Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) and the Sinclair College National UAS Training and Certification Center have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance training and applied research for UAS.
As part of their Memorandum of Understanding, ECSU and Sinclair will host a joint exercise in June, bringing together their campuses through the use of Simlat’s UAS training software housed within both institutions, as well as the Live, Virtual, Constructive (LVC) capabilities that Simlat and Sinclair have developed over the past few years, to help enable the integration of participants in Ohio and North Carolina.
UAS
UAS
Mississippi State University researchers use UAS to help NOAA forecasters refine forecasts
Scientists from Mississippi State University’s (MSU) Northern Gulf Institute recently used a small UAS to take high-resolution images of rising waters during a major rainstorm in late February.
The images were beamed back in real time to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather forecasters.
“We were able to see the water as it rose over the course of two days, which helped our office confirm when the crest had been reached,” says Dr. Suzanne Van Cooten, hydrologist-in-charge at the NOAA National Weather Service Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center in Slidell, Louisiana.
OSU's Unmanned Systems Research Institute receives first FAA authorization to fly fixed wing UAS in swarms
Oklahoma State University (OSU) has announced that its Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI) has received the first FAA authorization to fly fixed wing UAS in swarms within the national airspace.
With this flight authorization, a single pilot, along with visual observers for safety considerations, will be allowed to operate a swarm of up to 20 fixed wing aircraft.
According to OSU, the configuration that its researchers have developed creates a “swarm of swarms” where groups of UAS fly within smaller flocks as part of a larger swarm, communicating with a local group leader which then coordinates flights with the overall swarm formation.
ANRA Technologies' UTM platform implemented into New York State UAS test site
ANRA Technologies’ UAS traffic management (UTM) platform has been successfully implemented into the New York State UAS test site by the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (NUAIR) and Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York.
With this implementation, the test site’s capabilities have been advanced thanks to the enhancement of multiple, simultaneous beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations that involve both manned and unmanned vehicles sharing the same airspace.
Additionally, ANRA Technologies not only enhances tracking, but it also supports network based Remote ID and detect-and-avoid capabilities.
UAVOS' new simulator helps test UAVOS autopilot control capabilities of different types of unmanned vehicles
UAVOS Inc. has introduced a simulator for its customers that can be used to test UAVOS autopilot control capabilities of different types of unmanned vehicles in different weather conditions.
Equipped with special software, as well as software for the ground control station that UAVOS developed, the simulator facilitates trial flights of UAS in a virtual environment before the start of their production. The results of the virtual flight tests can inform the necessary modifications of a UAS’ design.
Airbus' Skyways drone demonstrates capabilities during shore-to-ship trials in Singapore
Airbus has announced that it has started shore-to-ship trials in Singapore using its Skyways parcel delivery drone.
According to Airbus, this is the first time that UAS technology has been utilized in real port conditions to deliver small, time-critical maritime essentials to working vessels at anchorage.
“We are thrilled to launch the first trial of its kind in the maritime world,” says Airbus’ Skyways lead, Leo Jeoh.
“Today’s accomplishment is a culmination of months of intense preparation by our dedicated team, and the strong collaboration with our partner, as we pursue a new terrain in the maritime industry.”
AirMap and Honeywell developing UAS tracking platform
To provide airspace safety authorities with situational awareness of both unmanned and manned aircraft operations within an airspace system, AirMap and Honeywell have announced the development of a cost-effective UAS tracking platform.
The companies say that they will collaborate on the development of a cost-effective hardware device that allows UAS to maintain consistent communication with a UAS Traffic Management (UTM) system.
The UAS tracking platform will support several communication options, including 4G and satellite in areas without 4G coverage, to facilitate the broadcast of real-time drone telemetry feeds to a UTM system.
SenseFly and MicaSense unveil senseFly eBee X with MicaSense RedEdge-MX
SenseFly and MicaSense have introduced the senseFly eBee X with MicaSense RedEdge-MX, a new dual platform for efficient, in-depth crop analysis.
Described as a “rugged, built-to-last” professional multispectral sensor, the RedEdge-MX captures red, green, blue, near-infrared, and red-edge spectral bands. The data that the RedEdge-MX captures can be used to generate true color composites, basic crop health indexes, and advanced analytical tools like flower identification and weed detection.
SenseFly and MicaSense say that this capability, combined with the sensor’s durable design, makes RedEdge-MX a “multispectral powerhouse.”
NUAIR and Measure partner on efforts to safely integrate UAS into national airspace system
The Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (NUAIR) has signed a collaboration agreement with aerial intelligence company Measure.
In support of NUAIR’s mission to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace system, Measure will work with NUAIR to bring its commercial operations to the region.
NUAIR and Measure say that their partnership will enhance commercial support inspections, public operations and consulting capabilities at the New York UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport.
Flirtey granted permission to conduct BVLOS UAS delivery flights under UAS IPP
The city of Reno, Nevada has announced that Flirtey—one of its partners in the UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP)—has received approval from the FAA to conduct beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) UAS delivery flights.
With the approval, Flirtey will be able to conduct UAS delivery operations with a pilot controlling the flights from a remote location.
“Flirtey’s industry-leading technology is now approved for drone delivery beyond visual line of sight, a major milestone that brings life-saving and commercial drone delivery another step closer to your doorstep,” says Flirtey Founder and CEO Matthew Sweeny.