A team from the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) Precision AG and UAS Research Center recently provided UAS training to a select group of Louisiana law enforcement, firefighters and first responders.
The training class was led by Paul Karlowitz, who has been teaching about aviation and UAS technology in the College of Business and Social Sciences for more than 20 years at ULM. Karlowitz helped establish and became director of operations for the ULM Precision AG and UAS Research Center in 2014.
Technology
Technology
Echodyne introduces high-resolution imaging radar for autonomous vehicles
Echodyne has introduced EchoDrive, the company’s high-resolution imaging radar for autonomous vehicles.
Built on MESA technology, EchoDrive offers a new type of sensor functionality that greatly enhances machine perception, Echodyne says. The company adds that EchoDrive delivers what it describes as “unprecedented real-time control” over the radar’s interrogation of the drive scene, which enables a “richer form” of machine perception.
Embry-Riddle, Florida Polytechnic partner to advance safety of autonomous airborne systems
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is joining forces with Florida Polytechnic University to advance the safety of autonomous airborne systems.
Through a memorandum of understanding, the universities will collaborate on the advancement of the research and application of “cutting-edge” autonomous technology.
“Embry-Riddle is excited to combine our strength in airborne autonomous systems with the Florida Polytechnic Advanced Mobility Institute’s expertise in verifying and validating new autonomous technologies,” says Embry-Riddle’s Associate Provost for Research Dr. Remzi Seker.
UAVOS' R-22 unmanned helicopter designed for humanitarian and disaster relief missions
UAVOS has converted the Robinson manned helicopter into an unmanned helicopter known as R-22.
Designed for cargo delivery, as well as humanitarian and disaster relief applications, the UAS has several features that make it ideal for these operations, including a range of up to 1,020 kilometers, a payload capacity of 400 pounds, and an endurance capability of six hours.
“The cargo companies only make money when that cargo gets to its destination, and our R-22 is their “guarantee” at any time, and any weather conditions, which makes it a very attractive prospect for any cargo company,” says UAVOS’s CEO Aliaksei Stratsilatau.
EHang conducts first U.S. trial flight of autonomous aerial vehicle in North Carolina
As part of the North Carolina Transportation Summit, EHang conducted its first-ever U.S. trial flight of the EHang 216, which is the company’s two-seater passenger-grade autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV).
Conducted on Tuesday, Jan. 7, the trial flight was the first time that the EHang 216 has received flight approval from the FAA. The trial flight was a non-passenger flight, but EHang says that it is working with the FAA to secure approval for a passenger trial flight of the EHang 216 “in the near future.”
“We are proud to have the first autonomous aerial vehicle flying in North America, in North Carolina,” says North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
FLIR Systems, ANSYS partner to enhance safety for assisted driving and autonomous vehicles
With a goal of giving automakers the ability to deliver “unprecedented vehicle safety,” FLIR Systems Inc. has partnered with ANSYS to deliver “superior hazard detection capabilities” for assisted driving and autonomous vehicles (AVs).
FLIR says that it will equip ANSYS’ leading-edge driving simulator with a fully physics-based thermal sensor to facilitate the modeling, testing and validation of thermal camera designs within an “ultra-realistic virtual world.”
By optimizing thermal camera placement for use with various tools such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), pedestrian detection, and within future AVs, the new platform is expected to reduce the development time of original equipment manufacturers, the companies say.
Northrop Grumman's AQS-24 mine hunting sonar completes initial in-water testing of next-gen D&R payload
Northrop Grumman has announced that its AQS-24 mine hunting sonar recently completed initial in-water testing of a next-generation Deploy and Retrieval (D&R) payload.
The AQS-24 D&R operated from the Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vessel (MCM USV), and showcased the unmanned operations necessary to perform a mine hunting mission off the MCM Mission Package aboard the littoral combat ship (LCS).
Pierce Aerospace, DRONEDEK partner to advance commercial drone delivery using Remote ID
On the heels of the FAA's proposed rule for the remote identification of drones being printed in the Federal Register, Remote ID UAS Service Supplier (RID-USS) Pierce Aerospace has partnered with smart mailbox company DRONEDEK LLC to advance commercial drone delivery.
The partnership will result in Pierce Aerospace combining its Remote Identification expertise and technologies with DRONEDEK’s patent portfolio in last-mile logistics, which includes a drone mailbox system.
GA-ASI, U.S. Army partner to enhance the capabilities and survivability of GE-ER UAS
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has partnered with the U.S. Army to enhance the capabilities and survivability of the MQ-1C ER Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) UAS.
GA-ASI has been awarded several contracts from the Army to upgrade the Gray Eagle ER’s avionics, datalinks and software, to ultimately improve the operational capability of the UAS in contested environments.
According to GA-ASI, the modernization initiative provides an “open architecture concept” on the aircraft that is capable of hosting government-owned software, as well as increased autonomy that is needed to support Scalable Control Interface, and the rapid integration of long-range sensors.
AFRL successfully completes initial flight tests for Ultra Long Endurance Aircraft Platform
The Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Center for Rapid Innovation (CRI) recently successfully completed initial flight tests for the Ultra Long Endurance Aircraft Platform (Ultra LEAP). The UAS has a customizable suite of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) tools that supports extended missions.
After a series of flight tests that began in Feb. 2019 at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, a two and a half-day continuous flight demonstration was performed from Dec. 9 to Dec 11. Future flight tests will demonstrate increased levels of flight endurance, AFRL says.
