FAA UAS Symposium 2020
Swarming
Swarming
Air Force Academy showcases UAS during multi-drone light show
To celebrate its rivalry with West Point, the Air Force Academy held a
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.
From Unmanned Systems Magazine: The concept of one operator, many unmanned systems takes shape
Technology has advanced so far, so quickly that unmanned systems —in the air, on land, on or under the sea —will soon have the capability to undertake missions that we have yet to fully define or understand.
By late 2020 for example, the U.S. Air Force could have fighter aircraft-sized UAS that could fly in formation with manned F-35s or F-15s, break off to reconnoiter 100 miles away, and launch their own smaller drones to strike targets on the ground.
Spatial Integrated Systems announces extension of USV Swarming program
Spatial Integrated Systems Inc. (SIS), an engineering design and development company, has announced the extension of its USV Swarming program under the auspices of the Office of Naval Research (ONR).
According to SIS, USV Swarm 2019 will be the first integrated heterogeneous eight USV Swarm of autonomous Very Small (class 1) and Small (class 2) USVs. The USVs will conduct a coordinated mission.
The goal of Swarm 2019 is to showcase the utility of very small and small, inexpensive USVs that can be produced in large numbers quickly, SIS says.
OSU's Unmanned Systems Research Institute receives first FAA authorization to fly fixed wing UAS in swarms
Oklahoma State University (OSU) has announced that its Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI) has received the first FAA authorization to fly fixed wing UAS in swarms within the national airspace.
With this flight authorization, a single pilot, along with visual observers for safety considerations, will be allowed to operate a swarm of up to 20 fixed wing aircraft.
According to OSU, the configuration that its researchers have developed creates a “swarm of swarms” where groups of UAS fly within smaller flocks as part of a larger swarm, communicating with a local group leader which then coordinates flights with the overall swarm formation.
DroneSeed partners with Nature Conservancy to restore Oregon rangelands using drone swarms
In an effort to help conserve the ecosystem and imperiled species such as the sage-grouse, a company called DroneSeed that restores forests and rangelands using drone swarms has signed a contract with the Nature Conservancy Oregon to use drone swarms to restore rangelands affected by invasive species and re-seed native plants.
By partnering with DroneSeed, the Nature Conservancy will have access to UAS swarm technology designed to scale to plant and protect significant acreage while planting in precision areas to boost survival rates.
Intel's Shooting Star UAS return to the Super Bowl
During the Halftime Show of Super Bowl 53 on Sunday, Feb. 3 in Atlanta, Intel teamed up with the NFL to create the first live drone light show during a Super Bowl Halftime Show.
During a performance by pop band Maroon 5, 150 enhanced Intel Shooting Star UAS floated up and over the field in a choreographed performance to the music to form the words “ONE” and “LOVE.” With this performance, Intel broke its own world record for UAS flown indoors, which the company previously set with 110 during CES 2018.
Great Lakes Drone Company's UAS light up 2018 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
On the night of Thursday, July 26, during 2018 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, a UAS light show lit up the sky in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
As Lee Greenwood's “God Bless the U.S.A.” played over loudspeakers, the UAS formed a double heart and eagle before flying around to spell out EAA and finish with an American flag.
The light show was performed by Great Lakes Drone Company, which is one of just three companies in the U.S. approved by the FAA to perform lighted drone shows.
The company has four stock shows ranging from 25 to 100 UAS, as well as shows it customizes for customers.
Intel celebrates 50th anniversary with record-setting drone light show
On July 18, Intel flew 2,018 Intel Shooting Star drones over its Folsom, California facility in celebration of its 50th anniversary.
The company’s latest drone light show set a new Guinness World Records title for the most unmanned aerial vehicles airborne simultaneously.
“Several years ago, we had an idea of flying drones forming the Intel logo over our corporate headquarters, and here we are doing just that,” says Anil Nanduri, vice president and general manager, Intel Drone Group.
“It really speaks to the innovative spirit that Intel was founded on 50 years ago.”
