The unmanned systems market is faster and more competitive than ever before, and this year’s Xponential conference and exhibition will be, too. The show starts and ends with a competition, with plenty of innovation featured in between.
On the weekend before the show, AUVSI will host its first XBuild, a new buildathon/hackathon, from April 28-29 at Galvanize Boulder in nearby Boulder, Colorado.
Hackathons have historically been a place where innovative ideas have been transformed into everyday things; in fact, the Facebook “like” button was created at a Facebook hackathon.
Commercial
Commercial
Persistent Systems' new upper C-band module can be used for UAS operations
Persistent Systems has announced the release of its Upper C-Band module for the MPU5 mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) radio, which transmits and relays voice, video, text, and sensor data in a “robust, peer-to-peer fashion.”
Certified for unlicensed use in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) Band, the new 5.1 to 5.9 GHz radio module will allow MPU5 users around the world to utilize the MANET for various commercial applications, including UAS operations, Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) networking, and live event video streaming.
Companies that paved the way for Hollywood drone use receive Emmy recognition
A collaboration that seeded a change for UAS in filmmaking roughly five years ago will receive recognition at the 69th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards ceremony on April 8.
John McGraw, founder and principal of John McGraw Aerospace Consulting LLC in North Carolina, couldn’t be more honored or more astonished with his pending award.
“It was a totally surprising out of the blue experience,” McGraw says. “Not something I anticipated happening.”
The award, 2017 Low Latency Remote Controlled Airborne Video Platforms (non-military) for Television, recognizes the role of unmanned aircraft in filmmaking.
Aspen Avionics and Sensurion Aerospace partner to bring certified avionics to UAS and unmanned air-taxi marketplace
Aspen Avionics and Sensurion Aerospace will bring certified avionics to the UAS and unmanned air-taxi marketplace, thanks to a recently announced co-development partnership between the two.
The companies will focus on several areas, including FAA certified autopilots, communications, navigation, and surveillance systems for small, medium, and large UAS, including future cargo and passenger carrying aircraft.
“The real winners in this partnership are the UAS users, system integrators and manufacturers,” says Aspen President and CEO, John Uczekaj.
Chris Corgnati appointed Chief Operating Officer of PAE ISR
PAE ISR, which is a lead systems integrator and full service provider for UAS, has appointed Chris Corgnati as its Chief Operating Officer (COO).
With more than 25 years of executive and operational leadership in naval aviation, Corgnati is a recognized expert in the development, acquisition and integration of unmanned systems.
Before being appointed COO at PAE ISR, Corgnati held several titles, including Vice President of the NASA and Department of Defense programs at Crown Consulting, Director of ISR Capabilities for the Chief of Naval Operations, and the United States Head of Delegation for the NATO Joint Capability Group on Unmanned Aerial Systems.
Johns Hopkins students use automated driving tech to protect UAS
OnBoard Security, which describes itself as a leader in internet of things security, has announced that a graduate student team at the Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute (JHUISI) successfully demonstrated the protection of UAS from cyber attacks.
OnBoard Security contributed to this research effort by providing mentoring, industry insight, and the use of its Aerolink communication security libraries. OnBoard Security says that this is the first implementation of Aerolink outside the automotive industry.
According to OnBoard Security, potential cyber attacks on aerial fleets of UAS are a major concern, especially with UAS being used more and more, and with the increasing automation surrounding this technology.
Symposium message: FAA is 'open for business'
“The message of this whole conference is, the FAA is open for business,” said Derek Kan, undersecretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation, summing up the Federal Aviation Administration’s stance at the third annual FAA UAS Symposium, cosponsored by AUVSI.
FAA official said repeatedly that they want to talk to industry about ways to help companies achieve their goals, including for beyond-line-of-sight flights and package delivery.
One key element to achieve such things is an unmanned traffic management system, which NASA is working on, along with numerous industry and government partners.
“Our research will be completed by 2019,” said Parimal Kopardekar, who is leading the UTM effort for NASA.
Drone America, Kongsberg Geospatial partner to enhance BVLOS UAS operations
Drone America and Kongsberg Geospatial have announced the integration of the Kongsberg Geospatial IRIS UAS situational awareness application into the Drone America Airspace and Sensor Awareness System (DAAWS).
Drone America, which specializes in designing and building “advanced long-range autonomous, multi-mission aircraft” with modular payloads for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight operations, developed the DAAWS system as part of its Advanced Ground Control Station, to give flight teams the ability to manage BVLOS flight operations safely and effectively.
Collaboration will be key to technology, regulation for airspace integration
Government-industry collaboration will be needed going forward to integrate unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System, both for developing technology for such critical functions as remote identification, and for establishing government regulations that will help the industry grow.
That was one of the messages repeated at the second day of the third annual FAA UAS Symposium, cosponsored by the FAA and AUVSI and held this year in Baltimore.
AUVSI President and CEO Brian Wynne kicked off the day with a panel discussion including regulators from the Department of Transportation and congressional staffers.
Speakers see appetite for UAS integration, but remote i.d. is a must
The recently created pilot program for communities wanting to expand unmanned aircraft operations will help push the technology and integration forward, said speakers at the kickoff of the third annual FAA UAS Symposium, cosponsored by the FAA and AUVSI.
One such city might be Baltimore, where the symposium is being held. Catherine Pugh, the mayor of Charm City, noted that her campaign used drone footage for an ad promoting her candidacy.
She cited AUVSI’s economic impact numbers, which forecast 100,000 new jobs and more than $82 billion in economic impact upon full integration.
“I want you to know that Baltimore is poised to be part of this rapidly growing area,” Pugh said.
