A new group in Utah called Deseret Unmanned Aerial Systems is hoping to make the state a leader in the “wave of drone innovations.”
“The biggest untapped resource in the U.S. and the world is our airspace,” says Tulinda Larsen, executive director of Deseret UAS, via Deseret News. “And that's where Deseret UAS is stepping up.”
The result of a joint effort by Tooele and Box Elder counties in partnership with Ogden city, Deseret UAS is looking to advance the work of Utah businesses working in the UAS arena, and ultimately attract new endeavors to the state.
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
Meet the IPP sites: Choctaw Nation to use partners, diverse landscape to push for UAS integration
When Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced the winners of the DOT’s UAS Integration Pilot Program in May, the first team announced was the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
That effort involves a technology-minded Native American tribe, a multi-billion business incubator, a demonstration farm and a 45,000-acre ranch, as well as nearly a dozen partners interested in pushing the envelope for drone flights at night, package delivery and flights over people.
James Grimsley, founder of DII LLC, a family of technology companies (and a former AUVSI Member of the Year), says the Choctaw Nation contacted him about two years ago to discuss a strategy of getting into aviation, which is a strong point for Oklahoma.
NASA and MTSI to develop framework for autonomous aircraft that can be used to achieve FAA certification
Over the next 24 months, NASA and Modern Technology Solutions Inc. (MTSI) will collaborate to develop a framework for autonomous aircraft that can be used to achieve FAA certification.
Known as Resilient Autonomy, the NASA-led project’s goal is to develop a “robust architecture and methodology” for certifying fully autonomous systems by using a technique known as multi-mode run-time assurance (MM-RTA). MM-RTA places a deterministic "wrapper" around the autonomous system's non-deterministic software to safely bind the untrusted system's behavior.
FAA announces new LAANC service providers which include DJI, KittyHawk and Unifly
On Oct. 1, the FAA announced nine new partners to its Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) initiative, which is described as an “innovative collaboration between the FAA and the drone industry that provides near real-time processing of airspace authorizations for Part 107 drone operators nationwide who fly in controlled airspace.”
After the success of the FAA’s prototype, the initiative was simultaneously opened to other air traffic control facilities, as well as to new industry partners. A five-month onboarding process began back in April, resulting in nine new LAANC partners. Those partners are: Aeronyde, Airbus, AiRXOS, Altitude Angel, Converge, DJI, KittyHawk, UASidekick and Unifly.
Botlink receives first FAA waiver for flight over people with a parachute system
Drone safety systems company ParaZero Israel Ltd has announced that Botlink, a North Dakota UAS operator, has received the first FAA waiver for flight over people with a parachute system.
Under the waiver, Botlink will use ParaZero’s SafeAir System on a DJI Phantom 4 to perform missions for local law enforcement. Additionally, the company will use the waiver to generate media content as part of the North Dakota Department of Transportation's efforts under the UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP).
Hill Day speakers tout benefits of UAS; AUVSI's Lamb provides TOP overview
During AUVSI’s Hill Day luncheon, speakers touted the benefits of UAS, especially after major events such as Hurricane Florence.
“We’re going to see a lot more of this,” said Rep. Frank LoBiondo, who represents New Jersey's 2nd congressional district.
Over the last 24 years, LoBiondo has represented the FAA’s Technical Center— which he says is “really the heart and soul of aviation in the country.” LoBiondo credits AUVSI for helping the FAA realize the benefits of UAS technology.
“AUVSI has been a leader in helping me understand the economic opportunities that were being held back for so many years,” LoBiondo said.
For his 24 years of service, LoBiondo was presented with AUVSI’s Distinguished Service Award from Brian Wynne, AUVSI’s President and CEO.
State Farm granted waiver to conduct UAS operations over people and BVLOS in areas effected by Hurricane Florence
State Farm has been granted a waiver for UAS operations that will be the first of its kind for an insurance company, and will allow it to assess damage in communities effected by Hurricane Florence.
The FAA has granted State Farm a waiver that combines permissions to conduct UAS flights over people and flights beyond the operator’s visual line of sight. Both of these operations are usually tightly restricted.
These provisions are approved over four states impacted by Hurricane Florence. Together, they will “dramatically enhance State Farm’s ability to evaluate hurricane damage and allocate resources,” the insurance company says.
City of Reno, Nevada and Flirtey complete first flights under UAS IPP
The city of Reno, Nevada and Flirtey have successfully completed their first flights under the UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP).
The city of Reno and Flirtey conducted the first multi-drone delivery demonstration under the program, as a single Flirtey pilot operated multiple Flirtey UAS at the same time, and simulated the delivery of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the presence of the FAA.
The flights were conducted under a regulatory waiver that allows multiple small UAS to be operated by one pilot.
“Flirtey just demonstrated deliveries with multiple drones per pilot for the first time, which is a major milestone toward scaling drone delivery nationwide,” says Flirtey Founder and CEO Matthew Sweeny.
NIAS launches Nevada Drone Center of Excellence for Public Safety
The Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS) has launched the Nevada Drone Center of Excellence for Public Safety (NDCOE) to help save lives and reduce air hazards from UAS incursions.
Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, NDCOE will seek to do this by “empowering a shared safety vision with the FAA’s integration of drones into the commercial air traffic system.”
U.S. Department of the Interior awards contract to four companies for small UAS services
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has awarded a “Call When Needed” contract to Bridger Aerospace, Insitu, Pathways2Solutions and Precision Integrated for small UAS services.
Described as a first of its kind for DOI, the contract will allow DOI to obtain “fully contractor-operated and maintained” small UAS that are ready when needed to support a variety of operations, including wildland fire operations, search and rescue, emergency management and other resource missions in the Contiguous 48 States and Alaska.