sUAS News

Last week, the United Kingdom (UK) Civil Aviation Authority released this press announcement. The TL;DR here is that the UK has officially announced that ADS-B is the “preferred national system for electronic conspicuity.” (Before going any further, “electronic conspicuity” (EC) is the UK term for “see and be seen” by electronic means.) This is a big […]

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) announced the launch of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems Standardization Collaborative (UASSC) with a kick-off meeting scheduled for September 28 in Washington, DC. The UASSC’s mission will be to coordinate and accelerate the development of the standards and conformity assessment programs needed to facilitate the safe, mass integration of unmanned […]

Sharper Shape Inc. has announced this week that their new Automatic Detail Inspection (ADI) service has successfully completed field trials and is now available for immediate commercial use by electric utilities. The ADI service is available as a complete end-to-end inspection package, or companies can use their own aircraft and personnel, utilizing Sharper Shape’s ADI […]

Amimon, the creators of wireless HD video technology with zero latency, is launching its new HX camera for the CONNEX ProSight system. The new native 720p60 camera will now include a 120-degree wide-angle view with customizable picture balance settings, enabling a fully immersive drone racing experience. The HX camera is compatible with existing CONNEX ProSight […]

Well done Police officers from Aylesbury in the UK, they are trying to reunite a Phantom and its owner. As their tweet suggests. Pop into the Police Station to collect it from one of our friendly officers #P6951 Such kind-hearted souls, they know that the owner must be worried about their expensive drone. Her Majestys […]

News has arrived of a mandatory firmware update from DJI. Owners of DJI’s latest and smallest quadcopter must update their firmware by September 1st or their machines will automatically ground themselves. The reason for the firmware update is, apparently, to stop in-flight shutdowns that have been occurring. So no bad thing to fix, a safety […]

Mike Rizkalla of Raised Performance who trade as Brave New World, have filed in Canada against Pleiades the company behind the 2013 Kickstarter Spiri quadcopter. Remember, 2013 when everything drone was new and exciting. Spiri raised $146,623 from 382 backers. Of course, the crowd-funded drone missed its delivery target. That is traditional. Dartmouth litigator Derek Brett is claiming $197,000 for work undertaken […]

The third instalment of the UK Commercial Drone Podcast is now out and provides vital listening to those working in the UK drone industry or considering entering the market. The UK Commercial Drone Podcast looks into the drone industry in the UK. Adam Bailey hosts the podcast and welcomes guests from across the industry to […]

The Applied Aviation Research Center on Kansas State University’s Polytechnic Campus is continuing its work with PrecisionHawk, a provider of advanced commercial drone technologies, on operational testing with unmanned aircraft systems. This partnership comes from PrecisionHawk’s continued work with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Pathfinder program, which involves industry partners exploring expansion of UAS operations in […]

DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, and the University of Mainz, Germany, have completed a ground-breaking mission for volcano research by collecting gas directly from the crater of Italy’s Mount Etna. The scientists, led by volcanologist Prof. Jonathan Castro, took innovation in their field to an unprecedented level by using […]

Leading UAV Service Provider Aerodyne is pleased to announce that they will be attending the second annual DJI AirWorks conference in Denver, Colorado from 7-9th November 2017. Aerodyne will be addressing the conference to share their experiences of using DJI Enterprise Drones in the Oil & Gas and Energy industries. Aerodyne operates a comprehensive fleet of 200+ UAS and […]

Francesco’s Pizzeria, in Mumbai, India, is situated in one of the busiest cities in the world. Mumbai’s congestion is notorious-and Francesco’s Pizzeria has sought to remedy this with the use of a drone-on May the 11th, they delivered a pizza via drone to a skyscraper in the Mumbai business district. A video of the flight […]

Well done AOPA! We whole heartedly endorse their position. I find myself getting increasingly annoyed by special interest groups with little to no actual in field RPA experience telling us what we need. Those groups tend to represent delivery drone and large-scale infrastructure inspection operators. Lots of money is being spent behind closed doors to lobby […]

Germandrones aims to strengthen its market position with the support of CONDOR-Group. Berlin & Essen, 15th August 2017 – The security company CONDOR-group from Essen acquires a participation in Germandrones GmbH, a leading manufacturer for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft drones. The transaction is carried out in form of a capital increase, which is subscribed by CONDOR-Group […]

On August 16th General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) flew a MQ-9B SkyGuardian™ Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) from Laguna Airfield at Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., through National Airspace, to its Gray Butte Flight Operations facility near Palmdale, Calif. The MQ-9B is a STANAG 4671 (NATO airworthiness standard for Unmanned Aircraft Systems)-compliant version of the Predator® B product […]

Dutch drone company is ready for a restart and is searching for potential financers. Katwijk, The Netherlands, August 18, 2017 – Today, the European-based drone developer, Aerialtronics, announces that it has applied for a solvency procedure following a postponement of payment to start a bidding procedure in search for new financers and investors. This decision […]

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) today confirmed that ADS-B ‘in/out’ using 1090 MHz is its preferred national system to improve electronic conspicuity for general aviation, ideally used through transponders. The CAA is already working with the GA community and industry to develop an integrated electronic surveillance solution offering both airborne and ground environment benefits. […]

Are extended multi rotor flight times about to become a commercial reality? The Gaia 160 Hybrid could lift an entire Phantom 4 Pro for five hours. Maybe that’s not such a clever idea, a Routescene LiDAR pod only weighs 2.8kg so you won’t make five hours but maybe four. That would be over 200km flown […]

Martek Aviation are pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew (Pat) Patterson to the role of Deputy Chief Pilot for UAV Operations During a 17 year flying career, Pat has amassed over 2000 hours of rotary and fixed wing operations and has 850 hours of operating UAV’s in the +500kg category. Pat’s operational experience includes; […]

At Nagpur University, in the western Indian province of Maharashtra, India’s largest drone racing event, hosted by the Indian Drone Racing League (https://droneracingindia.com/), took place. From the 9th to the 11th of June, 250 competitors took part in the race, competing for a top prize of 75000 Rupees-the equivalent of 1200 US Dollars. The winner […]

We are so excited to announce that Flite Test products are now available at AMain Hobbies and in your local Hobby Town USA stores! You can find Flite Test products at: www.amainhobbies.com, www.hobbytown.com and select local Hobby Town locations with more added each day. Don’t see Flite Test in your local store? Ask them about […]

Jon Parker, Legislation Director, ARPAS-UK, has stepped down due to friends and family health issues. Jon remains a loyal member of ARPAS and we hope to see him at the next AGM. The ARPAS-UK Committee would like to thank Jon for all his work and support during his tenure. Rupert Dent, who was one of […]

We have all done it, the permissions pop up and we agree quickly to get what we want out of the app. Just in my inbox, an offer to purchase customer data from the listed providers. Interestingly I use three of the services and don’t remember saying I was happy for them to share, my […]

OUTREACH@DARPA.MIL Building on recent breakthroughs in autonomous cyber systems and formal methods, DARPA today announced a new research program called Assured Autonomy that aims to advance the ways computing systems can learn and evolve to better manage variations in the environment and enhance the predictability of autonomous systems like driverless vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles […]

Dutch multirotor manufacturer Aerialtronics are in suspension of payments. This was confirmed by communications coordinator Katy Spring by email to sUAS News today. “We are working with the trustee, Mark Aukema of RWV Advocaten. Together, we are working to find a sustainable solution for the enterprise” An official statement will be released next Monday, the 21st […]

DroneDeploy is the leading cloud software platform for commercial drones, making the power of aerial data accessible and productive for everyone. Trusted by businesses and individuals in over 140 countries worldwide, we are transforming the way drone users collect, manage and digest impactful data in a variety of industries, including agriculture, real estate, mining and […]

DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, opened registration on Thursday for its AirWorks enterprise drone conference on November 7-9 in Denver, Colorado. The annual event will bring together the global commercial drone ecosystem for three days of industry presentations, hands-on workshops, training sessions and networking focused on putting drones to work in […]

Volaero Drones (www.volaerodrones.com) is a professional drone services company that integrates cutting edge drone, imagery, and data processing technologies to provide clients with actionable analytics. From flight mission planning to data processing, Volaero saves time, money and resources and boosts safety by creating technology solutions that provide the data needed to make better decisions. “Volaero is excited […]

I and many other developers have been sued by a company called Uniloc for using the Google Play store to distribute our apps on Android. These lawsuits, and countless others like them, come from lawyers’ offices and shell companies that do not actually create any goods or services, but instead ONLY sue people for Patent […]

By Allison Linn HAWTHORNE, Nevada – In the searing midday heat of the Nevada desert, a white Jeep Wrangler heads down a desolate strip of dirt road, surrounded on either side by miles of sagebrush and sand. As the Jeep bumps along, two members of a Microsoft research team, Jim Piavis and Rick Rogahn, steady […]

The Indian government recently cleared a deal with the United States for the purchase of 22 MQ-9 Guardian surveillance drones. This deal, initiated last year and officially cleared in June, is worth an estimated 2 billion US Dollars. The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who met with US President Donald Trump on June the 26th, […]

As data security concerns become an increasingly hot topic for the drone industry, we at Aerialtronics want to assure our current and potential future clients that we place great importance on the issue and take every step to ensure aerial data is secure and well-encrypted. This is just one of the reasons why our main […]

Robotic Skies, LLC, announced today it has raised a round of venture capital financing. The investment round was led by Kickstart Seed Fund of Salt Lake City, Utah, and included participation by Sun Mountain Capital of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The capital will accelerate the expansion of the Robotic Skies maintenance network for high-end commercial […]

The state of the Indian drone industry is a complicated one, given the harsh restrictions imposed upon UAS in the country. In October of 2014, the Director General of Civil Aviation in India issued a public notice (http://dgca.nic.in/public_notice/PN_UAS.pdf) that regulated Indian UAS use for the first time. The notice is clear: ‘Til such (future) regulations […]

Tomorrow (16th August 2017) the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier will arrive in the Solent. Do not be tempted to drone over it. There is going to be an air-display associated with her arrival. No airspace surrounded it at its Scottish parking spot, hence a DJI Phantom 4 Pro became one of the first aircraft […]

Agribotix, a leader in drone-enabled agricultural intelligence, and senseFly, the leading provider of professional drone solutions, today announced their Gateway to Precision Ag promotion for North America. Designed to help growers and retailers get ahead of the 2018 growing season, the promotion offers a discount on a package of tools that enables professionals to begin working […]

A group of entrepreneurial UK engineers has plans to build a mid-mass logistics drone for global markets. The system will be aimed initially at remote and isolated communities, but is planned to be fully capable of near urban operations in due course. The UAV system, called Sky Hopper®, is an electrically powered tri fan design […]

Propeller Aero is hiring talented Sales Executives to accelerate our penetration of civil industry. As one member of a small and talented sales team, you will bring Propeller Aero’s cutting-edge aerial data technology to this massive market. The Propeller Aero sales team is a carefully curated group of curious, diverse high-achievers. Every member has an […]

On August 26 and now August 27, ROTOR FX in cooperation with AOPA will present a new free drone seminar entitled “An Intro To 107” at its facilities in Los Angeles from 9:30am to 3pm on each day. The August 26th date was completely booked within 24 hours of announcement so AOPA and ROTOR FX […]

In June, licensed drone pilot Jerrick Hakim flew his DJI Inspire 2 for one solitary flight on Chicago’s lakefront. A slow, cinematic flight, the drone flew above Lake Michigan perhaps several hundred feet from shore. After about 15 minutes, the professional photographer landed his drone next to the lakefront walking path, walked to his car […]

DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, is developing a new local data mode that stops internet traffic to and from its flight control apps, in order to provide enhanced data privacy assurances for sensitive government and enterprise customers. DJI’s flight control apps routinely communicate over the internet to ensure a […]

The Indian drone market is a burgeoning one, despite some restrictive legislation and rules concerning UAS in the country. India has need of drones for fast surveying and mapping of infrastructure and agriculture, and is both purchasing from foreign nations and developing UAS locally for use in the defence industry. In response to the growing […]

News has reached me that another DJI memo was passed around on Friday the 11th of August. An exception to policy with recommendations from the asymmetric warfare group that will permit the use of DJI kit once some conditions have been met. The Android Tactical Assault Kit will become the ground control station (GCS) of […]

Following on from the recent article I wrote on Drone Data Security, I thought I would follow up on some procedures for Pre Flight & Post mission. Client Ask your clients about their data control policy Send copies of all pre flight planning, and media/data release forms in advance of carrying out the task for approval […]

We are looking for talented software engineers to join our new team in Berlin. Pix4D develops drone mapping and photogrammetry software that enables tens of thousands of professionals around the world to process, visualize, assess and edit their own maps and 3D models. You will join our new development team in Berlin and work closely together with […]

On August 26, ROTOR FX will present a new free AOPA seminar entitled “An Intro To 107” at its facilities in Los Angeles from 9:30am to 3pm. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), better known as drones, are starting to revolutionize how companies are doing business. Drones are one of the fastest growing segments of aviation, with […]

by Ginger Pinholster | Interim Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), or “drones” will soon help Daytona Beach police officers and firefighters find lost nursing-home residents and assess hazardous areas following hurricanes or other disasters. A new aviation program has been launched by the Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD), in […]

The need for a standard for public safety UAS standard has been discussed for years and we at Drone Pilot, Inc. (www.dronepilot.io) have taken developing those standards very seriously. It is with great interest then that the Airborne Law Enforcement Association has produced a draft standard based upon the input of agencies all across the […]

by Dave Culler | CEO & Co-Founder at HAZON Solutions HAZON Solutions collects critical information for our customers through the use of unmanned systems. Like you, we recognized from day one that data security is of the upmost importance to our customers and to the entire commercial unmanned ecosystem. Due to the recent article Due […]

Middle school students across the country today participated in a live interactive broadcast of NASA astronaut Jack Fischer operating satellites developed by Aurora and MIT aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The basketball-sized, battery operated satellites were controlled using computer code written by the students as part of the Zero Robotics summer learning program. Founded […]