Control Stations
AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Aurora Flight Sciences have announced that the organizations have formed a strategic alliance to integrate AAI's Universal Ground Control Station and other ground control technologies with Aurora's Orion UAS and Centaur Optionally Piloted Aircraft . This pairing supports medium-altitude, long-endurance
Data Links & Communications
ASC Signal Corporation has been awarded a $3.8 million sub-contract by L-3 Communications Systems-West to build a dual-band antenna system to support global data collection and dissemination worldwide for the U.S. Navy MQ-4C Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS) programme.
Take-Off & Landing
Faun Trackway USA has announced the development of a new Aircraft Landing Mat (ALM) technology specifically designed for unmanned aircraft use. After launching in July 2011, Faun's temporary roadway and landing mat technology has completed a successful testing and demonstration period. "Faun's technology allows for
Commercial
A new method of monitoring for changes in rangeland conditions is being developed by USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists that will allow better management of those areas. In its early stages the Very Large Scale Aerial (VLSA) imagery programme has been very helpful in finding changing conditions, such as
Events
The ICAUV 2012 Conference & Exhibition taking place at the Eagleton Golf Resort in Banaglore, India is the only event totally dedicated to UAS in India that is totally supported by the Indian Ministry of Defence, Defence Research & Development Organization, Aeronautical Development Establishment. The following documents pertaining to ICAUV
Testing
The US Navy/Northrop Grumman Corporation X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration aircraft reached a major milestone on September 30 when it retracted its landing gear and flew in its cruise configuration for the first time. The flight, conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, also helped validate precision navigation
Propulsion
The LaserMotive system transmits laser light from a ground station to a photovoltaic receiver on a UAV. Reflected light from the UAV is then captured and used to monitor its position and dynamically control the laser to deliver the power to the correct position Recently, at the Future of Flight
Military
The UK Army in Afghanistan operates a fleet of leased Hermes 450 aircraft, but the battery from 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, is also responsible for two other UAS that deliver full-motion video (FMV) from forward locations. These are the hand-launched Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk III (DH3), and T‑
Payloads
AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, along with Phoenix Global Support, has announced the introduction of new multi-mission payloads for its Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Designed to be housed in a modular pod and carried on the hard points on the Shadow aircraft's wings, multi-mission payloads are
Military
The United States government has awarded ITT Corporation a contract to provide software and hardware solutions tied to the collection, processing and dissemination of full motion video (FMV) and wide area airborne surveillance (WAAS) from unmanned aircraft. ITT will deliver its solutions, including the FELCO (Federated Embedded inteL-server for
Electronic Sub-Systems
Raytheon Company's Common Infrared Counter Measures solution for US Army helicopters is also ideal for protecting unmanned aircraft systems. At 15 pounds less than the Army's requirement, Raytheon's CIRCM system is lightweight enough for large UAS platforms. "These unmanned aircraft are widely deployed
Business
Battlespace Flight Services, LLC of Arlington, Va., is being awarded a $104,179,468 firm fixed price/cost plus award fee contract modification to fund extension of contract for organizational maintenance support for the predator MQ-1 aircraft and related systems at Creech Air Force base, Nev., Whiteman Air Force