Commercial
Consumers Energy UAS Monitors Utility Lines
Consumers Energy launched a UAV in Cement City to inspect utility poles and help determine whether the emerging technology can improve customer service.
Commercial
Commercial
Krossblade Introduces Emergency Response UAS
As unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) become a more familiar presence in American skies, new companies are getting in on the action. Krossblade Aerospace Systems, a startup created in 2014, aims to put a drone that could transform emergency response systems on the market soon. Called SkyProwler, the drone features an
Commercial
NOAA Upgrades UAS for Hurricane Season
Just in time for this year’s hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be upgrading its Coyote drones for storm research and climate data collection. Raytheon will deliver three unmanned aerial systems with improved communications and integrated metorologic sensors for storm research. The Coyote unmanned aircraft, at
Commercial
Skycatch - Uber for Drones
Drones cost money, and companies have to know how to operate them safely. Depending on the business, some firms may need a drone for only a short period of time, which in turn makes the investment impractical. San Francisco startup Skycatch has a product called Workmode that it claims solves
Testing
New Zealand Experiments Drone Delivery
A New Zealand-first drone delivery over Auckland has given new meaning to "air mail". Delivery company Fastway Couriers has teamed up with Sydney-based unmanned aerial vehicles UAV company Flirtey to create the aerial delivery service. The duo successfully trialled their first drone parcel delivery, transporting auto
Commercial
Homeland Security Tests Drones in 'Liberty City'
Since late 2012, the Department of Homeland Security has been evaluating small drones for public safety applications. One of the sites for the testing program is an urban obstacle course dubbed “Liberty City.” Like its Grand Theft Auto namesake, the feds’ Liberty City offers challenges to be tackled by joysticks
Commercial
Indian Police Control UAV Use
After Mumbai, the Pune city police have now banned the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) —drones for the layman — without seeking prior permission from the local police station. Cops fear that the unmanned aircraft could turn into weapons in the hands of terrorists. Joint
Agriculture
Opportunities with UAVs for ag
A great deal of work and research remains before agriculture takes full advantage of unmanned aerial vehicles, but tremendous opportunities justify the effort, UAV and ag officials say. "The future is still evolving. Farmers are business people. They can't afford to be making wrong decisions,” said John
Commercial
Tsuneishi Shipbuilding to Enlist UAS
Tsuneishi Shipbuilding is to employ drones and communications systems from V-cube after a successful trial exploring drone use to enhance productivity and safety in its shipbuilding operations. Over a period of four days from 18 May the companies sought to verify whether it was possible to inspect equipment and
Commercial
'Abortion Drone' to Drop DIY Drugs to Women in Poland
A drone carrying medical abortion pills is set to fly to Poland, where abortion is severely restricted for women. The ‘abortion drone’ is being sent by not-for-profit organisation Women on Waves - which provides medical abortion pills around the world - in a bid to help Polish women terminate their
Commercial
Nigeria to Deploy UAS for Surveillance of Oil Installations
Dr Ade Abolurin, Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), says the Corps had concluded plans to deploy about 500 UAS and aircraft for proper surveillance of oil installations in the country. Abolurin disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at a meeting with senior officers of the Corps
Commercial
Test Flights to Detect Mock Pipeline Hazards
Unmanned aircraft researchers associated with the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership at Virginia Tech tested new sensor technology designed to detect potentially disruptive activities along energy pipeline routes. The flights last week near Farmville, in rural Virginia, involved a fixed-wing RS-20 unmanned aircraft flying beyond the visual line of