News
Weekend Roundup
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Thanks to a partnership with SOAR Oregon, Airbus will now be able to test its Vahana UAS at one of the state’s three FAA-approved testing sites. SOAR Oregon, which will work alongside Modern Technology Solutions Inc. during the testing, is a not-for-profit economic development organization that focuses on the cultivation of the UAS industry within the state. The companies hope to test Vahana by the end of next year. (My Columbia Basin)
The Program Executive Office (PEO) for Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) is hoping to take control of DARPA’s Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) program. The PEO would like to use the ACTUV in a variety of ways, including working in coordination with the LCS, as well as using the ACTUV as a host platform to launch other unmanned systems. (USNI News)
Drone experts from Nevada recently completed an operation in which they helped the FAA in its effort to develop defense systems to challenge drone threats near airports. During the operation, flight teams flew multiple UAS at the same time at different frequencies to throw off various radar technologies. Results from the operation show that radar technologies used as defense systems need to be capable of detecting the frequency of a drone, as well as its audio and visual system. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
The Georgia Tech Research Institute has acquired two TigerShark UAS to help with its research surrounding airborne multi-sensor technologies. The UAS will also be used in the development of algorithms for controlling multiple UAS at the same time that are being used to accomplish specific missions. Among many features of the TigerShark are several on-board electrical capabilities, as well as payloads including wideband signals intelligence (SIGINT). (Georgia Tech Research Institute)
UAvionix and PrecisionHawk will partner to create a new generation of Low Altitude Traffic and Airspace Safety (LATAS) hardware for unmanned aerial systems. PrecisionHawk’s LATAS system will be combined with uAvionix’s Ping ADS-B system, to give UAS with LATAS installed the ability to receive alerts when aircraft with ADS-B technology are in the vicinity. (Shephard Media)
