As biodiversity diminishes around the world, scientists and conservationists are spending more money to document and understand the changes that are taking place. Conservation ecologist Lian Pin Koh argues that UAS technology can be used as a much cheaper way to survey landscapes and document ecological change. Continue reading
In Memory of Bruno Wiesler
By Horst Schmidt-Bischoffshausen & Peter van Blyenburgh
FH Joanneum, University of Applied Sciences, Graz, Austria has been deeply affected by the sudden death of Bruno Wiesler, Head of the Aviation Institute and the Engineering Department, last week. His passing away is a great loss for the students, employees and colleagues at FH Joanneum who mourn the loss of a caring and committed teacher and colleague, who will forever serve as a role model thanks to his high level of enthusiasm and commitment. Continue reading
UAS Surveillance of Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Russia
If there is suspicious movement at Russia’s Sochi Winter Olympic Games next year, unmanned surveillance aircraft positioned over stadiums, roads and railroads will be there transmitting the images live to Russian security services. Continue reading
RPAS Regulation is Published in Italy
As it was anticipated about a month ago, during the workshop organized by ASSORPAS, the Italian Association for Light RPAS, ENAC, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, has now published the “Regolamento per Aeromobili a Pilotaggio Remoto” . Continue reading
UAS Footage of Bangkok Protests
This video filmed from a small UAS flying over the street riots in Bangkok was posted recently on YouTube. Continue reading
Sikorsky Innovations Gets $15M DARPA Contract for Phase 1 VTOL-X Plane Design
Sikorsky Innovations, the technology development organization of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., has announced it has won a contract for Phase 1 of the Vertical Take-Off and Landing Experimental Aircraft (VTOL X-Plane) programme by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Continue reading
RAAF Heron has Clocked up 20,000 Flying Hours in Afghanistan
Australia’s Heron Remotely Piloted Aircraft, which has been in Afghanistan since 2010, has a reputation as one of the most reliable and effective platforms of its type operating in the Middle East, according to the Commanding Officer of the Heron Detachment, Wing Commander (WGCDR) John McMullan. Continue reading
Google Acquires Boston Dynamics
Google confirmed on Friday that it had completed the acquisition of Boston Dynamics, an engineering company that has designed mobile research robots for the Pentagon. The company, based in Waltham, Mass., has gained an international reputation for machines that walk with an uncanny sense of balance and even — cheetahlike — run faster than the fastest humans. Continue reading