On Wednesday, Nov. 13, DroneResponders formalized the DroneResponders Major Cities Working Group, which is designed to unite and help public safety agencies that use UAS in urban and large metropolitan areas.
Charter members of the working group include representatives from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), and the New York Police Department (NYPD). Leaders from each of these organizations have accepted appointments on the leadership council for the working group, and will work directly with DroneResponders to establish communications with other public safety agencies interested in using UAS for missions in dense population centers and large metropolitan areas.
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Oceans Unmanned, partners expand drone training to Scotland
In an effort to provide UAS support for marine mammal disentanglement response efforts in Sweden, Oceans Unmanned Inc. (OU), the Scottish Entanglement Alliance (SEA) and DARTdrones have expanded their freeFLY initiative into the country.
Through the freeFLY program, which was launched in 2018, networks of local volunteer drone operators that are available to support regional response groups are provided with equipment and hands-on training.
OU notes that UAS operators were provided with initial flight training and advanced safe launching, operating, and recovering drones from small boats and support vessels over the course of a two-day session that it hosted.
KDOT, Iris Automation conduct first BVLOS UAS flight using only onboard detect-and-avoid systems
The Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) recently successfully completed the first beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) UAS flight that utilized only onboard detect-and-avoid systems.
This was the first time under Part 107 that the FAA has authorized a UAS to fly BVLOS without a requirement for visual observers or a ground-based radar, as the flight instead utilized Iris Automation’s detect-and-avoid system known as Casia, which provides commercial drones with automated collision avoidance maneuvers.
UAVOS completes test flight of modified ApusDuo solar-powered high-altitude platform system
UAVOS has successfully completed a test flight of the new modification of its ApusDuo solar-powered high-altitude platform system (HAPS), which has a wingspan of 14 meters.
The reliability of HAPS increased while the aircraft’s overall structural weight decreased thanks to the modifications to the design of the main elements of the aircraft.
“UAVOS demonstrated a flight of ApusDuo aircraft with a wingspan of 9000m in August 2018,” says UAVOS CEO Aliaksei Stratsilatau.
“Following lower-altitude test flights and other preoperational activities, currently we coordinate with the Air Traffic control getting permit to perform stratospheric test flights.”
Webinar: Friday, November 8, 2019 from 3PM - 4PM, How Drones are Being Used in Education and STEM Programs
The importance of STEM programs in education continues to increase - and drones have become a growing piece of these programs. This webinar will discuss how various institutions have implemented drones into their STEM education, and will look at the response, struggles and successes of these programs.
From Unmanned Systems Magazine: Drones, software provide farmers with extra tools to manage complex data
Precision agriculture using drones has become much less about the novelty of having an eye in the sky and much more about fusing data from a variety of sources and platforms — including drones, satellites, ground sensors and others — to enable farmers to make informed decisions.
One company that has become a major player within the farming industry is Toulouse, France-based Delair, which provides visual data management technologies. The company’s cloud-based platform, the Delair.ai platform, allows users to manage, process, view, analyze and collaborate around aerial data.
FlightWave Aerospace's new Jupiter tricopter UAS reminiscent of a 'tough-as-nails pickup truck'
FlightWave Aerospace has launched its new Jupiter tricopter UAS.
Air Data Solutions uses SimActive software to determine financial assistance following Hurricane Dorian
In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, Air Data Solutions (ADS) in Florida used SimActive’s Correlator3D software to determine financial assistance.
Before the storm, aerial imagery was collected for pre-hurricane assessment, and following the storm, aerial imagery was collected for damage analysis.
“We have been impressed by the accuracy and speed of Correlator3D to support such a time-critical mission,” says Don Cummins, president of ADS.
“Combined with a high-end aerial sensor, SimActive provides the best tool for emergency response.”
AeroVironment launches Puma Long Endurance UAS
AeroVironment has launched its Puma Long Endurance (LE) UAS, which is the next generation in the company’s Puma All Environment (AE) small UAS product line.
With new capabilities, increased range, and expanded payload capacity, the Puma LE builds on the Puma AE legacy, delivering Group 2 capabilities in a Group 1 footprint. The UAS is equipped with Mantis i45 gimbaled EO/IR sensor and NVG-visible laser illuminator, helping to provide the warfighter with superior imagery for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) during day, night and low-light operations on land and in maritime environments.
