Texas Electric Cooperatives Inc. (TEC) and Exelon Clearsight LLC have partnered to bring advanced UAS, robot, and software enabled inspections to utilities in Texas.
Under the agreement, TEC has exclusive rights to sell Exelon Clearsight's services to Electric Cooperatives, Generation & Transmission Cooperatives, and Municipal Authorities across the state of Texas.
“We are excited about partnering with Clearsight to provide unique value-added services to our members,” says Johnny Andrews, chief operating officer, TEC Manufacturing and Distribution Services.
Software
Software
UAVOS modifies UAV-85 and UAV-70 4-stroke gasoline engines for UAS
UAVOS has modified the UAV-85 and UAV-70 4-stroke gasoline engines based on the Fiala PROP. company motors. As a result of the modifications, the engines have greater reliability, efficiency and engine lifespan, UAVOS says.
The new series of UAS engines are equipped with state-of-the-art air cooling and a two-nozzle fuel injection technology. Additionally, a brushless generator-starter is installed on the engine.
U.S. ally awards AeroVironment contract for its Puma LE UAS
AeroVironment has announced that on Feb. 20, it was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract valued at $2,685,057 for its Puma Long Endurance (LE) UAS.
Dive Technologies announces partnership to support development and testing of its AUV
Boston-based subsea robotics designer and manufacturer Dive Technologies Inc. has announced a formal partnership with the Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics at Virginia Tech.
The multi-year partnership will directly support the rapid development and testing of Dive Technologies’ large, novel AUV. Sea testing of the commercial product is scheduled for this summer.
“Leveraging the expertise of the Virginia Tech team has really pushed our AUV design forward in a uniquely innovative way and has created immense efficiency in our development schedule,” says Bill Lebo, co-founder and CTO of Dive Technologies.
Parrot, DroneSense partner to enhance UAS capabilities of public safety UAS teams
Parrot has announced a partnership with software company DroneSense. Using DroneSense's comprehensive drone management platform, public safety organizations can build, manage, and scale their UAS programs.
Through the partnership between Parrot and DroneSense, public safety UAS teams will be able use the full suite of DroneSense capabilities tailor-made for the needs of first responders with their ANAFI aircraft.
“It’s our mission at DroneSense to enable first responders to build and scale fully operational drone programs that harness the value of the latest drone technology safely and effectively,” says DroneSense CEO, Christopher Eyhorn.
Trillium Engineering begins airborne testing new HD55 gimbaled camera system for UAS
Trillium Engineering has begun airborne testing of its new lightweight, high-definition HD55 system, which is designed for use on Group 2 and smaller Group 3 UAS.
In a gimbal just 5.5 inches in diameter and weighing 1750 grams, the HD55 system utilizes electro-optical (EO) and cryogenically cooled mid-wave infrared (MWIR) cameras, as well as an onboard image processor.
“At Trillium, we are constantly on the hunt for state-of-the-art technology, and the development of the HD55, the newest addition to our family of gimbaled systems, exemplifies this approach,” says Rob Gilchrist, cofounder and president of Trillium Engineering.
Elbit Systems introduces lifesaving capability to its Hermes 900 Maritime Patrol UAS
Elbit Systems has introduced a lifesaving capability to its Hermes 900 Maritime Patrol UAS.
The Hermes 900 Maritime Patrol UAS can now perform long-range maritime Search and Rescue (SaR) missions thanks to the integration of detection and identification capabilities, onboard inflated life-rafts, and a precision dispatch capability.
A version of this UAS with these configurations was recently delivered to an undisclosed customer in South-East Asia.
U.S. Navy, Northrop Grumman begin flight testing MQ-8C Fire Scout equipped with AN/ZPY-8 radar
Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy recently began flight testing of the MQ-8C Fire Scout UAS equipped with the Leonardo AN/ZPY-8 radar.
The Fire Scout’s first flight with the radar took place on Feb. 27 at Webster Outlying Field. Before that flight, several weeks of ground tests were conducted. As the entities consider mission expansion opportunities for the UAS, testing will continue to progress.
Weekend Roundup: May 8, 2020
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
The FAA recently awarded a $1.6 million contract to advance unmanned traffic management (UTM) at the New York UAS Test Site. A team of five commercial companies—led by CAL Analytics—will develop a single, integrated contingency management platform (CMP) for UAS integration. (NUAIR)
ThayerMahan to use new financing to accelerate growth, expand operations and R&D
Maritime technology company ThayerMahan Inc. has closed on $10 million of new financing from AE Industrial Partners Structured Solutions I, LP (AEI Structured Solutions), which is an affiliate of private equity firm AE Industrial Partners, LP (AEI).
ThayerMahan will use the capital to accelerate growth through acquisitions and expand operations and research and development.
“AEI is the right partner for ThayerMahan at this stage in our development.” says Mike Connor, ThayerMahan's co-founder and CEO, and retired Vice Admiral of the US Navy.
