Commercial
Insitu revealed its 1.6 kilo (3.5 lb) Inceptor VTOL UAS at the Airborne Law Enforcement Association 2011 Convention in New Orleans. The miniature helicopter has an endurance of 30 minutes and features the option to fit plug and play payloads including daylight and IR cameras in the nose.
Testing
Aerovisión Spain has supplied an unmanned aircraft used in trials of monitoring the Spanish coast, within the remit of the WIMAAS (Wide Maritime Area Surveillance) project, financed by the European Union. This is the first time that an aeroplane of a non-military nature has taken part in controlling European coasts.
Testing
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute and BP Exploration Alaska demonstrated the use of a three-pound unmanned aircraft, the Aeryon Scout, as a way of gathering 3-D aerial data to aid in oil spill clean up efforts. Through the use of this technology, oil spill responders can complete Shoreline
Commercial
Based on the successful acquisition of Ravens, the US Army has recently agreed to provide the U.S. Geological Survey's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office access to over 21 Honeywell T-Hawks. These smaller and more compact UAS will enhance the capabilities of the office by providing a Reconnaissance
Testing
Australia's Sentient has announced that the Canadian Forces are currently conducting an operational evaluation of its Kestrel automated target detection software on board the CP-140 Aurora, Canada's primary Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft. The CP-140 Aurora is primarily used in coastal surveillance and sovereignty patrols. To
Commercial
A second unmanned aircraft will soon be based in Texas in an effort to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border. The Predator will be equipped with an electro-optical/infrared sensor system that vastly improves the operational effectiveness in CBP missions and is fitted with synthetic aperture radar suitable for
Commercial
The U.S. Geological Survey has announced details of one of the first projects using UAS to survey wildlife. It is partnering with the University of Idaho to use UAS technology to gather data on the landscape habitat of pygmy rabbits. The UAS approaches will help develop map data for
Commercial
Israel Aerospace Industries has signed a joint venture with Brazil's Synergy Group to provide the conglomerate with UAS under the condition that the aircraft should not be sold to Venezuela. Brazil aims to purchase UAS in an attempt to curb drug activities in Brazilian borders, as the state
Testing
On a two-day trip to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska earlier this month, researchers from Poker Flat Research Range evaluated the performance of a new unmanned aircraft system that will be used to monitor Steller sea lions. The National Marine Mammal Laboratory conducts annual aerial surveys of Steller sea lions
Commercial
Scientists from NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, joined a multi-institute team of researchers June 17-27, 2011, to investigate carbon dioxide and methane gas emissions from a dry lake bed and neighbouring environment in Railroad Valley, Nevada. During the campaign, the Ames team conducted a series of
Commercial
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) biologist Leanne Hanson narrates this video showing how the Raven-A small unmanned aircraft system works in the field and what it "sees" from the air. In the first application of the Raven A system to a natural resource management need, the USGS and
Commercial
Arlington police are testing small unmanned aircraft designed to take high-resolution video and photos of traffic accidents, hostage situations, pursuits of suspects and other emergency situations too dangerous to send personnel. Data from the testing, which will continue through next January, will help Arlington and law enforcement agencies across the