During the finale of the 2018 Minnesota State Fire School & Expo, a few dozen area firefighters learned about UAS and how the technology can be used in emergency situations.
As a part of their class, firefighters received a lecture about UAS, which was followed by a live demonstration of the technology in action. During that demonstration, firefighters got to see the different maneuvers and functions of the UAS in the sky, and they could also view what the camera was capturing on a TV.
The class, which was taught by Al Ebbinga, was meant to not only show how UAS can benefit first responders on scene, but it was also meant to “clarify the perception of the name "drone" and how it's been used.”
UAS
UAS
Weekend Roundup
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Milrem Robotics introduced its next generation THeMIS UGV during UMEX 2018 in Abu Dhabi. Equipped with autonomous capabilities, the UGV is “intended specifically” for desert terrain and hot climates. (Business Wire)
MDA selects Schiebel's CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS to fulfill contract with international customer
MDA, which is a Maxar Technologies company, has commissioned a fleet of Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS to fulfill a contract with an international customer.
According to Schiebel, MDA chose the CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS because of its “impressive track record of providing critical support in sea- and land-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.”
The S-100 is a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAS with a relatively small logistical footprint. This small logistical footprint allows for flexible and rapid deployment.
Schiebel says that “by day and night, the UAS functions as a platform capable of carrying a wide range of high-end payloads.”
Northeast Region UAS Unit begins proactive deployment of its UAS
According to a news release from the Grand Forks County Sheriff's Department in Grand Forks, North Dakota, via the Grand Forks Herald, the Northeast Region Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit will begin proactive deployment of its UAS on March 1, which will allow officers that are trained as pilots to take UAS with them as they patrol their areas.
The unit has authorization to fly UAS anywhere in the nation, according to Sheriff's Lt. B.J. Maxson, who oversees the Northeast Region UAS Unit.
Before this week’s development, the unit had just two UAS, and required law enforcement to go to the Sheriff's Department to pick up the UAS. This meant that the unit was used as a reactionary measure.
Randolph Electric Membership Corporation donates $10,000 in support of NC Public Safety Drone Academy
In support of Montgomery Community College’s (MCC) NC Public Safety Drone Academy, Randolph Electric Membership Corporation (Randolph EMC) donated $10,000 to the community college located in Troy, North Carolina.
The funds will be used to buy software and develop an educational course for REMC’s Utility Based Drone Program. The funds will also be used to allow Randolph EMC line technicians to undergo training with UAS, so that they can obtain their certification to operate the technology.
Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk UAS celebrates 20th anniversary of first flight
Northrop Grumman is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first flight of its autonomous Global Hawk high altitude long endurance aircraft, which occurred at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Feb. 28, 1998.
The flight occurred after a pilot in a nearby ground control station clicked the take-off button on their control console, sending the Global Hawk into the desert sky. The UAS completed a 56-minute flight before landing safely and stopping itself on the runway, just six inches off the painted centerline.
The first Global Hawk aircraft, named Air Vehicle 1, or AV-1, was built by Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical—which Northrop Grumman would go on to acquire in 1999— at the Ryan factory near San Diego’s Lindbergh Field.
Royal Canadian Navy acquires AeroVironment's Puma II AE UAS
AeroVironment, Inc. and MDA, a Maxar Technologies company, have announced that the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has acquired the AeroVironment Puma II AE, which is a maritime mini UAS. MDA partnered with AeroVironment to satisfy the requirement of the Department of National Defence of Canada for the Maritime Miniature Unmanned Aircraft System (MMUAS).
The UAS will be fielded aboard RCN Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDV), and will include the Mantis i45 sensor and a 360-degree antenna system, which will enhance the Puma II AE's ability to support maritime operations.
Bihrle and BNSF's 'RailVision' proves beneficial during long range UAS railway inspections
Bihrle Applied Research (Bihrle) and BNSF Railway (BNSF) have announced that they successfully demonstrated the processing of several thousand images at a time, covering hundreds of miles of track for the automatic detection, classification and reporting of rail conditions.
This feat was made possible thanks to RailVision, which is a “computer vision technology solution” developed by the companies in support of BNSF’s UAS research initiatives.
RailVision allows BNSF to automatically process images collected by UAS during supplemental railway inspection flights, and generates actionable reports in a significantly less amount of time required by traditional methods.
