Public safety UAS consulting group Skyfire Consulting has acquired a majority stake in a Maine-based drone design and manufacturing house called Viking UAS.
Viking UAS focuses on high-end unmanned systems for US Military research, but the company has begun working on developing several purpose-built systems for clients in sectors such as public safety and infrastructure.
UAS
UAS
African Drone and Data Academy graduates first students
The African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA) has graduated its first students in March at a ceremony in Malawi, enabling them to build and operate drones and analyze the data from them.
The students are now licensed drone pilots by the government of Malawi, are certified AUVSI Trusted Operator Program Level 2 pilots, and have the skills needed to enter the drone and data analytics workforce, according to ADDA.
"This is just the commencement of great things from us," graduate Anne Nderitu, a student from Kenya, said at the graduation. "We have received world-class knowledge in the drone technology, and it is upon to use it to use this knowledge to lead an create a better Africa."
NOAA establishes Unmanned Systems Operations Program to support growing use of UxS across agency
To support the growing use of unmanned systems across the agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is establishing a new Unmanned Systems Operations Program.
According to NOAA, the program will support the “safe, efficient and economical operation” of unmanned systems (UxS) that it uses to collect high-quality environmental data for its science, products and services.
“Unmanned airborne and maritime systems are transforming how we conduct earth science at NOAA,” says retired Navy Rear Adm. Timothy Gallaudet, Ph.D., deputy NOAA administrator.
UAVOS, KACST successfully demonstrate flight control system capability for Saker MALE UAS family
In collaboration with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Saudi Arabia, UAVOS has developed and demonstrated a progressive flight control system capability for the Saker MALE UAS family.
The Saker-1B UAS has been flown under remote control with no need for a ground control station at the takeoff or landing site. When equipped with the flight control system capability, the UAS can automatically land in remote runways located thousands of kilometers away where a crew services it before it takes off for another mission.
Iris Automation, MVT Geo-solutions to conduct BVLOS flights using only onboard Detect-and-Avoid in Canada
Transport Canada has granted Iris Automation and MVT Geo-solutions the first beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) using only onboard Detect-and-Avoid (DAA).
The approval was granted based on the use of Casia, which is Iris Automation’s DAA system that provides commercial drones with automated collision avoidance maneuvers.
“Achieving the first BVLOS approval in Canada further validates our technology alongside multiple permissions we have already received from regulators in the U.S. and South Africa,” says Iris Automation CEO Alexander Harmsen.
Telstra picks TEOCO to help with the development of its UAS strategy
To help with development of its UAS strategy, telecommunications company Telstra is partnering with analytics, assurance and optimization technologies provider TEOCO.
Telstra will use TEOCO’s AirborneRF technology to assess the readiness of its radio access network for future UAS applications, including communications, navigation, surveillance, safety, and identity.
According to TEOCO, AirborneRF, which is already being used by several tier-one operators across the world, ensures “effective, mission-critical” connectivity to enable effective traffic management and control for UAS in the lower airspace.
Parrot, DroneLogbook partner to provide enhanced flight data tracking to Parrot's UAS
Parrot has partnered with DroneLogbook, a flight logging service that provides secure data storage, which will result in the addition of enhanced flight data tracking to Parrot's ANAFI drone.
With this enhanced flight data tracking, pilots will be able to keep track of their equipment’s performance, schedule necessary maintenance, and record and report all pertinent information to comply with FAA regulation.
Using the aerial insights provided by Parrot’s ANAFI and ANAFI Thermal drones, professionals gain “new vantage points” to make informed decisions with higher precision and efficiency, Parrot notes.
From Unmanned Systems magazine: From hobby to business: Creating a business map for new drone companies
The drone market of today is well over 40-years old, and yet it still feels a little like the wild, wild west in 2020. Why? What is collectively missing? What will get the drone market to the next level?
The answer: Stop acting like a bunch of technicians in love with products and start acting like business owners in love with customers. How do we correct this misguidance? By creating a business map; one for our business; and one for our overarching drone market with the help of AUVSI.
Mapping the business
Drone equipped with special cameras can dodge fast-moving objects
Researchers from the University of Zurich have equipped a drone with a novel type of camera to give it the ability to detect and avoid fast-moving objects.
According to the researchers, drones that are equipped with cameras typically take 20 to 40 milliseconds to process an image and react in order to detect obstacles, which is not quick enough to avoid a bird or another drone. It also isn't quick enough to avoid a static obstacle when the drone itself is flying at high speed.
UPS Flight Forward, Wingcopter partner to develop next-gen package delivery drones
UPS Flight Forward (UPSFF) and German drone-maker Wingcopter are partnering to develop the next generation of package delivery drones for various use cases in the United States and internationally.
Wingcopter says that UPS chose it for this collaboration for two reasons: for its UAS technology, and for its track record in delivering a variety of goods over long distances in multiple international settings.
“Drone delivery is not a one-size-fits-all operation,” says Bala Ganesh, vice president of the UPS Advanced Technology Group.
