Lockheed Martin has unveiled its new small UAS called OUTRIDER, which was designed and developed in the United Kingdom at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI).
Weighing just 1.7 kilograms, the canister launched, four-inch wide UAS can travel up to 50 knots despite its size, and Lockheed says that the UAS “boasts the best payload capacity and endurance when compared with similar UAS's.”
Commercial
Commercial
Self-driving shuttles being tested in Japan to help rural elderly population
According to Reuters.com, self-driving buses are being tested in rural communities in Japan, in an effort to provide elderly residents with additional transportation options.
In these communities, elderly residents don’t have access to many bus and taxi services. These communities are also home to populations that are aging and shrinking.
With this in mind, mobile gaming software maker DeNA Co (2432.T), which has branched into automotive software, is testing its driverless six-seater Robot Shuttle in these towns to see if this technology is a realistic form of transportation for the elderly.
From Unmanned Systems: Jeopardy champ Watson branches out into business
Many people think of artificial intelligence as something all-consuming, a superior computer thinking ability that could make humans obsolete.
Decades of books, movies and TV shows have warned seems like an inevitable computer or robotic uprising, including the 1920 stage play, “Rossum’s Robots,” which gave us the term robot in the first place.
And tech industry leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg on Musk have been arguing lately about AI and whether it’s a force for good, as Zuckerberg posits, or an existential threat to humanity, as Musk says.
Honeywell, Intel team for InView drone inspection service
Honeywell has launched a new drone inspection service, InView, by teaming with Intel Corp. and using its Falcon 8+ vehicle.
“This collaboration combines Intel’s advanced commercial Intel Falcon 8+ UAV system with Honeywell’s leadership in aerospace safety and connectivity to deliver solutions that deliver reliable, efficient and actionable information to utility and industrial customers,” says Carl Esposito, president, Electronic Solutions, Honeywell Aerospace.
Dronicar's ad-bearing airship demonstrates water landing
Virginia-based Dronicar, which debuted its unmanned airship at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2017 in Dallas, announced that its advertisement airship drone was tested on water on July 4.
The 20-foot long airship drone demonstrated animated graphics and movies on its blimp body while landing on a lake.
The airship can fly for two hours with 1,200 lux displays on its side. Using banners instead of electric displays boosts that to five hours, or the helium-filled airship can be tethered and stay in the air for up to a week. Electric power can be supplied via the tethered line. The company says that specially designed and patented equipment can increase the airship’s wind resistance, ensuring that it always stays in the intended flight area.
May Mobility to test autonomous vehicles in Detroit in October
From October 9 to 13, Ann Arbor, Michigan-based May Mobility Inc., which is a startup that became incorporated in January of this year, will operate a pilot program using autonomous vehicles to shuttle Bedrock LLC employees in downtown Detroit to and from a parking structure.
A total of 15 hours of testing will be conducted, as the service will be provided to staff from 7 to 10 p.m.
Two Polaris Industries Inc.-manufactured electric vehicles, which will be manned during testing, will be used during the program, and according to May Mobility CEO Edwin Olson, the vehicles have six doors for six seats.
This pilot program will be the sixth major autonomous vehicle project for the May Mobility team, which currently stands at 15 members.
Earth Networks introduces predictive weather offering for commercial UAS market
Ahead of the InterDrone conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Earth Networks, which provides weather intelligence platforms, announced the launch of Sferic DroneFlight, which is an “advanced predictive weather offering specifically designed for rapidly growing commercial drone markets” within public safety, oil and gas, and construction, to name a few.
According to Earth Networks, Sferic DroneFlight delivers “hyperlocal wind forecasts for any latitude and longitude in the world.” This is significant for commercial UAS operations, as this platform answers the need for advanced weather data and helps with various aspects of UAS flights.
AUVSI Announces Initiatives for Enhancing UAS Safety and Performance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 6, 2017
Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786
Quinsigamond Community College to offer UAS certificate program
Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Massachusetts has become the first community college in the state to offer a UAS certificate program.
The certificate program will feature a “series of online and in-person courses” designed to give students a comprehensive education on UAS, while helping them prepare to take and ultimately pass the FAA Drone Pilot Exam.
SolAero Technologies completes and delivers first solar wing for Bye Aerospace's StratoAirNet UAV
SolAero Technologies Corp (SolAero) has completed and delivered the first solar wing for Bye Aerospace’s solar-electric UAV, the “StratoAirNet.”
Using “proprietary methods to maintain the critical laminar flow surface on the wing,” SolAero is integrating its “advanced high-efficiency solar cell technologies” on the graphite composite StratoAirNet wing.
This initial wing-solar cell combination will provide ample power— approximately 2,000 Watts— under ideal daylight conditions at altitude, resulting in sustained flight of the StratoAirNet UAV being achieved.
