sUAS News

From big multirotors with HD camera to micro drones able to survey also towns, from radio-controlled mini-airships to solar energy drones. And many other systems for different applications, from tv service to aero photogrammetry, from agriculture to journalism and security. Many innovations will be presented to “Roma Drone Campus 2017”, the new event for companies […]

Yellowscan is very pleased to announce the launch of the YellowScan LiveStation, enabling Surveyors to monitor in real time the validity and quality of the data being collected, to ensure that the survey is going smoothly: Live 3D point cloud visualisation (including zooming, translation, rotation) Live transect and trajectory visualisation Speed, altitude, IMU & GNSS […]

Valmie Resources Inc. (OTCBB:VMRI) announces its wholly owned subsidiary, Vertitek, now offers enhanced Engineering and Services. Vertitek’s expanded production facility features 100 percent in-house custom fabrication, including design and customization of prototypes for commercial UAV’s (unmanned aerial vehicles) in a wide range of sizes and categories. Vertitek’s Engineering and Services Department is located at its […]

Drone University USA is proud to announce the availability of financing for all of its training & certification programs! Effective immediately, DUU has partnered with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) to provide fast and affordable UAS pilot training financing. Since 1939, AOPA has represented the largest aviation community in the world, spanning 75 […]

The one in which Simon Wilks from UAVenture talks hybrid VTOLs. Adam Andrews explains how his recent chat with the FAA about waivers went. Bruce mentions his simple rules and his thermal soaring video. Gene pops in fashionably late and sadly tells us about a rescue situation in which FLIR would be no help. UAVenture […]

Come together with the Energy Drone Community at Royal Sonesta Houston on June 20 & 21! View the agenda-at-a-glance below, and connect to our site for full agenda details and to register. We have just completed our industry surveys to 4,000+ EDC Newsroom Subscribers and met with our Industry Advisory Board to identify the most […]

Buckinghamshire New University has appointed Dr David Warnock-Smith as Director of Aviation, Events & Tourism. Dr Warnock-Smith says he is aiming to further strengthen his new department’s links with industry, its partnership work and its work in applied research. He was previously Programme Leader for BSc (Hons) Air Transport and Logistics Management at the University […]

Catching drones in flight is not new. Insitu’s Skyhook has been doing a great job of it since 2008. DARPA and Aurora Flight Systems are working on SideArm to catch much heavier systems. All the way up to 1,100lbs. That must demand quite a chunk system. Catching drones gives the operator a chance to go around […]

Terra Drone Corporation and QuestUAV strike up a strategic partnership providing highly accurate large scale surveying services as well as Reseller presence in Japan. In January 2017, Terra Drone Corporation signed a strategic alliance with British fixed-wing drone developer QuestUAV. In the future Terra Drone will conduct surveying services using QuestUAV’s fixed-wing aircraft, sales of […]

The Unmanned Safety Institute (USI), a subsidiary of ARGUS International, Inc., and a recognized leader in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) flight safety education and certification, and Advanced Aircrew Academy, a specialized aviation eLearning company dedicated to providing high quality professional pilot, flight attendant, and maintenance courses delivered via the web using a world class online […]

As everyone in the drone industry are aware, there are limitations using the various aerial platforms; either as a hobbyist or when conducting professional services. Some are size. Some are speed. Some are capability to perform specific tasks and more exist that are not mentioned. Some of the greatest limitations come when having the right […]

Well done to everyone at Ascending Technologies, the German drone manufacturer bought by Intel in January 2016. They have demonstrated that they are world leaders when it comes to swarm flying. The software and animation interface on the Intel Shooting Star drone system allows a light show to be created in a matter of days or weeks […]

Are you an experienced UAS flight operator? Do you know someone who is? We are looking for highly motivated UAS operators and Director of Flight Ops. Prior experience with RC is expected. Who are we? We are Aerial Insights (A.I.), and infrastructure inspection is our game. Our team deploys advanced multi-modal sensor payload UAS, develops/operate machine […]

Droneit is an early starter in the Commercial RPAS Industry, and has very quickly developed a reputable and experienced brand. Given our experience in the RPAS Industry, Droneit is looking to impart our experience and knowledge to the next generation of Remote Pilots, and are looking for a suitably qualified individual to support our entry […]

Let’s just start with a few numbers and some back of the envelope math: 1.2 million drones were sold in the United States in 2016 1,800 reported pilot drone sightings in the United States in 2016 (up 25% from 2015) 0.4 miles – about the maximum distance I can see my DJI Phantom 4 with […]

The futuristic sport of Drone Racing blasted onto the world stage in 2016, but the team from Freedom Drone Sports™ believe ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet’. The Freedom Class™ team have been working flat out over the past 12 months designing, building and testing a racing drone that they believe is going to help the […]

Over 100 of the fastest FPV drone racing pilots converged on the U.S Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida last week for the Sebring Done Race 2017. This MultiGP sanctioned event had one of the largest prize purses (over $20,000) seen at a drone race, with a $10,000 cash first place prize. FPV pilots from […]

This project consisted of several phases and took place in an office building of Mosini Caviezel SA, Switzerland: a rural house that includes five rooms and a large hallway. The main objectives were to create an indoor plan in 2D, evaluate the application of terrestrial photogrammetry for establishing a PPE (Propriété Par Étages/property by floors, […]

Horray for Google, their patent that went through yesterday has given me a most excellent excuse to post my favourite drone video of 2016 once again, Robot Drone Man Fly! First the Google patent. A mobile telepresence system may include a frame, a propulsion system operably coupled to the frame to propel the frame through […]

The following are some observations made at the Drone Advisory Committee meeting held in Reno, Nevada on January 31, 2017. First, I have to state that I am not new to the standards bodies or the RTCA. I started working with the SC-203 in 2006 (ASTM May 2005, Reno) and was on the small UAS […]

So you’ve obtained executive buy-in for a drone program at your company and started small. By achieving gains in efficiency and overall safety, you’ve made a strong case for expansion. How do you take the next step forward without jeopardising what you’ve already built? Scaling your drone operation can seem daunting. With a little smart planning […]

3DR, Autodesk, Atkins and the Department of Aviation of the City of Atlanta worked together to perform the first FAA approved commercial drone operation in Class B airspace at the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). In 2015, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport became the first airport in the world to […]

Rwanda forges forward in drone mapping use After Rwanda made waves in the news early last year for allegedly being the first country to approve drone delivery, people paid attention. The country, with its rolling hills and one of the fastest growing economies in Central Africa, has already established regulations regarding drones and become a […]

Altavian is partnering with MicaSense to integrate their RedEdge multispectral camera as the latest customizable payload available in both Altavian’s Nova and Galaxy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Integrating RedEdge with Altavian’s enterprise grade drones, like the Nova, brings multispectral sensor capabilities to a single 90-minute flight that can cover up to 600 acres, following standard […]

Airware, which provides end-to-end solutions that turn aerial data into actionable business intelligence for enterprises, announced today that it has secured a strategic investment from Caterpillar Ventures. The investment allows Airware to accelerate programs that enable dealers to offer solutions and services within the construction, mining, and quarrying industries and highlights Caterpillar’s commitment in leading […]

Recently new digital surface model ArcticDEM Release 3 has been released for wide list of territories – Alaska, Baffin Island (Canada), Svalbard (Norway), Iceland, Novaya Zemlya (Russia) and Franz Josef Land (Russia) enabling safer UAV mission planning. This is exciting news for UAV industry, as UAV usage has increased in Arctic region during last 5 […]

The small Unmanned Systems Business Exposition (sUSB Expo) announces open sponsor and speaker opportunities for the 2017 sUSB Expo, this year’s Expo builds on the last with the addition of an outdoor cage-free Demo Field Day. Previous years subject matter has covered, Standards, Robotics, Cinematography, Hardware Systems, Software, Industry analysis. The sUSB Expo is looking […]

Bats have long captured the imaginations of scientists and engineers with their unrivalled agility, but their complex wing motions pose significant technological challenges for those seeking to recreate their flight in a robot. The key flight mechanisms of bats now have been recreated with unprecedented fidelity in the Bat Bot—a self-contained robotic bat with soft, […]

During its yearly review, Delair-Tech announces a surge of its activity and triples its turnover, which reaches $ 7.1 million in 2016. Starting with a $15M fundraising, 2016 was the year of many successes for Delair-Tech: opening of a subsidiary in Los Angeles (USA), M&A operations, and technological and commercial partnerships. The Toulouse-based firm confirms its position as a […]

The Small UAV Coalition congratulates Elaine Chao on being confirmed as the 18th Secretary of Transportation. Secretary Chao takes office at a pivotal time for the commercial unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industry – as she said during her confirmation hearing, “drones are poised to become a major commercial force.” The Coalition looks forward to working […]

Today, Katharine “Kathie” Morgan began serving as president of ASTM International, one of the world’s largest standards development organisations. Morgan will lead a team that supports thousands of members, customers, partners, and other stakeholders worldwide. She succeeds James A. Thomas, who served in the role for 25 years. “I am thrilled and humbled to serve […]

Today, Pix4D’s mobile flight planning app, Pix4Dcapture, introduces new support and features for iOS. The following devices are now compatible with the app: DJI Mavic Pro drone Parrot Skycontroller All DJI drone pilots can now create circular flight missions, which are ideal for 3D model reconstruction of single buildings or objects. These 360° flight missions […]

Juniper Unmanned, Inc announced that it has partnered with Ascentium Capital LLC and Airsure Limited to offer new drone insurance and customized finance packages in the United States. By combining Juniper’s training and support services, customers can spread payments over 2-3 years, and experience savings on insurance by as much as 50%. Available immediately via […]

Just ahead of tomorrow’s earnings call GoPro have put the Karma back up for sale on their website. It is as before retailing for $799 for the drone, case and grip. No GoPro camera is included at that price. Are they really trying again with the same numbers as before after the runaway success of […]

Autel Robotics USA it would seem has laid off staff. I have reached out to Autel but nothing direct back from them yet. I thought I would l take to LinkedIn. Former Autel employee Aaron Beach has updated his profile. I accepted a job with Drone start-up Autel Robotics in Seattle as a Senior Account […]

Baam.Tech is excited to announce their company launch as well as the launch of their brand new fixed-wing aircraft, the Futura. The Futura was designed specifically for the commercial surveyor and centred around the strong belief that current commercial UAV systems fall short to accomplish timely and accurate data collection in the field. Yesterday’s drone […]

We are keeping an eye on you, Chris Ballard! Freedom Class Racing steps closer to being a thing. Leonard Hall of Ardupilot on the sticks and giving it beans (small portion). There is great potential for large scale racing quads, quite simply because the camera and crowd can see them. If they crash is should […]

The one in which we talk about Nevada and flying over private property. Drone Journalism at Poynter. Bruce Simpson from RC Model Reviews and his view of the S800 shadow Flying Wing and Kickstarter Mini Race Wing. Peggy Gilligan to leave the FAA. Waivers and delays. Why you should not post too much information about […]

GS Pro (or Ground Station Pro) is the latest app for iPad developed by DJI to plan and control complex drone missions and perform automated flights with DJI aircraft. GS Pro demonstrates DJI’s expansion into enterprise market by including many features aimed at increasing safety, accuracy and efficiency in various industrial applications. Over the last […]

uAvionix Corporation, a leading Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) avionics provider, announced the development and test of its smallest ADS-B transceiver yet. Weighing less than 1 gram, a dime sized ADS-B prototype module for drones with transmission power between 0.01-0.25 Watts could provide visibility to any aircraft equipped with ADS-B “IN” avionics from 1 – 10 […]

SBG Systems releases a new version of the Ellipse Series, its popular product line of miniature inertial sensors. The Ellipse has been greatly improved, showing unmatched performance in attitude measurement while adding Galileo constellation to its GNSS receiver. After thousands of Ellipse miniature inertial sensors operational on the field, SBG Systems proves again its capability […]

The Urgency to Measure Coastal Erosion Protecting coasts from erosion is a global mission. In the UK alone, the British Geological Survey states that across England and Wales 113 000 residential properties, 9000 commercial properties and 5000 hectares of agricultural land are within areas potentially at risk of coastal erosion. Mitigating the effects of climate […]

By Vicki Krueger Newsrooms around the world are experimenting with unmanned drone aircraft to add context to their visual reports. But drones require a high level of skill and safety awareness and, as of 2016, an FAA license to operate commercially. The Poynter Institute is offering a groundbreaking training initiative to give journalists the skills […]

The Coast Guard completed system operational verification testing of a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) on Coast Guard Cutter Stratton, a national security cutter (NSC) based in Alameda, California, Jan. 2. The Stratton crew and UAS program officials tested the power, communications, and launch and recovery systems that make up the sUAS to ensure that […]

Remember the Wingtra, another from an Autonomous Systems Lab at ETH in Zurich spin-off. Well, it’s moved into Beta and its a smart looking bit of kit. The first batch of WingtraOnes is available now. Request an invitation to our beta program and be amongst the first to experience how easy data collection can be! Beta […]

his past week at Geospatial World Forum 2017 in Hyderabad, India, RIEGL displayed some of the latest products of their broad product portfolio for terrestrial, mobile, airborne and UAV-based laser scanning, in cooperation with their distribution partner for India, MeaTech Solutions (www.meatechsolutions.com). RIEGL’s survey-grade UAV LiDAR platform, the RiCOPTER, was one of the highlights of […]

A major Japanese start-up has chosen Queensland for its regional office after being inspired by the Palaszczuk Government’s drive to advance innovation and entrepreneurship across the state. Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Jackie Trad said Terra Drone, Japan’s leading unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) provider, made the decision to come to Brisbane as […]

Vigilant Aerospace has completed successful beyond lineof-sight flight testing of its new FlightHorizon detect-and-avoid collision avoidance system for unmanned aircraft at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The tests demonstrated the system’s ability to provide beyond line-of-sight flight safety for both small and mid-sized unmanned aircraft to help comply with FAA regulations and […]

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, tactical radars, and electro-optic and related mission system solutions, launched a “Type-Certifiable” (STANAG 4571) version of its Predator® B product line, called SkyGuardian™, this week before an audience of international dignitaries from nine nations including the United Kingdom, Italy, France, […]

It’s an exciting time for UAS operators as the pace of technological development makes more ambitious operational capabilities a reality. Trig Avionics is leading the way, launching their latest TT26, ETSO certified UAS transponder product. The TT26 is truly ground breaking, providing four vital functions to support on board autopilot systems. The one box TT26 […]