U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Jeff Flake filed an amendment last Wednesday night that would create two additional test sites for unmanned aircraft systems to specifically focus on wildfire-mitigation technology. Continue reading
UAS Variable-Pitch Propeller Ready for Flight Testing
After years of research, Thunder Bay’s Aerovate Inc. will flight-test its variable-pitch UAS propeller system this summer, with the goal of bringing the technology to market this fall. Continue reading
Composite Engineering Gets $1.9M Target Support Contract
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Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has announced that its Composite Engineering, Inc. (CEI) subsidiary has received a $1.9 million single award contract from S&K Aerospace, LLC to provide unmanned aerial target systems in support of the PROS IV (Parts and Repair Ordering System) Programme. Continue reading
Biodegradable UAS for Fire Detection
Led by Paul Pounds from the University of Queensland, a team of roboticists created two designs to help record atmospheric conditions in the event of a forest fire. The disposable, self-steering UAS are essentially sensor modules that can be dropped over a forested area to relay environmental data that could indicate potential for fire. Continue reading
Vietnam Evaluates Heron UAS for Maritime Surveillance
Vietnam is evaluating the purchase of Israeli-developed equipment, including advanced unmanned aircraft systems, with the maritime surveillance version of Israel Aerospace Industries’ Heron 1 being one candidate. Continue reading
Scion Gets FAA R&D Certification for SA-400 Jackal OPV
Scion UAS, developers of VTOL unmanned and optionally piloted aircraft systems, has received FAA certification for the SA-400 Jackal optionally piloted vehicle. The vehicle, which can carry a 100 lb payload for more than 5 hours, received an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate for Experimental Research and Development. Continue reading
Solar Technology Improves UAS Flight Duration
During a keynote at the small unmanned systems business expo in San Francisco, California, on July 25th., Alta Devices’ CEO Christopher Norris explained that small unmanned aircraft Systems (UAS) are no longer constrained to short-range or limited flight times and are now able to fly as long as the sun is shining. Continue reading
Northrop Grumman Calls on German Government to Salvage EuroHawk
US aerospace group Northrop Grumman called on Monday for Berlin to join the company in working to salvage the failed multimillion-euro euro project that has threatened the political life of the country‘s Defence Minister. Continue reading