Swift Engineering subsidiary Swift Tactical Systems has entered into a strategic alliance with Silvus Technologies that will result in the companies combining Swift’s UAS with Silvus' advanced MIMO communication systems for tactical applications.
Through the commercial agreement, Swift will equip its family of American made UAS with the locally manufactured radios, which will allow the company to accelerate its product roadmap and the delivery of its government contracts.
The companies say that the combined systems will not only bolster commercial and advanced military missions, but also research and development for future applications.
Technology
Technology
Robotic Research uses engineering expertise to develop reusable face shields for healthcare workers
The team of engineers at Robotic Research is using its engineering expertise to create reusable face shields for healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis.
The company says that it has created a unique design for reusable face shields and is providing them to healthcare teams in hospitals around the Greater Washington Metro area. They are currently being delivered to support teams at local hospitals in the Montgomery County area.
Skyports to trial BVLOS flights in non-segregated airspace after joining UK CAA Regulatory Sandbox
After being accepted into the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) Regulatory Sandbox, drone delivery service provider Skyports will begin testing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights in non-segregated airspace.
Specializing in operating end-to-end drone deliveries within the medical, e-commerce and logistics sectors, Skyports, along with the UK CAA, will explore how drones controlled out-of-sight of the remote pilot can be granted regulatory approvals to fly safely within airspace that is shared with other aircraft, which will be crucial for permanent drone deliveries to become a reality.
Parrot to begin manufacturing prototypes of its dedicated drone in U.S. for Army drone program
Parrot has announced that it will participate in an operational assessment to support an Army production award decision, as part of the final steps of the selection process for the United States Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance drone program.
The company will now begin manufacturing prototypes of its dedicated drone in the U.S. Designed with carefully selected components, Parrot’s mature prototype has been approved for initial manufacturing.
“Parrot is honored to work with the DoD on this highly strategic project,” says Laurent Rouchon, VP Security & Defense at Parrot.
North Carolina A&T-led interdisciplinary team to develop air passenger taxis
To address traffic congestion, NASA has awarded an interdisciplinary team led by North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (North Carolina A&T) a four-year, $8 million award to develop, test and eventually deploy air passenger taxis as a supplemental means of transportation.
The first historically black college or university (HBCU) to lead a project for NASA’s University Leadership Initiative (ULI), North Carolina A&T notes that the grant is the second-largest award the university has received in its history.
AeroVironment to provide Raven small UAS and training to allied nation
AeroVironment has announced that on March 3, it received a $2,424,595 firm-fixed-price contract to provide an allied nation with its Raven small UAS and training.
Delivery is anticipated by August of this year.
“With its rugged design, small footprint and high resolution sensor capabilities, the combat-proven Raven offers allied forces the actionable intelligence they need at a moment’s notice in the most extreme environments,” says Rick Pedigo, vice president of sales and business development for AeroVironment.
FAA announces two new participants for unmanned aircraft Traffic Management Pilot Program
The FAA’s NextGen program has selected Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership in Blacksburg, Virginia, and Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York as test site participants for Phase 2 of the unmanned aircraft Traffic Management Pilot Program (UPP).
UPP Phase 1, which was a collaborative effort between NASA, FAA UAS test sites and their industry partners, was completed in Aug. 2019. Capabilities tested during Phase 1 included the exchange of flight intent data among UAS operators. Participants also generated UAS Volume Reservations (UVRs), which are notifications to operators about inbound priority operations.
Elbit Systems equips Seagull USV with Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar for USVs
Elbit Systems Ltd. has successfully equipped its Seagull USV with the Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar (TRAPS) for Unmanned Surface Vessels (TRAPS-USV).
A product of Elbit's Canadian wholly owned subsidiary Geospectrum, TRAPS-USV is a compact and powerful low frequency towed sonar.
The Seagull USV underwent sea trials, during which multiple deployment and recovery cycles were conducted, as well as towing at different speeds and transmission at various power levels.
Elbit Systems awarded contracts to upgrade capabilities of its Hermes 900 UAS
Elbit Systems Ltd. has been awarded two contracts valued at a total of approximately $20 million to upgrade the capabilities of its Hermes 900 UAS.
Asylon, Ghost Robotics to develop robotic platform under new contract
The United States Air Force Research Lab has awarded Asylon Inc. a contract to provide the future of persistent ISR, inspection and perimeter security.
According to Asylon, this includes the exploration of the ability to use available water-based resources in the mission operating environment to generate power and recharge air and ground autonomous platforms, which will allow them to operate longer at the point of need.
Under this contract, Asylon has partnered with Ghost Robotics. The companies will develop a combined, autonomous, and self-powering air and ground robotic platform by integrating their respective robotic systems. The platform will use DroneHome, which is Asylon’s patented automated battery SWAP base station.
