AEE Aviation Technology Inc. and SELFLY Camera LLC have introduced AEE SELFLY, which is a smartphone case with an embedded UAS.
Considered the first device of its kind and the first of its class, AEE SELFLY gives smartphone users the ability to capture photos of themselves—commonly known as “selfies”—at a whole new level of quality and precision, for basically any event, from any location, and from heights and distances that were once considered impossible.
“More photographs are being taken now on smartphones than ever before because the best camera is the one you can always have with you,” says Mike Kahn, AEE's Chief Marketing Officer.
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Weekend Roundup
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Week of 12-25-2017
A UAS company called Quaternium is claiming a new world record for the endurance of a multi-rotor UAS. Quaternium says that on Dec. 24, 2017, its HYBRiX.20 fuel-electric quadcopter UAS flew for four hours and 40 minutes in Valencia, Spain. (Unmanned Aerial)
Finalists for Innovation Challenge at AUVSI USDPS announced
Overwatch Imaging, Ghost Robotics, Planck Aerosystems, SubUAS LLC and CVEDIA are the five finalists for the inaugural Innovation Challenge at AUVSI Unmanned Systems—Defense. Protection. Security. (USDPS).
These companies were selected from a field of more than 30 startups that applied, and cover the gamut of unmanned systems, including air, ground and maritime.
Overwatch Imaging specializes in precision aerial photography from small- and medium-sized UAS, with a focus on intelligent multi-band mapping and auto-detection on long endurance UAS.
Ghost Robotics develops legged robotics that can be used in various settings, including unstructured and vertical terrain, and harsh environments.
Kratos receives $3.2 Million in UAS and other system orders; also receives contract for high performance UAS
On Jan. 3, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. announced that it recently received approximately $3.2 million in UAS and other system product orders.
Kratos Modular Systems Division (MSD), which provides specialized systems and products for UAS, ballistic missile defense, and intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), just to name a few, will perform the work under these contract awards at secure Kratos production facilities.
“MSD is focused on the United States and its Allies' National Security, and we are proud to have been chosen by these customers in support of their missions,” says Tom Mills, President of Kratos Modular Systems Division.
AeroVironment announces joint venture to develop solar-powered HALE UAS
AeroVironment, Inc. has announced the formation of a joint venture to develop solar-powered high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAS for commercial operations.
The joint venture, known as HAPSMobile, Inc., will fund the development program up to a net maximum value of $65,011,481.
HAPSMobile, Inc. is a Japanese corporation that is 95 percent funded and owned by SoftBank Corp., which is a telecommunications operator based in Japan. The remaining five percent of the joint venture is funded and owned by AeroVironment, which is committed to contribute $5 million in capital for its five percent ownership of HAPSMobile.
AeroVironment has an option to increase its ownership stake in HAPSMobile “up to 19 percent at the same cost basis as its initial 5 percent purchase.”
'Unified Pilot System for Unmanned Aircraft Products and Systems' platform to be used in UAE
The details of a platform called the “Unified Pilot System for Unmanned Aircraft Products and Systems” were announced on Dec. 18 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The platform is the first unified electronic platform for UAS and air vehicles to be used in the UAE for recreational, service and commercial purposes.
Reportedly “in line with the UAE government's keenness to provide a civil aviation environment and a safe community for practice,” the platform will be used to obtain UAS information and conform to the UAE standards that were established by the Committee for Monitoring the Implementation of the Light Sports System.
Drone Delivery Canada's cargo delivery UAS now compliant with Transport Canada UAS standard
Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) has announced that Transport Canada has accepted its Declaration of Compliance for the X1000 Sparrow cargo delivery UAS, which makes the UAS compliant with the Transport Canada UAS standard.
The Sparrow UAS, which has demonstrated a “history of safe operation in some of the harshest environmental conditions in Canada’s north” during recent research and development flights according to DDC, is the first cargo delivery UAS of its kind to be accepted under the Transport Canada, Compliant UAS program.
Warm Springs FAA UAS Test Range to offer UAS pilot training course in January
From Jan. 11 to 15, 2018, Warm Springs FAA UAS Test Range will offer a UAS pilot training course to train the next generation of career-oriented UAS enthusiasts to enter the commercial services market.
The training course will consist of four components: Part 107 training to earn FAA certification for safe and legal operations, hands-on flight training to teach the fundamentals of flying a UAS, UAS operational safety training to improve safety and operational performance skills, and a commercial enterprise course to teach UAS enthusiasts how to make money flying UAS.
Weekend Roundup
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
The city of Palo Alto, California plans to submit two proposals for the UAS Integration Pilot Program, which was announced back in October. Under one of the proposals, UAS would be used to deliver units of blood from Stanford Blood Center to Stanford Hospital. Under the other proposal, the city could UAS for a variety of purposes including airport operations or for law enforcement missions, depending on the city’s interest. (Palo Alto Daily Post)
UAS tech company Vigilant Aerospace receives investment from The Flying Object
Vigilant Aerospace, which has a product called FlightHorizon for UAS pilots, autopilots and airspace managers, has announced a new investment from The Flying Object (TFO), which is a global venture fund focused on the commercial UAS industry.
Managed by the global investment firm Kluz Ventures, TFO invests in UAS technology and service companies that are leading the industry.