Intel’s Falcon 8+ UAS is being used to help preserve the 15th century Halberstadt Cathedral in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
Recently, the UAS was used to capture nearly 1,000 detailed images—along with additional footage—in less than an hour of total flight time.
That data was post-processed to create precise 3-D structural models for Intel and its partners on the project, experts from Bauhaus University Weimar and Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt, to analyze.
The Falcon 8+ UAS is providing the conservation team with a new, affordable way of conducting a visual inspection of structures that are fragile and hard-to-reach.
Technology
Technology
Aurora successfully demonstrates Autonomous UH-1H helicopter at Marine Corps Base Quantico
On Dec. 13, Aurora Flight Sciences conducted a successful demonstration of its autonomous helicopter system, which was developed under the Office of Naval Research’s (ONR) Autonomous Aerial Cargo Utility System (AACUS) program.
Over the course of several flights at Marine Corps Base Quantico’s Urban Training Center in Quantico, Virginia, the AACUS-Enabled UH-1H (AEH-1) demonstrated its ability to “autonomously execute resupply missions in relevant and austere settings.”
AACUS, which is an “aircraft-agnostic hardware and software suite,” allows a Marine on the ground to use a handheld tablet to request a supply delivery via helicopter. No advanced training is required to operate the system.
Minnesota Department of Transportation begins testing autonomous shuttle bus
On Dec. 12, an EasyMile-manufactured autonomous shuttle bus made its debut on the road in Minnesota, as a part of the Minnesota Department of Transportation's (MnDOT) autonomous shuttle bus pilot project.
The vehicle operated in light snow, which is productive for the overall goal of the pilot project, which is to test and analyze how autonomous vehicles operate in cold weather.
“I can't think of a better day in Minnesota to show off and test this autonomous technology,” says MnDOT Commissioner Charles Zelle, via the Star Tribune. “We have just the right amount of snowflakes, a little ice on the road.”
Los Angeles Fire Department uses UAS for first time as it battles Skirball Fire
According to KTLA, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) deployed its UAS for the first time on Dec. 7, as the department battled the Skirball Fire burning near the Bel-Air neighborhood in California.
Two of the department’s eight UAS were used to conduct reconnaissance for about 30 minutes, as one UAS provided visuals of property damage, while the other located hotspots. After the hotspots were located, firefighters or a water drop were dispatched to the exact location where they were needed.
American Robotics unveils UAS platform for precision farming
An industrial UAS developer called American Robotics has unveiled its flagship product, Scout, which is a self-charging, self-managing UAS platform capable of autonomously conducting daily scouting missions in the field of precision farming.
Specializing in agricultural automation, American Robotics says that traditional scouting techniques are “inadequate at detecting plant stress early enough to offset the billions of dollars of lost yields.” A lot of the times, these methods, which can include first-generation and consumer UAS, are time-consuming, complicated, and not financially prudent.
Aquabotix introduces Integra AUV/ROV
Aquabotix, which is a U.S. manufacturer of commercial-grade UUVs and underwater cameras for commercial and military applications, has introduced the Integra AUV/ROV, the company’s second-generation hybrid underwater vehicle.
Designed for use across several sectors, the Integra AUV/ROV has a variety of features, including Live Remote Control and data sharing, five pounds of payload capability, and up to eight hours of battery life, just to name a few.
Thanks to these features, users can conduct multiple underwater missions using the Integra AUV/ROV, while providing a “cost-efficient alternative to deploying separate AUVs and ROVs for individualized tasks.”
Moore County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina adds UAS to its fleet
According to ThePilot.com, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office in Moore County, North Carolina has added a DJI Matrice 210 UAS to its "Air Force."
The “first-ever” dual-camera UAS for simultaneous thermal and standard color imagery, the DJI Matrice 210 has a weather resistant design, an upward-facing gimbal mount, dual battery bays, thermal imaging and an extensive zoom. It also has two controllers; one for the pilot and one for the observer to control the cameras.
University of Maryland UAS Test Site acquires 11 TigerShark UAS
The University of Maryland UAS Test Site has acquired 11 TigerShark UAS, which adds to the test site's fleet of more than 40 aircraft, and will ultimately help enhance and expand the long-range testing efforts of the site.
Some of the TigerShark’s characteristics include its ability to carry up to 100 pounds of payload, being able to stay airborne for up to seven hours, and being able to operate as high as 14,000 feet.
Before acquiring the TigerShark UAS, test site pilots and engineers could only perform operations where sensors and other equipment weighed in under 20 pounds, so the TigerShark UAS will be extremely beneficial according to the director of the UAS Test Site, Matt Scassero.
Weekend Roundup
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
The State of Nevada has completed the first step for applying to participate in the FAA’s UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP). The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) filed the notice of intent, so it will serve as Nevada’s lead applicant for the program. (Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems)
Big Bend Community College's UAS program receives accreditation
According to the Columbia Basin Herald, students in Big Bend Community College’s (BBCC) UAS program will be able to receive an Associate of Applied Science degree in the program starting in January, after the program received accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
BBCC also received accreditation for a “certificate of achievement” in its mechatronics program.