).
Datron Gets Mystery Military Order
Datron World Communications, Inc. has announced today the receipt of a purchase order from a U.S. military customer for small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS).
Non-profit Group Sues FAA Over UAS Flying Ban
The US Federal Aviation Administration faces a second legal challenge over its ban on non-recreational flying of unmanned aircraft – and the first coming from a non-profit organization dedicated to searching for missing people. Texas-based EquuSearch filed a lawsuit in the US Court of Appeals in Washington DC, asking the court to over-turn a two-month-old FAA order prohibiting the non-profit organization from using unmanned aircraft sytems (UAS) as part of its search efforts.