Kicking off a series of tests for its capstone project, the UAV Storm Chaser team at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University completed its first Remote Controlled (RC) flight of a UAV on Nov. 17.
Considered a “huge success,” the RC fight was used to demonstrate “all of the communication components of the UAV linking together properly, to calibrate the motors and motor controller, to get flight time, and to go through the process of setting up all of the parameters in mission planner.”
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Sightec's image stabilization electronic technology integrates with Alpha 800 UAV
Madrid, Spain’s Alpha Unmanned Systems (AUS), which manufactures a gasoline-powered helicopter UAV called the Alpha 800, has announced a technology partnership with Sightec, which is an Israel-based developer of video image stabilization and object detection software.
“We are delighted to integrate our technology onto the Alpha 800 platform,” says Roy Shmuel, CEO of Sightec.
“With 2.5 hours of flight time, our image stabilization system makes the image analysis work very easy and accurate. Alpha is a reliable partner with a world-class helicopter platform and we are very pleased to work together.”
UAVOS uses UAV to inspect oil refinery in Kazakhstan
UAVOS Inc. has announced that it completed an aerial inspection of the refinery production infrastructure in Kazakhstan—located in Eastern Europe—using an unmanned complex based on the UVH-29E gasoline-powered helicopter.
Equipped with a gyro-stabilized platform with a FullHD day camera, the UAV completed all of its objectives, including the monitoring task with a simultaneous real time video image transmitting, and it also performed a survey of the flare units.
“It is one of our first projects in Eastern Europe to replace traditional methods of inspection in the oil and gas and energy sectors with robotic technologies,” says Vadim Tarasov.
Congruex acquires UAV services company CCLD
A company called Congruex, which was established to build a nationwide platform that delivers a variety of services to broadband service providers and utility operators across the country, including end-to-end engineering, construction and maintenance services, has acquired an outside plant (OSP) telecommunications contracting firm called C.C.L.D. Technologies (CCLD).
Based in Buford, Georgia, CCLD operates across four lines of business, one of which is UAV services.
“We are eager to begin our partnership with Congruex to further accelerate our growth, industry capabilities and resulting market share,” says Brett Burke, Chief Executive Officer of CCLD.
Bye Aerospace successfully installs and ground tests SolAero solar cells on its UAV
Bye Aerospace has announced that solar cells from a company called SolAero were successfully installed and ground tested on both wings of Bye Aerospace's initial prototype of the StratoAirNet UAV, which is an advanced, medium-altitude, long-endurance solar-electric aircraft being developed by the company.
In a statement, Bye Aerospace's CEO George Bye expressed appreciation to SolAero for the company’s active participation in developing the StratoAirNet UAV.
“SolAero is a business and engineering partner in every sense of the word,” Bye says. “With the completion of ground tests for the solar cells on the wings, we can advance to the next stage of assembly and testing.”
Velodyne LiDAR Inc. to integrate its LiDAR sensors into BoE Systems' UAV fleet
Through a new partnership with Kansas City, Missouri-based BoE Systems, Velodyne LiDAR Inc. will integrate its VLP-16 Puck and Puck LITE 3D LiDAR sensors into BoE Systems’ UAV fleet for geospatial data collection and analysis.
The companies say that through this integration, BoE Systems can provide full 360-degree imaging of geography and equipment for industries that need quick, safe, and accurate aerial inspections, such as transportation, construction and agriculture, to name a few.
After collecting imaging data, BoE Systems processes that data, and works with customers for “tailored analysis and inspection reports,” which allows them to address immediate and future needs and compliance issues.
LiquidPiston wins NOVUS Unmanned startup pitch competition
LiquidPiston, a company that has designed a revolutionary new rotary engine, took home the top prize at AUVSI’s NOVUS Unmanned conference and competition in San Francisco.
Ten companies vied for the top spot and seed funding at the conference, which was cosponsored by Investorfest, a company that coaches startups to help them get funding. They outlined their business plans and early successes before the judges picked a winner.
LiquidPiston will go home with $50,000 worth of prizes, including a presence at upcoming AUVSI shows and conferences and coaching from Investorfest.
Tactical Robotics providing its Cormorant UAV with engine upgrade
Tactical Robotics Ltd. (TRL), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Urban Aeronautics, has announced that it is in the process of equipping its Cormorant cargo and medical evacuation UAV with the Safran Helicopter Engines Arriel 2 engine, pushing the Cormorant UAV one step closer to its final production configuration.
Described as “one of the most advanced and reliable helicopter engines in the world,” the Arriel 2 engine offers additional power over the currently installed Arriel 1D1 engine, allowing for operation at full load—even during hot summer days—and it will facilitate an increase in cruise speed and load carrying capability.
Hydroid teams with industry partners to demonstrate latest UUV capabilities during ANTX 2017
In August, during an advanced naval technology exercise known as ANTX in Newport, Rhode Island, Hydroid, Inc., L3 Aerospace Systems, Sparton Corporation and AeroVironment, Inc. collaborated to demonstrate the latest UUV capabilities of the Hydroid REMUS 600 UUV through a threat mission scenario conducted in the water.
The UUV was equipped with L3’s Rio Nino signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection payload, as well as a Sparton Hammerhead canister that contained an AeroVironment Blackwing UAV, which was launched during the exercise.
SolAero Technologies completes and delivers first solar wing for Bye Aerospace's StratoAirNet UAV
SolAero Technologies Corp (SolAero) has completed and delivered the first solar wing for Bye Aerospace’s solar-electric UAV, the “StratoAirNet.”
Using “proprietary methods to maintain the critical laminar flow surface on the wing,” SolAero is integrating its “advanced high-efficiency solar cell technologies” on the graphite composite StratoAirNet wing.
This initial wing-solar cell combination will provide ample power— approximately 2,000 Watts— under ideal daylight conditions at altitude, resulting in sustained flight of the StratoAirNet UAV being achieved.
