Testing
The Gooney Bird long-range drone has been unveiled. The 13-foot-span vehicle was created to set new range and endurance records for sub-55-pound model aircraft and UAVs. The craft is currently under preparations for a summer 2015 record-breaking 100+ hour endurance flight of more than
Business
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has announced the successful acquisition of its newest wholly-owned subsidiary, Kutta Technologies, Inc. (Kutta) located in Phoenix, Arizona. Kutta has specialized capabilities in command/control (C2), manned-unmanned teaming, visualization and airspace management/deconfliction for unmanned technologies. The company will continue its operations in Phoenix,
Commercial
Search Systems Ltd., a UAV manufacturer in the United Kingdom has developed a UAV-ROV crossover. The Mariner 600 is an unmanned multi-copter with aquatic landing capability and interchangeable aerial and marine camera views. Providing a live video feed with military grade encryption, the Mariner 600 is ideally suited
Cargill Inc., in an April update to its palm oil sustainability report, notes it is prepared to launch UAVs in Malaysia, the world's second-biggest grower of oil palms. "Our project with unmanned aerial vehicles is moving into the operational phase. A Cargill team is set to
Military
Surveillance UAS launched from Royal Navy ships could be sent to scour the Mediterranean as part of Britain’s effort to combat the migrant crisis, under plans being drawn up by defence chiefs. The Navy’s new ScanEagle remote-controlled aircraft would search for dangerously overloaded boats packed with people
Propulsion
New Zealand-born Daniel Wilson, a researcher at the University of Sydney's Australian Centre for Field Robotics, has developed a method to allow UAVs to dock and recharge in mid-air, much like military jets do. He believes his team's successful UAV docking in November last
First Responders
To augment humanitarian search and rescue efforts, Lockheed Martin has announced it is teaming with Project Lifesaver International and Loen Engineering Inc., bringing advanced technology to first response agencies. The Indago small unmanned aerial system (UAS) will be integrated with an innovative lightweight antenna and receiver developed by Loen Engineering.
Business
California-based Arcturus UAV has unveiled a new iterative development of its Jump 20 vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle that it intends to pitch for a major US Department of Defense requirement. The development – Jump 20C – boasts modifications over earlier versions including a wingspan extended by 30cm
University of North Dakota's Technology Accelerator research center is conducting a two-year study to develop unmanned aircraft technology to automate inspections for the wind power industry and others, according to director Kevan Rusk. Rusk, who worked for Grand Forks-based turbine blade manufacturer LM Wind Power for
Business
Skyward , the information management platform for commercial drone operators , announced a $4.1 million round with participation from Draper Associates , Founders CoOp , Moment Ventures , Norwest Venture Partners , Techstars Ventures , Verizon Ventures , and Voyager Capital . This round will be used to expand the engineering and product development team. Skyward powers
Commercial
AOPA is asking the FAA to close gaps in the agency’s proposed rules governing small commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The association made the recommendations in formal comments filed April 22 in response to the FAA’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). While AOPA called the NPRM “a good
Christopher Zappa , an oceanographer at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, wants to understand the details of exactly how sea ice breaks up and melts, and he is going to call on a quintessentially 21st century technology to help him do it. Zappa is among a small group of