sUAS News

Sentera introduces the latest update to its high-precision sensor product line, the Quad Sensor. Featuring four fully customizable imagers, the multispectral Sentera Quad Sensor is a precision agriculture, data collection powerhouse. In its standard configuration, the sensor offers standard Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Green NDVI, Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE), and high-resolution color data […]

VStar Systems and Martin UAV jointly announced the successful completion of an overseas demonstration of the new COMINT capabilities onboard the Martin UAV V-Bat aircraft. VStar Systems, a privately held aerospace and defense systems company, was invited to travel overseas to demonstrate the capabilities of its modular Signal Intelligence Sensor, MA-C2E/Lite. The sensor made multiple flights aboard the Martin UAV V-Bat […]

Today, PolarPro, developer of products inspired by adventure, announced availability of new cinematic lens filters and a purpose-built travel case for DJI® Spark owners looking to get the most out of their new gesture-controlled drone. Known for producing some of the industry’s highest quality lens filters for action cameras and consumer drones, PolarPro’s new Spark filter […]

There is a very disturbing trend in our industry that we, as responsible operators need to address in the most expeditious way possible. The trend is that of civilian/hobbyist operators obstructing public safety from performing their assigned duties. More specifically we are seeing more and more people flying drones in and around the vicinity of […]

Drones in America have evolved from simple bomb delivery vehicles to a broad spectrum of military and civilian aircraft, and the community has evolved to match. Today’s drone community owes much to the century of work and untold thousands of dollars that were spent to bring the civil National Airspace System (NAS) and the aircraft […]

FlytBase, Inc., a startup building developer platforms for connected intelligent drones, today announced the release of industry’s first Drone-API as a Service offering. While most modern businesses run on cloud-based applications, connecting drones to the cloud has been quite challenging. FlytBase plans to change that with their FlytBase Cloud platform. Over last few years, IoT […]

ALTI is looking to expand our network of international distributors! We are seeking and aim to appoint international agents in various countries including Australia and the United States, with the goal to establishing a long term, mutually beneficial relationship. ALTI is the world leader in small commercial and industrial VTOL (vertical take-off and land) unmanned […]

Skylogic Research, LLC, which operates under the brand Drone Analyst, just announced the start of its 2017 Drone Market Sector Research, which promises to be its most comprehensive study of drone market trends and usage to date. The online portion of this research seeks to get opinions about who is buying and using small unmanned aircraft […]

DJI has set up a new training programme for the development of civilian drones for public safety at the Technology Base in Twente, Netherlands. In preparation of the programme, DJI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Space53, the Enschede-based public-private partnership for developing unmanned systems. DJI and Space53 are planning to develop standard operating […]

Chinese company MMC, an industry-leading commercial and industrial drone manufacturer and the innovators behind hydrogen fuel cell technology for drones, have introduced the 2nd generation of their H1 – fuel cell – increasing flight endurance to an impressive 4 hour flight time. Overcoming LiPo Battery Limitations The H-1 Fuel Cell is a drone agnostic solution, […]

Carbomap, an environmental survey company, in collaboration with high performance LiDAR manufacturer RIEGL, UAVE and The University of Edinburgh, today announced the first successful demonstration flight of a RIEGL VUX-1LR survey-grade waveform laser scanner on a fixed wing, long range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This is likely the first time that such a high-performance scanner has […]

Medical samples transported 160+ miles by unmanned aircraft under temperature control in Arizona desert. Medical drone delivery records were set by Johns Hopkins researchers as they successfully transported human blood samples across 161 miles of desert. Throughout the three-hour flight, the on-board payload system maintained conditions, such as temperature, ensuring the samples were viable for diagnostic […]

Two bladed rotors mounted on the wingtip provide thrust in takeoff and landing, but scissor closed in flight to become part of the wing. Custom Joby electric motors directly drive both wingtip blades, as well the tilting tail rotor, and contribute to a low noise signature. Joby motor controllers drive the wingtip motors and provide […]

NLR is testing a large drone at Twente Airport this week. NLR is using the XCalibur+ Jet Trainer – a drone approved for professional use in accordance with the Assessment Specifications for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, Class 1 (AS-RPAS1) – to gain experience in operating drones powered by jet engines. The first test flights with the […]

SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) is going through the roof this weekend. Well in truth for all of the last week. Patrick and I have received news from several sources that some Part 107 operators are being asked to not turn up for work unless they have American-made equipment for Government gigs. Government Agencies, it is alleged, […]

Putting your trust in an external organisation to host and manage your data is not a decision that is made lightly. Your expectation is that the supplier will treat your data like it would its own, and ensure it is captured, transferred, and stored securely. We at Consortiq understand how important your data is to […]

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)s, commonly known as drones, will soon be a common sight over border zones, crime hotspots and city streets, as public safety and security officials and police departments discover the cost saving and efficiencies offered by drone patrol ‘armies’, says Airborne Drones, a South African-based international manufacturer of enterprise-grade drones. “Drones provide the […]

A few things to get out of the way first. I am not a lawyer and I am not a journalist, I just enjoy being part of the free flow of information, and occasionally writing an opinion on top of that information, so call me what you will. I don’t like politics and backroom deals […]

Piaggio Aerospace, a leading Italian aircraft manufacturer active in the business, defense and security sectors, today resumed flight test activity for the second prototype of its P.1HH HammerHead, the state of the art multipurpose Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) at Birgi Military Airport in Trapani today. P.1HH is an Unmanned Aerial System designed for aero, marine […]

The DATAhawkPPK is QuestUAV’s latest ultra-high accuracy fixed wing drone package. It is ideal for professional surveyors that need maximum geospatial precision for their customers, the aircraft provides survey-grade results within minutes. The accuracy of the DATAhawk PPK system has been independently validated by comparing the results of repeated aerial surveys with precisely measured verification […]

Veteran droners know all about Andrew Dunlop and his Millswood failsafe devices. Lovingly crafted for the Outback Challenge. Back in the day, BDJI (Before DJI). The Outback Challenge did more to advance the cause of geofencing than any other effort. Andrew is about to release a new, quite frankly tiny independant geofencing device. He explains it […]

senseFly, the world’s leading producer of mapping drones, today announces Always On, a new worry-free service package designed to keep professional drone operators working and ensure business continuity. Businesses are increasingly professionalising their drone operations, with UAV data acquisition developing in-line with this change, marking a move from using drones in pilot projects only to integrating […]

Kespry, the leading aerial intelligence platform provider, today announced that it has been selected by the CRU Group (Catastrophe Response Unit Adjusters) to provide its automated aerial intelligence solution to support the company’s global insurance claims operations. The announcement of the relationship with CRU comes on the heels of Kespry’s recent announcement of the company’s […]

SLANTRANGE, a leading provider of next­ generation drone­ based remote sensing, analytics, and data services for Agriculture announced today a new Data Collection and Analysis Agreement with Bayer CropScience LP, a world­ leading agriculture enterprise with businesses in seeds, crop protection, and non-agricultural pest control. “We are very excited to work with SLANTRANGE to support […]

Chaney Aerospace, LLC today announced they are providing custom ground control stations (GCS) for the UAS industry. Custom ground control stations give operators the advantage to design a professional tool that fits specifically to their UAS. Ground control stations can be used to fly the UAV, plan flights, retrieve data, and process data in the field. […]

This survey, which is aimed at the worldwide UAS/RPAS/Drone operator community is now available in English, French, German, Italian & Spanish. This survey is an opportunity to make it possible for all drone operators to assure that their specific applications are taken into account. The objective of this survey is to: 1- Identify the market sectors in […]

One more feather in John Taylor’s cap. If you have been following this saga closely. Especially on Facebook, you will know that some folks are claiming that the FAA made use of the $5 pilots registry. John Taylor filed a FOIA request to discover the truth of the matter and the truth is they didn’t make […]

Katwijk, The Netherlands – Wednesday, July 5, 2017. The province of Limburg (Belgium) will soon begin using an Aerialtronics’ drone to assist police and firefighters in tasks such as crowd and traffic monitoring, search and rescue, locating illegal cannabis farms and conducting reconnaissance. Starting in January of next year, the province of Limburg (Belgium) will […]

UAV Factory USA is expanding and actively seeking a Sales Manager to coordinate B2B and B2C sales throughout the Americas. The company is going through a rapid business expansion phase and the position requires a professional leader, excellent team-builder and a mentor capable of developing a strategic vision and architecting the processes. This person will […]

SALINA — Airport management and unmanned aircraft systems students from the Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus are receiving national recognition for their interdisciplinary research on a current airport industry challenge. The Airport Cooperative Research Program, which is managed by the Transportation Research Board and sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration, has selected the team of Kansas State […]

DroneShield is pleased to announce that it has commenced taking orders for DroneSentry, and expects to commence production in the fourth calendar quarter of 2017. DroneSentry provides its users with a multi-method drone detection capability and includes and integrates radar, radio frequency, acoustic, thermal and optical (with a range extender) sensor detection, i.e. all the […]

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)—or drones—allow capturing and analysis of agricultural data at high spatial resolution, including status of the land, crops and farm infrastructure contributing to more effective management. UAS operators are typically young entrepreneurs who invest in the equipment, learn the skills to use it, help analyse the data and interpret the findings for […]

Garware Wall Ropes Ltd. (GWRL), a leading manufacturer of technical textiles for the Indian and global markets, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Israel’s Aero-T showing intention to combine their capability for manufacturing and supply of advanced aerostats for Indian Defence. India’s vast borders comprising of 15200 KM of land and […]

The Mayday Parachute Deployment System by MARS Parachutes is the perfect solution to a multitude of UAV systems on the market today. This system monitors your flight envelope and will automatically deploy the parachute if the MAYDAY detects out of bounds activity such as a sudden fall, loss of a rotor or motor, or other […]

David Finnegan was recently named director, Remote Sensing/Geographic Information Systems Center of Expertise at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, New Hampshire. CRREL is a component of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, headquartered in Vicksburg, Mississippi. In 2001, Finnegan began his career at CRREL as a contract scientist and […]

John Taylor has received an unusual Thanksgiving gift, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia today, issued its final ruling. in their words… “The FAA’s Registration Rule violates Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act. We grant Taylor’s petition for review of the Registration Rule, and we vacate the Registration Rule […]

DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology,takes very seriously a report that a drone may have caused the temporary closure of London’s Gatwick airport on Sunday, 2 July, as it flew too close to the runway. In past incidents, early reports of drone involvement turned out to be false. Nevertheless, we […]

A successful management buyout of Resource Group’s Aviation and Aerospace Resourcing business (including Contractair Ltd) and its Aviation Technical Training business has been completed. The management buyout team has been led by Stephan Hickman who has 19 years of experience running various businesses in the group and who has assumed the role of CEO. Joining […]

Jason Small – Verizon As another gust of wind hits the windows on my house I can see them start to bow inward. “I think we need to go downstairs,” I say to my wife. The 99 mph winds are battering the outside of my house and the siding is literally starting to peel away. […]

We cordially invite you to join us for the 2017 World Congress on Unmanned Systems Engineering – Conference and Exhibition at University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (27th and 28th July 2017). The Congress offers a chance to network with Unmanned Systems researchers, scientists, business professionals and end-users in a relaxing atmosphere. The Congress will attract […]

The Government of Malawi and UNICEF today launched an air corridor to test potential humanitarian use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones. The corridor is the first in Africa and one of the first globally with a focus on humanitarian and development use. It is centred on Kasungu Aerodrome, in central Malawi, […]

Phase 1 of DARPA’s Fast Lightweight Autonomy (FLA) program concluded recently following a series of obstacle-course flight tests in central Florida. Over four days, three teams of DARPA-supported researchers huddled under shade tents in the sweltering Florida sun, fine-tuning their sensor-laden quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the intervals between increasingly difficult runs. DARPA’s FLA […]

While this seems like an outrageous claim, it’s not any more outrageous than a lot of other claims people have made in the dronesphere. In any event, allow me to share a short story of how I captured the first iPhone aerial drone photo. At the time I had teamed up with a group […]

I am not a lawyer, but reading through the latest DJI Go App’s Terms of Use (24 May, 2017) some red flags get thrown up for me. There are several conditions in here that do appear to contradict each other (exceptions), and to a legal layman, like myself, they appear to leave little hurdles to be clarified […]

NM Group provides functional reporting for utility vegetation managers. Our service prioritises vegetation encroachments, reduces operational costs and ensures regulatory compliance. Vegetation analytics deliver functional information to help utilities better manage the risk posed by vegetation-related outages. We deliver the precise location of danger trees and potential infringement to improve vegetation management strategy. How the […]

Australian company Sentient has demonstrated its ViDAR airborne optical radar system to European maritime surveillance agencies, with a ViDAR equipped Insitu ScanEagle RPAS detecting and tracking small boats and people in the water on a trial at Huelva, Spain in May. Representatives of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), European Border and Coast Guard Agency […]

GEO Jobe, a leading GIS software and solution provider offering UAV mapping services, has been integrating UAV / UAS data capture into a number of projects enabling quick turn-around and cost savings for clients. What this means is that in addition to being experts in the ArcGIS / ArcGIS Online space we can offer our […]

I had to smile when the landing was made prominent in Martin Luis Gomez blog update which details the successful second flight of Aquilla. It took a little while for The Facebook internet drone team to fess up to the approach incident at the end of the first flight. Once again, go team Somerset ! Martin Luis […]

Margarita Mulero Pazmany, PhD Biologist at Swiss Ornithological Institute UAS operate at low altitudes (<500 m AGL) and in any terrain, thus they are susceptible to interact with local fauna. UAS performing target-oriented flight patterns, larger aircraft sizes, and fuel-powered (noisier) engines evoked the strongest reactions in wildlife. Birds are more prone to react to UAS […]