Working alongside engineering, consulting and construction company Black & Veatch, Rockwell Collins successfully completed a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) UAS flight along nearly 10 miles of power line infrastructure owned by Ameren Corp., located near Newton, Illinois.
“Monitoring critical infrastructure, particularly those in rural areas beyond line of sight, can be done much more efficiently and effectively through the use of UAS technology,” says Ken Schreder, vice president, Strategic Programs, Information Management Services at Rockwell Collins.
BVLOS
BVLOS
Department of the Interior uses UAS to fly over active wildfire
After being granted permission by the FAA, the Department of the Interior recently used a fixed-wing UAS to fly over an active wildfire, according to KOBI5.com.
According to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), this was the first time that the FAA allowed a UAS fly over a fire, beyond the visual line of sight of the pilot.
A Department of the Interior (DOI) UAS Pilot, Technician, and Wildland Firefighter, Steven Stroud, flew the UAS in the Modoc National Forest in northeastern California over a Parker 2 Fire. The UAS flew over 19 miles and covered more than 500 acres as it flew in a pre-programmed grid pattern.
UK engineers planning to build a mid-mass logistics drone called the Sky Hopper
A group of engineers in the United Kingdom is planning to build a “mid-mass logistics drone” for global markets called the Sky Hopper.
Initially, the system will be aimed at remote and isolated communities, but the plan is for it to be “fully capable of near urban operations in due course.”
Using Drones to Advance the Wireless Industry
Wireless and unmanned systems are two of the most disruptive technologies in recent memory. Both have changed how we access information, transport goods and communicate. The meeting of these technologies represents a unique opportunity to once again revolutionize mobility and communication and bring us one step closer to realizing the potential of the Information Age.
ULC Robotics develops VTOL UAS for commercial applications in utility industry
ULC Robotics, Inc. has completed successful flight testing of a newly developed vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing UAS.
As a robotics, energy services and research and development company with a focus on the energy and utility industries, UCL Robotics has developed this commercial-grade VTOL UAS to “meet the inspection needs of electric and gas utilities.”
Microdrones conducts BVLOS test flights in Quebec
Via Unmanned Aerial, it has been announced that Microdrones completed a series of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) test flights on July 13 and 14 in Alma, Quebec, using the company’s md4-1000 UAV.
Using the md4-1000 UAV with a variety of payloads attached to it, Microdrones conducted a total of 10 flights, which were flown by Microdrones’ Jocelyne Bois, flight operations manager; Jeremy Jung, research and development engineer; and Yannick Savey, UAS pilot.
“We are very excited about the results,” Bois says.
Gryphon Sensors develops mobile UTM system called Mobile Skylight
Central New York-based Gryphon Sensors has developed a mobile Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) system called Mobile Skylight.
Among its many capabilities, the Mobile Skylight system, which is equipped with a variety of self-contained multispectral sensors, provides “accurate three dimensional detection of low-flying, small UAS at a distance of out to 10 kilometers.”
Mobile Skylight is contained in a “sleek, rugged van,” and is described as a “complete mobile command center” that features 4x4 off-road capability, and can be transported anywhere without a commercial driver's license.
The system is designed for quick deployment for a number of different tasks, including search and rescue operations, special event security, and utility inspection, to name a few.
AUVSI Hill Day
The core of AUVSI’s mission is to build, grow and foster a viable and sustainable uncrewed and autonomous systems industry. Critical to achieving that goal is establishing policy which enables the development and expanded operation of uncrewed systems.
Through Hill Day, AUVSI's Advocacy members can engage face-to-face in our work with policymakers to support laws and regulations that allow and encourage the deployment of uncrewed and autonomous systems to better serve business and society. Members of AUVSI's Defense, Air, Maritime, Ground, and Cyber Committees will meet with lawmakers to discuss the current state of their industries, upcoming legislation, and shared priorities.