FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 23, 2017
Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786
Commercial
Commercial
NOVUS Unmanned to feature 'best of the best'
AUVSI’s NOVUS Unmanned, held in conjunction with Investorfest, will bring together carefully curated companies with innovative technology and investors who are helping drive the unmanned systems industry.
“What we are seeing now is that automated and unmanned vehicles are migrating from government and military to the mainstream, so a lot of innovation is happening,” says Gopan Madathil, an entrepreneurial marketer and fund-raising coach who is president of Investorfest.
The industry has now reached the point where it needs support services, such as traffic management or detection services, Madathil says, and NOVUS Unmanned plans to present a variety of companies with promising technology to present them to investors.
Israel's first AUV to be commercialized through new BGR company
In Israel, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s (BGU) technology company, BGN Technologies Ltd., has announced the launch of a new entity called BGR. BGR will commercialize Israel's first AUV, the HydroCamel II.
Developed by researchers at BGU's Laboratory for Autonomous Robotics (LAR), the 2.5 meter-long AUV is built for commercial use across a variety of industries, including the military, security, and oil and gas sectors.
It can also be used for environmental applications and marine research, as well.
Skyward to give commercial UAS operators instant access to controlled airspace with LAANC
Skyward, which is a Verizon company, has received approval to give commercial UAS operators instant access to controlled airspace with the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) services from the FAA.
Airspace that previously required the submission of a manual request for authorization will now be accessible for businesses through the LAANC. The approval process will be automated, which will significantly reduce the wait time from months to seconds.
WiBotic unveils its autonomous wireless charging pad for UAS
WiBotic has unveiled its “completely integrated wireless charging pad” for UAS, WiBotic PowerPad, which is designed for UAS operators who don’t want to develop their own wireless charging pad.
In one ready-to-go unit, the wireless charging pad includes the WiBotic transmitter circuit, transmitter antenna and power supply. The current version of the charging pad, which is three feet by three feet, can support a wide variety of today’s UAS, from smaller commercial and enterprise UAS, to large industrial UAS.
WiBotic PowerPad can be easily mounted on a variety of things, including rooftops and inside warehouses and factories. Those that use UAS for security, oil and gas, and in warehouses, could find WiBotic PowerPad extremely beneficial.
Insitu opens new facility in Starkville, Mississippi
According to the Starkville Daily News, Insitu opened its new office in Starkville, Mississippi on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Headquartered in Bingen, Washington, Insitu will use its new facility, which is located at Mississippi State University's (MSU) Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park, to “work toward flight certification of its vehicles,” with assistance from the MSU Raspet Flight Research Laboratory and the FAA Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE), which MSU manages.
“We’re focused on aircraft certifications within the National Airspace System within the U.S.,” says Insitu President and CEO Ryan Hartman.
EasyMile's autonomous shuttle bus to be tested in Minnesota starting in November
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has selected EasyMile to lead its autonomous shuttle bus pilot project.
Testing, which will start in November and go through February 2018, will examine how the shuttle operates in a variety of conditions, including in low temperatures, in snow and ice conditions, and on roads where salt is used.
While EasyMile has conducted cold weather tests in Finland and Norway using its driverless technology, this will be the company’s first time conducting cold weather tests in the United States.
The shuttle will initially be tested at MnDOT’s pavement test facility, which is known as MnROAD.
Drone Delivery Canada to provide deliveries via UAS to Moose Cree First Nation in Northern Ontario
Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) and Moose Cree First Nation have entered into an agreement to start a commercial program that will use DDC’s UAS delivery system to make deliveries to the community located in northern Ontario, Canada.
DDC, which is collaborating with federal regulators and community stakeholders, is ready to begin commercial test flights within the Moose Cree geography. Mail, food, medical supplies, and general goods are some of the things expected to be delivered via UAS.
