Earlier this week, Polly Trottenberg was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
Dep. Sec. Trottenberg is known as a veteran transportation official.
Policy
Policy
Unmanned Systems Defense Phase I: Maritime
Today, AUVSI launched the first of three phases of the 2021 Unmanned Systems Defense (USD) Conference. This annual event brings together a wide range of stakeholders with expertise across the defense segment of the unmanned industry, including senior officials at the Department of Defense (DOD), program managers at federal security agencies, and industry executives with deep expertise on these issues.
FL Sen. Jeff Brandes Continuing to Lead on AV
In late February, Florida State Senator Jeff Brandes (R-FL-24) introduced a bill authorizing the operation of low-speed autonomous vehicles (AV) on certain streets and roads. Long a champion of AV innovation and adoption, AUVSI commends Sen. Brandes for continuing to push these issues forward and establish Florida as a leader of autonomous technology.
Congressional Hearing on the Administration’s Priorities for Transportation Infrastructure
This week, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a hearing with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg to understand the Biden Administration’s priorities on infrastructure. Major topics included the current and forecasted regulatory regime, how to effectively engage industry, and steps the federal government should take to continue fostering innovation.
Congressional Hearing on the Significance of the Navy’s Unmanned Campaign Plan
The United States Armed Forces are a primary adopter of unmanned, or uncrewed, systems, and as a result AUVSI is actively engaged in supporting the development and deployment of autonomous technology among all military branches. Every facet of uncrewed systems – in the air, ground, and maritime domains – are used in our military, and the U.S. Department of the Navy in particular has strategically engaged with our industry.
Guest Post - What Airspace Management Should Look Like
On a clear day from my home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the airspace above our heads has an unobstructed view to the southwest filled with a brilliant azure blue sky. As the sun begins to set in the west and the sky takes on a reddish hue, a choreographed dance of airplane contrails fills our view above 18,000’, with a series of long vapor trails clearly separated by the same horizontal distance. This is the evening departure flow from the metropolitan New York City Airports traveling along established navigable Jet Routes (J6, J48, Q430 and Q480) to destinations scattered across the southwest United States within Class A airspace.
AUVSI Applauds U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Campaign Framework
Media Contact: Jackie Beckwith, jbeckwith@auvsi.org
For Immediate Release: March 16, 2021
Arlington, Va. - Today, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) responded to the release of the U.S. Department of the Navy’s Unmanned Campaign Framework. The plan will guide the Navy’s execution toward its goal of increasing unmanned platforms in its fleet through the coming decade and its work with the unmanned vehicle systems industry.
Mitigating UAS Disruptions at Airports
An unmanned aerial vehicle spotted at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, NC on March 9 caused operational difficulties, delayed flights, and raised concerns of gaps in security. Law enforcement agencies are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the drone operator, with the FBI calling the incident an “illegal intrusion.” This is not the first time such an incident has occurred, and disruptions will likely continue to occur the federal government takes action to allow airports, and trained law enforcement, to detect and mitigate unauthorized UAS incursions.
Dep. Sec. Def. Hicks Highlights Importance of Autonomous Systems
Newly minted Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks has a bold vision for our nation’s military forces, and AUVSI has found many aspects of this new stance to celebrate.
A career civil servant with significant defense policy experience, she is our nation’s first female Deputy Secretary of Defense. Most important among her stated priorities include modernizing the country’s military forces, with an emphasis on autonomous systems and artificial intelligence.