Deveron UAS Corp. has been awarded a National Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) for operations of its Rotary-Wing UAS.
The SFOC allows Deveron to operate nine more makes and models in its expanding UAS fleet, ultimately helping to meet common customer demands for increased operational flexibility.
With the ability to operate across Canada seamlessly, Deveron will not only have additional capabilities, but the company can also further expand its service to all regions as it offers “on-demand solutions” for growers, plant breeders, and research groups.
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Flirtey celebrates three-year anniversary of its 'Kitty Hawk' moment
On this day three years ago, Flirtey successfully completed the first FAA-approved drone delivery in the United States.
In collaboration with NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, Flirtey delivered pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies to an outdoor free clinic in Wise County, Virginia.
During the flights, a NASA Langley fixed-wing Cirrus SR22 aircraft picked up 10 pounds of pharmaceuticals and supplies from an airport in Tazewell County in southwest Virginia. With a safety pilot on board, the plane delivered the medicine to the Lonesome Pine Airport in Wise County.
UNICEF announces funding opportunity for drone startups
The UNICEF Innovation Fund is seeking make $100,000 equity-free investments in technology startups that plan to use drones to benefit humanity.
“If you’ve got a start-up registered in one ofUNICEF’s program countries and have a working, open-source drone prototype or service (or you are willing to make it open-source) showing promising results, the UNICEF Innovation Fund is looking for you,” the fund says on its website.
The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 22. UNICEF is seeking software to collect and share data, manage flight and delivery operations, unmanned traffic management systems and business models for sustainable drone services, among other needs.
Mississippi's Vicksburg Police Department set to acquire UAS
The Vicksburg Police Department (VPD) in Vicksburg, Mississippi is primed to acquire a UAS by the close of the fiscal year.
Last week, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen accepted an FAA certificate of authorization that allows the department to fly a UAS at or below 400 feet altitude.
Vicksburg's mayor, George Flaggs Jr., supports the department getting this new piece of technology.
“I think they are absolutely to be commended,” Flaggs Jr. says via the Vicksburg Post. “Anytime they can get another tool that the city of Vicksburg can use to prevent crime and monitor crime that’s absolutely good news.”
Weekend Roundup
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
The second annual Drone-Con event recently took place at Palomar College in San Marcos, California on July 6. The event featured more than 30 guest speakers that presented on a variety of topics, as well as breakout sessions covering topics such as starting a UAS program at a school, mapping and surveying with UAS, and UAS career pathways for military veterans. (Palomar News)
UAVOS completes flight test of UAS that is powered by the Sun
UAVOS Inc. has completed flight tests of its unmanned SAT-i aircraft, which is powered by the Sun.
Designed to perform monitoring and aerial photography during daylight hours, the UAS has demonstrated high performance capabilities thus far, having successfully completed a non-stop 10-hour mission for aerial photography of the surface relief, with a payload of a 600-gram mirrorless camera.
“Based on UAVOS experience, to achieve high quality aerial photography, work has to be done in the daytime with a good level of illumination,” explains Vadim Tarasov UAVOS investor and board member.
CAAS, EASA and Airbus to develop safety standards and regulatory requirements for UAS in urban environments
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Airbus have announced that they will work together on the development of safety standards and regulatory requirements for UAS in urban environments.
“This tripartite partnership is timely as we seek to better define the operating conditions for the growing number of beneficial uses of UAS in urban environments such as Singapore, with aviation and public safety in mind,” says Kevin Shum, Director-General at CAAS.
“We look forward to working closely with our partners and sharing our experience gained thus far in developing regulatory requirements for UAS operations in Singapore.”
GA-ASI completes first trans-Atlantic flight of a MALE RPA
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has announced that its MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) has become the first Medium-altitude, Long-endurance (MALE) RPA to successfully complete a trans-Atlantic flight.
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian took off from Grand Forks, North Dakota on July 10, and flew 3,760 nautical miles in 24 hours and two minutes. The MALE RPA landed at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK on July 11.
Global UAV Technologies and others conduct landmark UAS mapping mission in Canada
On June 14, Global UAV Technologies Ltd., InDro Robotics Inc., and High Eye Aerial Imaging Inc. conducted the first UAS mapping mission over a major Canadian metropolitan city, flying over the downtown core of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
The mission, which was a first of its kind operation, was completed for the City of Victoria’s Emergency Management Division and conducted alongside members of Transport Canada.
Persistent Systems introduces Auto-Tracking Antenna System
Persistent Systems has introduced a new portable ground-to-air antenna called the Auto-Tracking Antenna System, which operates on the Wave Relay mobile ad hoc network (MANET).
Considered a “complete, easy-to-assemble system,” the Auto-Tracking Antenna System is designed to incorporate aircraft into the MANET.
“The Auto-Tracking Antenna System represents a major step towards achieving the vision of a truly networked battlefield,” says Herb Rubens, CEO of Persistent Systems.
