Skyward, which is a Verizon company, has received approval to give commercial UAS operators instant access to controlled airspace with the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) services from the FAA.
Airspace that previously required the submission of a manual request for authorization will now be accessible for businesses through the LAANC. The approval process will be automated, which will significantly reduce the wait time from months to seconds.
Business Solutions
Business Solutions
Media Advisory: Webinar on UAS Integration into Government and Military Operations, Oct. 18, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 18, 2017
Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786
DoD customer places order for Drone Aviation's Winch Aerostat Small Platform
Through a contract valued in excess of $800,000, an existing U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) customer has placed an order for Drone Aviation Holding Corp.’s Winch Aerostat Small Platform (WASP), which was recently upgraded, and is capable of performing multiple missions.
A manufacturer of tethered UAS and lighter-than-air aerostats, Drone Aviation expects to deliver the WASP, which can provide “day/night video and wireless communication range extension from either a fixed, stationary position or while being towed,” to the customer during the fourth quarter of 2017.
Michigan State University and ZF partner to address potential cybersecurity issues surrounding autonomous vehicles
Michigan State University (MSU) College of Engineering will work with a German auto parts maker called ZF to develop new methods to address potential cybersecurity threats that autonomous vehicles might face in the future.
In an effort to deal with automotive cybersecurity and safety issues, Betty H.C. Cheng, professor of computer science and engineering, will work with ZF to develop a cybersecurity method to help “identify, mitigate and/or prevent threats to automotive systems.”
“We’ll develop a set of reusable design patterns and quality assurance techniques that are amenable to automated analysis,” Cheng says.
NUAIR Alliance opens evaluation and selection process of vendors for design and installation of Phase II of its BVLOS UTM test corridor
The NUAIR Alliance has opened the evaluation and selection process of vendor(s) for the design and installation of Phase II of its BVLOS Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) test corridor.
Building off of the recently launched Phase I of the corridor around Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York, the second phase will complete the corridor, which will facilitate testing of UAS platforms and sensors in the airspace between Rome and Syracuse, New York.
Insitu opens new facility in Starkville, Mississippi
According to the Starkville Daily News, Insitu opened its new office in Starkville, Mississippi on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Headquartered in Bingen, Washington, Insitu will use its new facility, which is located at Mississippi State University's (MSU) Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park, to “work toward flight certification of its vehicles,” with assistance from the MSU Raspet Flight Research Laboratory and the FAA Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE), which MSU manages.
“We’re focused on aircraft certifications within the National Airspace System within the U.S.,” says Insitu President and CEO Ryan Hartman.
Canada's Morinville Fire Department launches UAS program
Thanks to a new partnership and collaboration with Transport Canada certified Canadian UAV company A3UAV, the Morinville Fire Department in Morinville, Alberta, Canada will begin using the Aeryon SkyRanger UAS to assist in several of its operations.
The UAS, which will be ready for deployment 24 hours a day, will be used as an additional resource for the fire department, thanks to fire department pilots and A3UAV spending the last few months taking courses, training, and conducting hours of flight time.
According to Fire Chief Brad Boddez, the idea behind using UAS in firefighting operations originated a little over two years ago after the department responded to a large condo fire.
EasyMile's autonomous shuttle bus to be tested in Minnesota starting in November
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has selected EasyMile to lead its autonomous shuttle bus pilot project.
Testing, which will start in November and go through February 2018, will examine how the shuttle operates in a variety of conditions, including in low temperatures, in snow and ice conditions, and on roads where salt is used.
While EasyMile has conducted cold weather tests in Finland and Norway using its driverless technology, this will be the company’s first time conducting cold weather tests in the United States.
The shuttle will initially be tested at MnDOT’s pavement test facility, which is known as MnROAD.
Drone Delivery Canada to provide deliveries via UAS to Moose Cree First Nation in Northern Ontario
Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) and Moose Cree First Nation have entered into an agreement to start a commercial program that will use DDC’s UAS delivery system to make deliveries to the community located in northern Ontario, Canada.
DDC, which is collaborating with federal regulators and community stakeholders, is ready to begin commercial test flights within the Moose Cree geography. Mail, food, medical supplies, and general goods are some of the things expected to be delivered via UAS.
Boeing announces plans to acquire Aurora Flight Sciences
In an effort to advance its autonomous technology capabilities, Boeing has announced that it will acquire Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation, a company that specializes in autonomous systems technologies to “enable advanced robotic aircraft for future aerospace applications and vehicles.”
Once it is officially acquired, Aurora, which is headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, will be a subsidiary under Boeing Engineering, Test & Technology, and will be known as Aurora Flight Sciences, A Boeing Company.
Through this acquisition, Aurora will keep an independent operating model, while taking advantage of the resources provided by Boeing.