Military
AAI/Textron has unveiled an updated version of the Aerosonde small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) featuring a heavy fuel engine and modified wings. The changes will allow the aircraft to survive harsh recoveries. Referred to internally as the 'RG,' the latest Aerosonde model is a modification of the
Events
The third MIDCAS Workshop will be held in the Eurocontrol Offices in Brussels (Belgium) on Thursday 23 February 2012. The MIDCAS project is a major European initiative to progress towards integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in non-segregated airspace. It addresses the key issue of the UAS Traffic Encounter
Military
A detachment of US Marines recently completed the first unmanned aircraft system cargo delivery in a combat zone with a remotely-piloted helicopter, moving about 3,500 pounds of supplies from Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan to Combat Outpost Payne. The helicopter, an unmanned variant of K-MAX, completed the delivery in
Military
During the Association of the United States Army Aviation Symposium and Exposition, just outside Washington, D.C. on January 12th., Lieutenant General Robert P. Lennox, Deputy Chief of Staff, Army G-8, touched on the future of vertical take-off and landing unmanned aircraft systems. The General said Army aviation
Mesa County Sheriff's Office (Grand Junction, CO, USA) received a complete Falcon system consisting of two Falcons and a ground control station. During the three day training, two Deputy Sheriff's learned to operate the system from launch to recovery without any incidents. Additionally a simulated search
Reports & Publications
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announces the publication of a new book, “Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach,” by Jay Gundlach, which explores all elements of the design of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including options for architecture and design drivers across a broad spectrum of UAS
RCAPA uses the FAA UASARC charter as a basis for appeal and inclusion on the recently formed Advisory Rulemaking Committee (ARC) as an amended charter member. It is very apparent that the intention is to follow up on work from the sUAS ARC. The document in its entirety is of
Military
1st Lieutenant Taylor Branco, 62nd ERS Maintenance OIC describes the pioneering role of the Airmen of the 62nd Air Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, or ERS, who ensure that the MQ-9 Reaper stays airborne. The video was shot at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan and produced by Staff Sergeant Thomas Skinkle. Source: 3rdID8487
Control Stations
The control of US military unmanned aircraft appears to have shifted from Windows to Linux following an embarrassing malware infection. Ground control systems at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, which commands the unmanned aircraft, became infected with a virus last September. In a statement at the time the US
Events
Within the framework of Armenian Robots Open Championship (ArmRobotics) the Union of Information Technologies Enterprises (UITE) announces the opening of registration for the 'Unmanned Aerial Vehicle' (UAV) contest. The participants of this contest must design and prepare unmanned aircraft that must recognise the navigation signs and send pictures
Events
Universal Technology Corporation , Dayton, Ohio is organising the first annual Ohio UAS Conference on April 17-18. It is being sponsored by Sinclair Community College, and Dayton Development Corporation and will be held at Sinclair Community College, Building 12, Dayton Ohio. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) industry is projected as
Military
The US Marine Corps will deploy AAI RQ-7 Shadows to Afghanistan armed with classified new gravity bombs in a demonstration that could pave the way for a dramatic expansion in the numbers of weaponised unmanned aircraft. Although by far the most numerous UAS fleet, the RQ-7 has remained