The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) team has been granted permission to conduct the first ever beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) UAS flight that utilizes only onboard detect-and-avoid systems.
According to the KDOT team, this is the first-ever FAA authorized Part 107 operation to fly without visual observers or ground-based radar in place, as the flight will leverage Iris Automation’s onboard collision avoidance system, Casia.
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Swarms of air and ground robots tested during second field experiment for DARPA's OFFSET program
DARPA has announced that during the second field experiment for its OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) program, teams of autonomous air and ground robots tested tactics on a mission to isolate an urban objective.
During the experiment, which took place in June at the Selby Combined Arms Collective Training Facility in Fort Benning, Georgia, the robots started off by identifying locations of interest, and then created a perimeter around the focal point, similarly to how a firefighting crew establishes a boundary around a burning building.
Drone Rescue Systems GmbH supports FALCon research project
Drone Rescue Systems GmbH is supporting the European research project known as Formation flight for in-Air Launcher 1st stage Capturing demonstration (FALCon).
Research is being conducted under the leadership of DLR on how launch vehicles can be returned to the launch site as efficiently as possible for re-use.
“We are proud to be part of the FALCon research project together with five international partners and DLR as part of HORIZON2020 (EC grant 821953), the EU’s largest research and innovation program to date,” says Andreas Ploier, CEO of Drone Rescue Systems GmbH.
“The capture and towing of rocket stages in flight, i.e. an autonomous and safe landing, is a particularly interesting topic for us as a manufacturer of parachute safety solutions.”
EHang to test autonomous aerial vehicles in Guangzhou, China
Autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) company EHang has selected Guangzhou, China as its first urban air mobility (UAM) pilot city in the world to establish a low-altitude aviation transportation network that shuttles passengers and goods in a “safe, fast, environmentally friendly, cost-efficient and intelligent way.”
Through the pilot program, EHang will help the Guangzhou government establish a command-and-control center to make sure that multiple AAVs flying at the same time in the city can remain in the air in a “safe and efficient manner,” and can respond to emergencies quickly.
EHang also plans on helping the city build up the basic infrastructure to support urban air mobility, which will include designing safety rules and market entry thresholds.
HAPSMobile to fly HAWK30 UAS in stratosphere above Hawaiian island of Lanai
The FAA has granted HAPSMobile Inc. a Certificate of Authorization (COA2) to fly the HAWK30 solar-powered UAS to provide a stratospheric telecommunications platform system in the Hawaiian island of Lanai’s stratosphere.
HAPSMobile has been working with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and the University of Hawaii to conduct stratospheric test flights using HAWK30, as part of collaborative activities with the Pan-Pacific UAS Test Range Complex (PPUTRC).
The entities received the authorization after UAF, which manages the PPUTRC, applied for the COA2 on behalf of the three parties.
DroneResponders' research offers insight into public safety drone programs
DroneResponders, a non-profit program that supports public safety UAS, has unveiled a new report called the 2019 Mid-Year Public Safety UAS Report, which offers insight into how new public safety UAS programs are developing, and takes a look at the challenges that first responders who are using this techn
DJI introduces DJI Digital First Person Viewing Transmission System for drone racing
DJI has introduced its DJI Digital First Person Viewing (FPV) Transmission System, which it describes as an “advanced digital ecosystem” that includes FPV goggles, an FPV Air Unit Transmission Module, an FPV remote controller and an FPV camera.
Wing launching UAS delivery service in Queensland, Australia
Wing, a subsidiary of Google’s parent corporation Alphabet, has announced that it will soon begin using UAS to deliver various items such as fresh bread, hot coffee and food items directly to homes in Queensland, Australia in just minutes.
The service will start in Logan, which is one of Australia’s fastest growing communities and home to the eighth largest population in Australia. Wing attributes several factors to what made Logan attractive for this service.
“One of the things we’ve learned from our first several thousand deliveries in Australia is that families with young children seem to particularly enjoy our service,” Wing says.
SenseFly combining eBee X UAS with intelligent photogrammetry software from Agisoft Metashape for limited time
SenseFly has announced a limited-time offer that combines the company’s senseFly eBee X UAS and its suite of cameras with the intelligent photogrammetry software from Agisoft Metashape.
Grand Sky to purchase Firebird aircraft from Northrop Grumman
Grand Sky Development Company LLC (Grand Sky) has announced that it will purchase Northrup Grumman’s optionally piloted intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft system, Firebird.
Designed to provide critical ISR capability to meet the mission needs of customers, Firebird is available in manned, autonomous and optionally piloted configurations.
“We are excited to bring Firebird to Grand Sky to utilize its long-endurance and variable payload capabilities for commercial customers,” says Grand Sky Development Co. President Thomas Swoyer Jr.