The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is partnering with AirMap, Inc. to deploy the first statewide Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) initiative in the United States.
Kansas will implement an “airport notification and awareness system for drones,” using AirMap’s UTM technology, providing airports across the state with access to the airspace management system.
Airports that participate in the initiative will be able to accept digital flight notices, communicate with UAS operators, and prepare for UTM milestones that are coming down the pipeline, such as authorization for commercial UAS flights and automating airspace notification.
For Lieutenant Governor Jeff Colyer, this initiative shows how committed the state of Kansas is to the UAS industry.
Business Solutions
Business Solutions
Overwatch Imaging upgrades autonomous image processing capabilities of airborne multi-camera payloads
In collaboration with SOAR Oregon, Hood River, Oregon-based Overwatch Imaging, which specializes in customized large-scale aerial imagery intelligence systems, has successfully completed a year-long program to upgrade the TK-X family of airborne multi-camera payloads’ autonomous image processing capabilities.
The TK-X family of Overwatch payloads include multiple cameras in “an actively stabilized, nadir-oriented mount with automated step-stare camera pointing controls,” which allows for the quick collection of high-resolution multi-spectral imagery.
Also included in the payloads are “embedded GPU-based onboard image processing, with customized software performing real-time multi-image registration, image-based object detection, and image mapping.”
Measure acquires Pilatus Unmanned
Measure, which is a U.S. provider of UAS technologies for enterprise customers, has announced that it has acquired Pilatus Unmanned, a company that specialized in UAS customization for commercial customers, and was one of the first Enterprise value-added resellers for DJI.
The acquisition of Pilatus Unmanned is another indication of the rapid growth taking place at Measure, which recently introduced new technologies and toolkits for the solar and broadcast news industries.
Defense. Protection. Security: Opportunities with AUVSI
Join AUVSI as we host unmanned systems thought leaders for a discussion of their visions for the community and outline how the technology will be integrated into the operations of an increasing number of government agencies. As the capabilities and application of unmanned technology changes, AUVSI’s programming changes with it, which is why we’re pleased to announce the new AUVSI Unmanned Systems—Defense. Protection. Security. (USDPS)! This webinar is your opportunity to preview the types of speakers and innovative ideas you can expect to hear at the event to be held February 6-8, 2018 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor.
Volaero Drones using UAS and thermal technology to track pythons in the Florida Everglades
Volaero Drones, which is a professional UAS services company based in Miami, Florida, has teamed up with Bill Booth Outdoors and Bruni Infrared to track pythons in the Florida Everglades, using UAS and thermal technology.
More than 100,000 Burmese pythons are estimated to be living in the Everglades, and they are reportedly “ravaging the wildlife.”
The state’s small mammal population is being decimated as a result of the python population multiplying exponentially, thanks in large part to the fact that female python can lay up to 80 eggs per clutch.
Farmers Insurance launches UAS program
In an effort to “enhance the claims experience for customers who have suffered significant damage to their roof following major weather events,” Farmers Insurance has announced that it is launching a UAS program.
Farmers conducted field tests to examine the “most effective and customer-centric ways” of utilizing UAS technology with its existing claims operation. Now, the company will expand its use of the technology to help with residential property damage assessments, as it seeks to provide a more enhanced experience for its customers.
3DR integrates Site Scan with DJI’s UAS, also launches Enterprise Atlas platform
3D Robotics (3DR) has announced that its Site Scan software platform is integrating with DJI’s UAS.
Through this partnership, Site Scan customers will now be able to use DJI's UAS for their jobs while maintaining the same workflow as before, as they continue to use 3DR’s mobile app, Site Scan Field, to collect data.
DJI’s UAS will work seamlessly with Site Scan and all of its capabilities, including autonomous flight modes, multi-engine cloud processing, and its suite of tools designed for construction, which includes those used for performing topographic surveys, measuring stockpiles, and exporting native Autodesk file formats.
From Unmanned Systems Magazine: UNMANNED SYSTEMS GO OVER, ON AND UNDER BRIDGES TO MAKE INSPECTIONS CHEAPER AND FASTER
America has a lot of bridges, more than 600,000. Many of them are in disrepair or are reaching the end of their planned lives.
According to the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card from the American Society of Civil Engineers, 9.1 percent of the country’s bridges were structurally deficient in 2016, meaning that drivers made an average of 188 million trips across a deficient bridge every day.
Inspecting bridges, then, is a critical activity for many states. Several states are looking at bolstering that activity by using drones, including Minnesota, which has been studying their use for years and is planning to make them a standard part of its bridge inspection toolkit.
Evans Incorporated launches PropelUAS for UAS program implementation
Evans Incorporated, which is a “human-centered solutions consulting firm,” has launched PropelUAS, which is a new division that the company says is “changing the game and forging the future of UAS Program implementation process and technology.”
PropelUAS will form “an innovative, full-spectrum experience, from ‘Idea’ to ‘Operations’ (IDEA-OPS),” using its team of unmanned systems, air traffic control, aviation training, human factors, airports, and aviation strategy experts.
AeroVironment to supply Australian Defence Force with its Wasp AE UAS
On July 25, AeroVironment, Inc. participated in a signing ceremony for the formal execution of contracts to deliver its Wasp AE UAS to the Australian Defence Force (ADF), starting on July 1, 2018.
The UAS will be delivered over a three-year period, and AeroVironment is enlisting the help of several Australian partners, including XTEK, General Dynamics Mediaware and Sentient Vision, to provide the UAS.
To serve the immediate needs of ADF, and expand AeroVironment’s global support capabilities, XTEK and AeroVironment will provide local maintenance, training and field support.
To meet the needs of ADF and the Australian industry, the Wasp AE will be modified with Australian content.
