In Bossier Parish, Louisiana, the sheriff’s office is crediting a UAS equipped with an infrared camera in helping to locate a suspect in a burglary on July 26.
The UAS was deployed in response to “low moon visibility,” and within two minutes, the UAS’ thermal camera spotted the suspect “walking in the tree line.”
The K-9 team then went to the suspect's exact location, and the 51-year old man was taken into custody.
For Bossier Sheriff Julian C. Whittington, this technology is extremely beneficial, and can be used for a number of different tasks.
Sensors
Sensors
World’s first crewless, autonomously operated ship expected to launch in 2018
According to the Wall Street Journal, the world’s first crewless, autonomously operated ship is scheduled to launch in late 2018.
Known as the Yara Birkeland, the 100-container, electric ship is designed to “navigate itself around other boat traffic and to dock on its own,” using the Global Positioning System, radar, cameras and sensors.
The ship is being jointly developed by two Norwegian companies, Yara International ASA and Kongsberg Gruppen ASA. Yara International ASA is an agriculture firm, while Kongsberg Gruppen ASA builds guidance systems for civilian and military uses.
University of Colorado Boulder team to use UAS to measure water moisture as a part of “Project Drought”
University of Colorado Boulder (CU) students, engineers and scientists are partnering with Boulder, Colorado-based Black Swift Technologies to use UAS to measure water moisture at a research and demonstration farm called the Irrigation Research Foundation (IRF) in Yuma, Colorado.
With the help of a NASA Small Business Innovative Research Grant, Black Swift Technologies was launched out of CU Boulder in 2011 by aerospace PhD graduates Jack Elston, Maciej Stachura and Cory Dixon, and the company developed the UAS that will fly over the test farm, the SuperSwift UAS, which is fixed-wing and has a removable nose cone.
Evans Incorporated launches PropelUAS for UAS program implementation
Evans Incorporated, which is a “human-centered solutions consulting firm,” has launched PropelUAS, which is a new division that the company says is “changing the game and forging the future of UAS Program implementation process and technology.”
PropelUAS will form “an innovative, full-spectrum experience, from ‘Idea’ to ‘Operations’ (IDEA-OPS),” using its team of unmanned systems, air traffic control, aviation training, human factors, airports, and aviation strategy experts.
Gryphon Sensors develops mobile UTM system called Mobile Skylight
Central New York-based Gryphon Sensors has developed a mobile Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) system called Mobile Skylight.
Among its many capabilities, the Mobile Skylight system, which is equipped with a variety of self-contained multispectral sensors, provides “accurate three dimensional detection of low-flying, small UAS at a distance of out to 10 kilometers.”
Mobile Skylight is contained in a “sleek, rugged van,” and is described as a “complete mobile command center” that features 4x4 off-road capability, and can be transported anywhere without a commercial driver's license.
The system is designed for quick deployment for a number of different tasks, including search and rescue operations, special event security, and utility inspection, to name a few.
NOAA partners with UMD UAS Test Site to investigate UAS in Satellite Data Validation
In an effort to determine whether or not UAS can be used to validate satellite data more efficiently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has partnered with the University of Maryland Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site.
NOAA regularly measures temperatures and light wavelengths from earth, and compares those results with results sent down from space.
While this process helps make sure that weather forecasts aren’t manipulated by inaccurate data, it is labor intensive and hard to conduct over large regions, which limits how directly the two data sets can be compared.
Through this partnership, NOAA and the UAS Test Site will investigate the potential of UAS saving time and money while collecting more data over a wider region.
Hawaii teachers learning how to code driverless cars
In Hawaii, some teachers are taking a six-day class to learn how to code driverless cars, in a first of its kind program that could become a part of the curriculum in Hawaii.
Teachers are learning the basics of coding, but the language is the same as what’s being used to program the same driverless cars that are currently on, or one day will be on, roads across the United States and all over the world.
The course is being taught by Sumil Thapa, who is an engineer for a Hawaii-based engineering consultant called Oceanit. One day, Thapa taught the teachers how to program their cars to “drive into a mini garage, sense the light, back up out of the garage and then give out the light reading.”
Self-driving cars to be tested on interstates in Northern Virginia
According to WTVR.com, self-driving and wireless connected cars are headed to the roads in Virginia, after the Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the testing of these vehicles in High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes on Interstate 95 and Interstate 495 in Northern Virginia.
Initially, the cars will be tested on closed roads, but eventually, they will be tested during “light traffic” times.
According to Virginia Department of Transportation Research Director Cathy McGhee, fellow occupants on the road should not notice anything unusual once these self-driving vehicles begin testing.
VStar Systems and Martin UAV complete flight demonstration of MA-C2E/Lite SIGINT Sensor
VStar Systems, which is a privately held aerospace and defense systems company, and Martin UAV, which specializes in research and development, manufacturing, and operator training for complete UAS, have announced the successful completion of a demonstration of the new COMINT capabilities onboard the Martin UAV V-Bat aircraft.
VStar Systems was invited overseas to demonstrate the capabilities of its MA-C2E/Lite, which is a modular Signal Intelligence Sensor that weighs approximately two pounds, and provides COMINT capabilities to Martin UAV’s line of V-Bat drones.
The MA-C2E/Lite system is designed to “function as a highly modular, scalable, flexible tactical COMINT sensor,” with special emphasis on addressing design challenges created by Class 2 or 3 UAS.
BAE Systems to develop United Kingdom’s first dedicated autonomous systems testing service
BAE Systems, a company that provides “advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions,” will “design and deliver the UK’s first dedicated autonomous systems testing service,” after being awarded a grant of £457,000 from the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The new service, which is expected to be ready for use later this year, will give customers a “safe, controlled and realistic environment in the Solent” where they can conduct trials and test a variety of systems such as unmanned boats, air vehicles and autonomous sensors.