California’s Fremont Police department recently used a UAS to locate a missing teen.
After being reported missing, the teen’s location was narrowed down with help from the juvenile’s friends. Shortly afterwards, a Fremont Police UAS operator launched a UAS while other officers began searching railroad tracks on foot.
After being guided to the location, the UAS—equipped with a FLIR camera—located a heat spot. Information was being shared to the officers on foot, while the missing juvenile’s friends, also on foot, approached their friend who was hiding in bushes.
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University of Connecticut engineering students work to build firefighting UAS
With help from mentors from Sikorsky, three University of Connecticut (UConn) engineering seniors are working to build and program an autonomous firefighting UAS to battle fires without a pilot’s guidance.
Once the UAS is complete, it will be equipped with a thermal imaging camera to identify a fire, object avoidance technology to steer clear of any obstacles, and a softball-sized fire-extinguishing ball that will be dropped over the flames.
The students will develop coding language that will tie the drone’s technology together, and it will operate based on inputted coordinates.
Drone Delivery Canada unveils next generation drone delivery cargo aircraft
Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) has unveiled its Condor UAS, which represents the company’s next generation of drone delivery cargo aircraft.
According to DDC, the Condor “pushes the limits in both cargo capacity and distances,” as it features a payload capacity of 400 pounds, and a potential travel distance of up to 200 kilometers. The Condor is powered by a next generation gas propulsion engine.
In-Flight Data awarded three Guinness World Records for recent BVLOS UAS flights
In-Flight Data has been awarded three Guinness World Records for UAS flights it recently conducted as part of a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) project in collaboration with senseFly.
Through the project, In-Flight Data conducted the longest cumulative BVLOS battery-powered UAS flight, covering 2,723.04 kilometers; the longest cumulative urban flight for a BVLOS civilian UAS (small class – up to 25 kilograms), covering 414 kilometers; and the longest single urban flight for a BVLOS civilian UAS (small class – up to 25 kilograms), covering 40 kilometers.
NASA's UTM project selects Lone Star UAS Center to test UAS traffic management
In an effort to ensure the safe and efficient operations of UAS, NASA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM) project has selected the Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence & Innovation (LSUASC) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to test UAS traffic management.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is one of just two test sites selected in the nation for this testing.
“This series of tests is a critical step in enabling the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems within an urban environment,” says Mike Sanders, acting executive director of the Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence & Innovation.
Persistent Systems and Hoverfly announce partnership; Hoverfly joins Wave Relay Ecosystem
Persistent Systems and tethered-UAS manufacturer Hoverfly Technologies Inc. have entered into a five-year agreement.
Hoverfly will join the recently launched Wave Relay Ecosystem, which is an alliance of unmanned systems and sensor companies working together to deliver a “true networked battlefield to warfighters.”
Hoverfly’s tether-powered small UAS, the LiveSky and the BigSky, will both be part of the Ecosystem, and the Wave Relay MANET will be offered as the standard communication link.
Elroy Air optimistic that its autonomous VTOL air cargo system will unlock the logistics potential of the sky
A company called Elroy Air that is developing an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) air cargo system has closed a $9.2 million seed round of funding, according to VentureBeat.
The company says that it is developing its autonomous VTOL air cargo system for three primary reasons. First, it believes “access to express shipping improves quality of life and economic opportunities for people, and should be available to everyone.”
Second, it believes that “now is the moment in history when autonomous VTOL aircraft can be developed to expand the reach of air cargo at scale.”
Embry-Riddle acquires Penguin C UAS for flight training
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has announced that it recently became the only university to acquire the Penguin C UAS specifically for flight training.
Described as one of the most sophisticated long-endurance, long-range professional UAS on the market today, the Penguin C aircraft “instantly transformed Embry-Riddle” upon their arrival on campus earlier this year, the university says.
Kansas State Polytechnic students meet with soldiers to learn about UAS
Students from the Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus recently toured 1st Infantry Division UAS facilities at the Fort Riley Military Base in Kansas.
During their tour, students met with soldiers and learned about the Shadow and Gray Eagle UAS from Army maintainers and pilots.
“It's really cool to be here and to see the pinnacle of UAS tech,” says K-State senior in the UAS operations program Chris Horton.
For Horton, who hopes to land jobs working as government contractors, this was his first time seeing Fenix Company's Gray Eagles up close and in person.
Massachusetts' Salisbury Police Department expresses interest in UAS technology
According to the Salem News, a specially equipped UAS is expected to fly over the Salisbury Police Department’s station in Salisbury, Massachusetts next week as part of a demonstration of the technology.
According to Police Chief Thomas Fowler, a Rhode Island-based company is scheduled to visit the station to show what a police UAS could mean for a variety of operations, including rescue operations, inspecting suspicious packages and measuring beach erosion.