RADA Electronic Industries Ltd. has announced that in recent weeks, it has received more than $12 million in new orders.
More than $5 million of the new orders were for RADA’s software-defined radars for counter rocket artillery and mortar (C-RAM), counter UAS and short range air defense (SHORAD). Most of these orders were from new and strategic defense organizations, and represent initial orders that have the potential for greater follow-on orders in the future.
RADA notes that portions of these orders were follow-ons from customers that have placed initial orders earlier this year.
The rest of the orders, totaling almost $7 million, were follow-on orders for RADA’s legacy avionics, which includes avionics for UAS.
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UAS
ZF Friedrichshafen becomes first company in Germany to fly UAS over factory premises
German car parts maker ZF Friedrichshafen has announced that it has become the first company in Germany to receive permission to conduct automated UAS flights over factory premises.
The company recently began using a prototype UAS to fly spare parts such as sensors or control cards from the central warehouse to workshops.
According to ZF, once it has completed test flights and the UAS are properly deployed, these flights will relieve vehicle traffic at the plant, ultimately saving time on the up to one kilometer-long delivery routes that are often on the upper floors of buildings.
University of South Florida to host USF Brain-Drone Race in early 2019
On Feb. 9, 2019, the University of South Florida (USF) will host the 2019 USF Brain-Drone Race, which will feature teams from around the world racing drones using brain-power.
The event, which is free and open to the public, is being organized by USF Assistant Professor Marvin Andujar, PhD, Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering.
Andujar, who led the University of Florida group that first started the competition in 2016, says that the 2019 event will be the world’s first international competition of brain-drone racers, as teams from the United Kingdom, Japan, and Brazil compete against teams from across the U.S., as well as several teams from USF.
Lone Star UAS Center to provide UAS support following natural disasters in Nueces County, Texas
After signing an interlocal agreement with Nueces County, Texas, the Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence and Innovation (LSUASC) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will begin providing UAS support in response to future natural disasters in the county.
Through the agreement, which was signed on Oct. 31 by Loyd Neal, county judge and emergency management director for Nueces County, the Nueces County Emergency Operations Center will have more support at its disposal when helping with response efforts in the county.
RelmaTech's Direct Broadcast platform allows UAS to broadcast their position and unique ID
RelmaTech has introduced its Direct Broadcast platform, which the company says meets any future regulatory requirements for UAS to broadcast their position and unique ID, without relying on a communications network to carry that data.
Using WiFi-based technology, the Direct Broadcast platform creates a unique beacon on the UAS. Described as light-weight and low cost, Direct Broadcast is based on “proven, stable and robust technology with high volume availability,” RelmaTech says.
RelmaTech also points out that a prototype version of the Direct Broadcast platform has been demonstrated to key individuals within the FAA UAS Integration Office and NASA UTM Research and Development Program.
Skyfire Consulting selected to join San Diego's UAS IPP team
The City of San Diego has selected Skyfire Consulting to join its UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) team.
Considered a leading provider of public safety UAS technologies in the U.S., Skyfire Consulting was selected to be a part of San Diego's IPP efforts thanks in large part to its substantial experience with FAA regulations related to public safety UAS use.
Additionally, the Atlanta-based UAS consultancy has as already worked to obtain the first two certificates of authorization (COAs) for the Chula Vista Police Department, which is also a part of the San Diego IPP team.
Parrot introduces new end-to-end UAS platform for farmers, agronomists and researchers
Parrot has introduced its Parrot Bluegrass Fields, which is described as an end-to-end agriculture UAS platform that provides farmers, agronomists and researchers with the insights they need to boost the quality of their crops, and maximize yields.
Part of the Parrot Business Solutions portfolio, Parrot Bluegrass Fields is a combination of the Parrot Bluegrass UAS and the all-new ParrotFields mobile mapping app and Pix4Dfields desktop and cloud-based UAS mapping software.
Featuring a robust carbon-fiber structure, the Parrot Bluegrass agriculture UAS has a flight time of up to 25 minutes, and it is built to perform efficient operations, even in confined areas, thanks to its vertical take-off and landing capability.
AeroVironment to provide allied nation in U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility with its Puma AE II UAS
AeroVironment will provide an allied nation in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) area of responsibility with its RQ-20B Puma AE II small UAS, training and support, after receiving a $3,228,856 firm-fixed-price contract from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
The anticipated delivery date of this technology and services is by March 30, 2019.
Tulsa students learn about UAS during 'Tulsa Research Kids' Drone Fly-In' event
On Friday, Nov. 2, more than 140 area students gathered at Tulsa Community College’s Riverside Community Campus and Aviation Center for the Tulsa Research Kids’ Drone Fly-In event.
During the event, which was the result of a partnership between Tulsa Community College, Flight Night and the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance, several businesses discussed UAS and the available careers within the industry to an audience made up of students ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Army's Mason working to fulfill PEO Aviation's strategic plan
Patrick H. Mason, a member of the Senior Executive Service, and the relatively new deputy program executive officer for the U.S. Army’s PEO Aviation, has a challenging duty — helping bring the Army PEO Aviation’s 2018 Strategic Plan to life, which includes delivering capabilities to warfighters faster, streamlining the acquisition process and building a better workforce.
Mason assumed the Huntsville, Alabama-based role in May 2017. He was the commander of the Redstone Technical Test Center and most recently as the chief of staff for the Aviation Development Directorate of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center.
