In Switzerland, the Federal Office for Defence Procurement (Armasuisse)—a federal agency of the Swiss Confederation—has contracted Lockheed Martin for a fleet of Indago 3 small UAS, with options for spares, training and tech support and additional systems for the Swiss Army.
The first phase includes manufacturing development to optimize the Indago 3’s configuration to meet Swiss Army requirements, which will include the integration of a transponder for sense and avoid; installation of the Silvus Technologies’ radio; and implementation of Lockheed Martin CDL Systems’ VCSi Touch SUAS Ground Control System software that includes access to Swiss maps, including digital terrain elevation data (DTED), and Geofencing.
UAS
UAS
Weekend Roundup: July 31, 2020
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Canada’s civil aviation authority, Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), has issues a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) to EHang for its EHang 216 autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV). In addition to this announcement, EHang has also announced plans to build a new AAV production facility in Yunfu city in Guangdong, China.
Weekend Roundup: July 24, 2020
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Amazon has announced that its Scout delivery robots have made their way down south and are now operating in two new locations. The robots have begun delivering packages to select customers in Atlanta, Georgia and Franklin, Tennessee. (The Amazon Blog: Day One)
Swift Engineering's HALE UAS completes maiden flight
Swift Engineering has announced that its high-altitude long endurance (HALE) UAS has completed its maiden flight. The flight was completed in partnership with NASA’s Ames Research Center.
To validate the vehicle’s configuration for high-altitude continuous surveillance missions, Swift’s flight team performed a full-system check. The flight trials were conducted at New Mexico’s Spaceport America.
“The applications of this technology will usher in a new era of data acceleration. Swift is able to deliver what no other industry or defense contractor can provide in the US market,” says Rick Heise, president and CEO of Swift Engineering.
Conversations with AUVSI: Deuce Drone
Founded in 2019, Deuce Drone’s goal is to solve the last mile delivery problem for “brick and mortar” retailers by enabling drone shipment from existing stores. Leveraging the current infrastructure of its clients, Deuce Drone designs, builds and operates drone delivery systems to transform retail stores into customer fulfillment centers, which helps retailers compete with major e-commerce players through a cost-effective, technology-driven solution for same-day delivery.
Parrot works with French authorities and regulators to address progressing UAS regulations in France
To address the rapidly progressing drone regulations in France, Parrot has announced that it has worked closely with French authorities and regulators.
Skydio, DroneResponders develop safety principles to advance responsible and effective deployment of drones
Skydio has announced that it worked with DroneResponders to help develop the “The Five C’s: Principles for the Responsible Use of Drones by Public Safety Agencies,” which was released on Monday, July 20. The principles are designed to advance the responsible and effective deployment of drones.
“We take pride in developing autonomous solutions that earn the trust of our customers,” Skydio says. “But we know it’s not enough. In order to realize the full potential of unmanned flight, the public must trust the technology, and the way it is used, as much as our customers.”
Weekend Roundup: July 17, 2020
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
In association with JR East Group, Panasonic Corporation and Panasonic Production Engineering Co., Ltd. have launched a mobility service trial using Panasonic's robotic mobility device, an electric wheelchair with autonomous tracking function. The goal of the trial is to verify serviceability of the devices in a sunny, semi-outdoor environment. (Panasonic)
UAVOS joins HAPS Alliance to promote use of high-altitude solar-powered autonomous aircraft
UAVOS has joined the High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) industry Alliance to promote the use of high-altitude solar-powered autonomous aircraft for facilitating global research missions, communication, connectivity, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from the stratosphere.
By joining the HAPS Alliance, UAVOS will collaborate with member companies towards accelerating the development and adoption of HAPS technology into the evolution of the high altitude unmanned platforms market.
UAVOS says that its HAPS knowledge is based on test flights for more than 1000 hours of HAPS flight tests at altitudes of up to 66,000 feet. The ApusDuo project is the second generation of UAVOS’ HAPS solar airplane.
FLIR Systems introduces FLIR Hadron for drone, robotic and imaging OEMs
FLIR Systems has introduced the industry’s first dual sensor module for drone, robotic, and imaging original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), FLIR Hadron.
Described as lightweight and low power, the compact form factor includes a 12-megapixel visible camera paired with the FLIR Boson 320x240 resolution thermal camera with up to a 60-hertz framerate. FLIR says that FLIR Hadron is designed to help reduce development costs and improve time-to-market.
