In an effort to ensure the safe and efficient operations of UAS, NASA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM) project has selected the Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence & Innovation (LSUASC) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to test UAS traffic management.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is one of just two test sites selected in the nation for this testing.
“This series of tests is a critical step in enabling the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems within an urban environment,” says Mike Sanders, acting executive director of the Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence & Innovation.
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Persistent Systems and Hoverfly announce partnership; Hoverfly joins Wave Relay Ecosystem
Persistent Systems and tethered-UAS manufacturer Hoverfly Technologies Inc. have entered into a five-year agreement.
Hoverfly will join the recently launched Wave Relay Ecosystem, which is an alliance of unmanned systems and sensor companies working together to deliver a “true networked battlefield to warfighters.”
Hoverfly’s tether-powered small UAS, the LiveSky and the BigSky, will both be part of the Ecosystem, and the Wave Relay MANET will be offered as the standard communication link.
GA-EMS to develop and demonstrate prototype LiFT battery system for Snakehead LDUUV
Advanced Technology International (ATI) has awarded General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) a contract to develop and demonstrate a prototype Lithium-ion Fault Tolerant (LiFT) battery system for the U.S. Navy’s prototype “Snakehead” Large-Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (LDUUV).
Built to increase endurance, range, and payload hosting capabilities in support of various future mission and operations requirements, the Snakehead LDUUV’s propulsion and support systems will be powered by the LiFT battery system.
Logos Technologies becomes preferred provider of WAMI sensors for Insitu's UAS
Logos Technologies will become the preferred provider of wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) sensors for Insitu’s line of UAS, thanks to a recently finalized memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two companies.
Developed for the payload bay of the Insitu Integrator tactical UAS, Logos Technologies’ RedKite-I WAMI sensor is an official Insitu product offering for U.S. and international customers.
“By adding the RedKite-I WAMI system as a payload on their platform, Insitu now gives their users the unprecedented capability to detect and track multiple targets across a city-sized area,” says John Marion, president of Logos Technologies.
Ike believes self-driving trucks can help solve challenges plaguing trucking industry
A self-driving truck startup called Ike has announced that it has raised $52 million in Series A financing.
Ike notes that a number of factors such as a shortage of drivers, new regulations, growing accident rates, and the rise of ecommerce are having a major impact on the trucking industry, but the company believes that self-driving trucks can help solve these challenges.
“We came together over a passion for trucking, and created Ike with a mission to make trucks safer, truckers more valuable, and trucking more efficient,” Ike says in a company blog post.
Sinclair College's National UAS Training and Certification Center partners with senseFly
Through a recently announced partnership, Sinclair Community College’s National UAS Training and Certification Center will become the primary North American partner of senseFly, providing standardized OEM training platforms for senseFly’s clients, in an effort to complement direct training and training through authorized senseFly distribution partners.
Sinclair and senseFly say that their partnership will broaden the reach of senseFly’s expertise in UAS technology, while also expanding its offering of high-quality training through Sinclair’s National UAS Training and Certification Center.
Endeavor Robotics awarded contract to modernize and maintain Army's fleet of robot platforms
The U.S. Army has awarded Endeavor Robotics a firm-fixed-price, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to modernize and maintain its current fleet of robot platforms.
The five-year contract is potentially worth $32.4 million.
“We’re pleased to win this opportunity to help the Army keep its UGV inventory at an optimum state of readiness,” says Tom Frost, Endeavor Robotics president.
Delair partners with firms to provide comprehensive customer support for its Delair UX11 UAS
Delair has partnered with UAS resellers and service providers Frontier Precision and Seiler Instrument to expand its customer service operations with the qualification and opening of its first two repair and maintenance centers in the United States.
Frontier Precision and Seiler Instrument will provide comprehensive customer support for Delair’s Delair UX11 advanced mapping and surveying UAS.
Delair worked with technicians from both Frontier Precision and Seiler Instrument to certify them on the latest maintenance and repair processes, which are required to optimize the operations of Delair's UX11 UAS.
FLIR Systems announces acquisition of Aeryon Labs
On Monday, Jan. 28, FLIR Systems Inc. announced its acquisition of Aeryon Labs Inc., which is known for developing high-performance UAS for the global military, public safety, and critical infrastructure markets. FLIR acquired Aeryon for $200 million.
Founded in 2007, Aeryon is based in Waterloo, Canada, with offices in Denver, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah. The company designs and manufactures mission-focused Group 1 UAS technology built around aircraft that weigh less than 20 pounds.
20 militaries in more than 30 countries across the globe deploy Aeryon’s family of UAS, including the United States Department of Defense.
Davis, Bowen & Friedel launches in-house UAS service
A full-service architectural, engineering, planning and surveying firm called Davis, Bowen & Friedel Inc. (DBF) has announced its new in-house UAS service.
DBF says that its new UAS program will provide “more efficient, safer and cost-effective” UAS-based aerial data collection, as areas of land can be scanned in a fraction of the time using the technology.
The firm adds that using a high precision, professional grade UAS to collect photogrammetric data will offer its clients “ample and unique possibilities,” including construction videos monitoring site progress, post disaster evaluations, and enhanced due diligence reports.
