Highlight at The Black Hat Security Conference and DEFCON this year is an unmanned aircraft called the Wireless Aerial Surveillance Platform, or WASP. [Not to be confused with the WASP missile -Ed.]
US Navy Simulated Unmanned Landing Tests Employ UCAS-D Technology
A U.S. Navy F/A-18D surrogate aircraft emulated an autonomous, unmanned aircraft as it performed several approaches to arrested landings on the deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) on 2 July.
FAA Looks into News Corp’s Daily Drone
The News Corp’s The Daily has a drone that it’s sent out a few times. Taking footage for news-gathering purposes seems like a commercial use of a drone. I followed up with the FAA asking if News Corp was one of the companies with an experimental certificate. The inquiry got lobbed to the FAA’s legal department…
Novel Autopilot System for Rotary Unmanned Aircraft Wins Innovation Award
Konkuk University in South Korea won the new NI LabVIEW FPGA Innovation Award for a novel autopilot system for a rotary unmanned aircraft to ensure on-course stability of a helicopter in a programmed flight path.
Mercury Computer Systems Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2011 Results
Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. reported operating results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2011 ended June 30, 2011. Fourth quarter fiscal 2011 revenues were $61.2 million, a decrease of $2.4 million from the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year.
Shadowhawk – Robo-Copter from Vanguard
The Shadowhawk is a remote controlled mini-helicopter that can record footage as easily as it can shoot a stun baton.
Insitu Reveals Inceptor VTOL Mini UAS
Insitu revealed its 1.6 kilo (3.5 lb) Inceptor VTOL UAS at the Airborne Law Enforcement Association 2011 Convention in New Orleans. The miniature helicopter has an endurance of 30 minutes and features the option to fit plug and play payloads including daylight and IR cameras in the nose.
EMT Announces 10,000 Missions for Aladin and 7,000 Missions for Luna
EMT Aladin
EMT has announced that the 10,000th flight sortie of its Mini-UAS ALADIN took place June 28, 2011, and the 7,000th flight sortie of its TUAS (Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System) LUNA was on June 27, 2011.