A Michigan Army National Guard Unmanned Aircraft System platoon will travel to Latvia in early May to share equipment and build knowledge with Latvian military forces as both groups hone UAS operational skills. The 30-member platoon is part of the Michigan National Guard 126th Cavalry Regiment located near Grand Rapids. The unit is scheduled for a two-month deployment.
$250K Police UAS Crashes into Texas Lake
Divers scoured the bottom of Lake Conroe in the hope of recovering a controversial $250,000 police UAS that crashed into the water Friday. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the remote-controlled helicopter, which was bought in 2011 with a federal grant, suffered a malfunction and went down during an exercise over the lake. Continue reading
Ottawa’s GooseBuster Produces Results
Steve Wambolt, an-ex IBM and Corel employee designed a hexicopter system fit with lights and blasting predator noises to rid a beach in Ottawa of pesky geese and has produced conclusive results. Continue reading
Europe and Asia to Overtake America in UAS R&D
By 2022, the United States is projected to spend less than half the worldwide total on UAS research and development, as other countries — principally in Asia — step up production of own unmanned aircraft, according to a report by national security consulting firm Forecast International.
Multi-Function Hi-Tech Balloons Over Manhattan
A big white balloon floated lazily above midtown Manhattan last week. Tethered to a trailer and hovering 800 feet above the city streets, the balloon—nicknamed “Lucy”—sported high-tech cameras as it bobbed about in urban airspace that is normally restricted for aircraft. Continue reading
Lockheed Martin Indago VTOL Ready for Operations
Three systems acquired by Lockheed Martin have progressed from their research and development phase to operational readiness. The Indago vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) quad-rotor, accompanied by its handheld ground control station (GCS) will offer a robust, mobile surveillance application. Continue reading
L-3 West Brings Micro BE-CDL Capability to Small UAS
L-3 Communication Systems-West (L-3 CS-West) has successfully demonstrated that the government-standard Bandwidth Efficient Common Data Link (BE-CDL) waveform can be transmitted through small, low-cost terminals designed for platforms under 30 pounds. Continue reading
Aerovel Corporation VTOL Flexrotor Test Flight with Imaging Turret
The Aerovel Corporation has successfully test flown it’s VTOL Flexrotor, with payload imaging from its turret, opening the way for production ramp up and commercial sales. Continue reading