By Spring 2019, Greenville, South Carolina’s Police Department will have UAS technology as part of its operations.
According to Police Chief Ken Miller, the department can invest in the technology thanks to receiving a federal grant.
“Our intentional use is to purchase some sort of unmanned aircraft systems,” Miller says via WSPA-TV.
UAS have been used in the state to survey the flooding caused by Hurricane Florence. Miller says that there is no shortage of ways to utilize this technology.
“There are many departments in the city that have interest in this technology,” Miller says.
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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.
Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department finds UAS beneficial when conducting crash site assessments
Crash assessments can take a lot of time, but the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department in Lafayette, Indiana has found that UAS can be very beneficial when it comes to conducting crash site assessments.
Lieutenant Robert Hainje of the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department says that the department’s methods of using close range photogrammetry with its camera systems that it has in place causes the department to keep the road way closed down while they take photographic evidence.
NUAIR Alliance and Thales agree to collaborate on UTM research
The Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (NUAIR Alliance) has signed a multi-year collaboration agreement with Thales.
NUAIR says that the agreement supports its efforts to safely integrate UAS into “traditional, controlled airspace.” The agreement also supports NUAIR’s ability to conduct operations at its New York UAS test site’s 50-mile UAS traffic management (UTM) corridor at Griffiss International Airport.
Aerospace Cornwall and UAVAid to launch first UAS flight from Cornwall Airport Newquay in May 2019
Aerospace Cornwall has partnered with UK based UAS developer and operator UAVAid to launch the first UAS flight from Cornwall Airport Newquay in England during a capability event in May 2019.
During the event, UAVAid will showcase Hansard, its humanitarian UAS platform. The UAS is designed to not only “fundamentally improve the way aid agencies can respond to large scale disasters,” but also “boost healthcare and economic development in the developing world.”
Each UAS has a variety of capabilities, including long range cargo delivery, live streaming aerial video and large area mapping, in low infrastructure contexts.
Schiebel's Camcopter S-100 UAS conducts flight display during Red Bull Air Race
During the Red Bull Air Race in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, Schiebel’s Camcopter S-100 UAS conducted a flight display.
Returning to its Austrian roots for the sixth race of the season, the Red Bull Air Race partnered with Schiebel in Wiener Neustadt, which is where the Camcopter S-100 production facility is located.
“The history of our company is strongly connected to the location of Wiener Neustadt and we are excited to be partnered with Red Bull Air Race 2018,” says Hannes Hecher, CEO of Schiebel.
“This presents a wonderful opportunity to bring together unmanned and manned aviation and give the audience a taste of the expertise and vision represented by the two sectors.”
Weekend Roundup
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
K2 Unmanned Systems is now providing tethered drone technologies for its UAS. The company is working with Elistair, a France-based tether manufacturer, to develop this technology. (K2 Unmanned Systems)
TuSimple is bringing 200 new autonomous semi-trucks to Tucson, Arizona. The company is also expanding its location in Tucson, as it plans on doubling its warehouse size next year. (Tucson Local Media)
Logos Technologies' WAMI system for Integrator UAS successfully completes final test
During the last week of August, Logos Technologies’ Redkite-I wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) system, which is designed for the Insitu Integrator UAS, successfully completed its final flight test at the Insitu flight test facilities in Boardman, Oregon.
According to Logos, the lightweight WAMI sensor successfully demonstrated “complete end-to-end functionality,” including highly stable imagery, live WAMI streaming, vehicle tracking, and real-time forensics.
With this validation, Redkite-I will now be added to the Insitu Inc. catalogue of sensors available for the company’s tactical UAS.
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.
Orange County, Florida to use UAS to locate people with cognitive diseases if they wander away
In Orange County, Florida, UAS will be used to locate people with a cognitive disease if they wander away from home or a facility.
A pilot program is being spearheaded by state Sen. Linda Stewart, and $75,000 of state money will be used to launch the initiative.
“This technology will help find people much faster than by foot, by car, even a motorcycle,” Stewart says via the Orlando Sentinel.