Tag Archives: FAA

427 Drone Safety Day 2023

Drone Safety Day is April 29, a drone that changes shape, jump-starting your car with a drone, Florida bans DJI from government agencies, decision-making for small UAVs, drones that work together without colliding, adding VTOL to a fixed-wing drone, agave farmers saving water, land a drone in Red Square.

Drone Safety Day banner.

UAV News

Drone Safety Day

Drone Safety Day is Saturday, April 29, 2023. The annual campaign is dedicated to educating the drone community on the importance of flying safely. You can download the 2023 Drone Safety Day Playbook  and 2023 Drone Safety Day Flyer. You can also visit the Drone@Home page to find ideas to participate at home. Register your event

Crazy shapeshifting drone inspired by dragons forces itself around objects

University of Tokyo graduate students created drone prototypes that can rearrange into different structural shapes midair. The drones have individual segments with multi-axis gimbal systems. Each segment has its own propulsion unit, that can thrust in any direction. The drones can change their configuration to hold or move objects. They’ve also developed the SPIDAR quadruped robot that has joints in each leg and can fly.

Could Drones Come Jump Start Your Car When You’re Stranded? Ford’s New Patent

This patent contemplates drones that assist motorists stranded with a dead battery. The Ford vehicle would transmit a “dead battery” signal and its location then a drone would fly to the vehicle, open the hood, connect to the battery, and jump-start the vehicle.

Despite police outcry, DeSantis administration bans Chinese drones

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is forbidding government agencies from using drones manufactured by DJI. Only drones made by a small number of “approved manufacturers” can be purchased. Agencies have until January 1, 2023, to stop using drones not on the list. Many departments have already grounded their fleets. They told lawmakers that the Florida-approved drones are far more expensive and much less capable.

Sen. Tom Wright, R-New Smyrna Beach said, I’m not going to let one officer risk his life or her life because somebody thinks that these things talk to China. I cannot imagine what China would really want to see when we pull over a DUI, when we stop a speeding car, when we arrest somebody for an outstanding warrant.”

Making the skies safer with smarter drones

University of Notre Dame computer scientists and engineers are developing an automated decision-making system for small drones under a $5.3 million 3-year NASA grant. Notre Dame will enhance NASA’s current drone traffic management system and develop decision-making software that permits or denies flight requests by evaluating a drone’s safety track record, equipment readiness, operator preparedness, and maintenance procedures.

MIT researchers create algorithm to stop drones from colliding midair

The Robust MADER system lets drones work together without collisions. Each drone calculates its own trajectory and checks with nearby drones to be sure it won’t collide with any of them. The system is an asynchronous, decentralized, multiagent trajectory planner. By broadcasting both the newly optimized trajectory and the committed trajectory, and by performing a delay check step, RMADER is able to guarantee safety even with communication delays. The new system has been validated through simulation and hardware flight experiments. A 100% success rate of collision-free trajectory generation was achieved.

FLARES system gives non-VTOL drones a VTOL boost

The Flying Launch and Recovery System (or FLARES) turns a fixed-wing drone into a VTOL. The FLARES aircraft is a multicopter drone with four propeller arms. A mechanism on the underside clasps onto the body of a fixed-wing drone. The pair then rise vertically. At altitude, FLARES releases the fixed-wing drone. FLARES is manufactured by Hood Tech and was primarily designed for use on ship decks.

Boeing’s Insitu subsidiary offers a package that includes its Integrator fixed-wing drone and Hood’s FLARES system. Integrator flight time is reportedly up to 16 hours with a maximum payload of 40 lb (18 kg). Insitu says that payload capacity would be lower if Integrator had its own integrated VTOL system.

Video: Integrator VTOL joins Insitu’s best-in-class products & technology

Diageo Drones Improve Efficiency of Tequila Farming in Mexico

Tequila producer Diageo started using drones in 2022 to identify agave plants that need pesticides, fertilizer, and water. The 2022 pilot developed the flying skills of the agave planters and introduced more efficient farming practices with environmental benefits.

The drones work in pairs: One identifies plants that need attention and collects agave growth data while the other dispenses a water, fertilizer, and pesticide mix. Water use is dropping by two-thirds.

Video: Society 2030 | Introducing drones to drive efficient tequila farming | Diageo

Ukraine launches competition to land a drone on Red Square during Russian military parade

May 9, 2023, marks Victory Day in Russia and parades celebrate the Soviet victory in World War II. To help “celebrate,” a competition with a cash prize was launched for landing a UAV in Red Square that day. A bank co-founder who is also the developer of the Dovbush drone said, “I am officially awarding a prize to a Ukrainian UAV manufacturer, whose aircraft, with the help of the military, of course, will fly and land on Red Square in Moscow on May 9”. The prize fund is currently £440,000 and there is an open invitation for those who would like to contribute to the fund.

421 Cargo Drone

A large autonomous blended-wing cargo drone and a smaller electric cargo drone, the Eaglet takes flight, taser drones at public schools, the GAO recommends the FAA create a comprehensive strategy, the Dronut for inspections, two MQ-9 Reapers for a Dollar, and a  BVLOS autonomous inspection solution.

UAV News

Artist drawing of the Natilus 3.8T cargo drone.
3.8T Cargo Drone, courtesy Natilus.

Drones will ‘push the boundaries of what is possible’ in air cargo

The Natilus Kona cargo drone looks a lot like the NASA X-48B blended-wing prototype. It’s autonomous so no need for pressurization and the blended wing design is efficient with up to a 50% reduction in emissions. It has a claimed 4.3-ton cargo capacity with a 900 nautical mile range. Natilus says they have “designed and developed” the aircraft. The patent-pending ‘Diamond’ cargo bay allows for 60% more volume. It’s designed for cargo and can hold a large configuration of standard pallets and outsized cargo. A remote pilot watches over.

World’s largest electric cargo plane unveiled, here’s how far it can fly on its own

Pyka unveiled a large, zero-emission autonomous electric cargo plane. The second-generation Pelican Spray is an autonomous electric aircraft designed for complex agricultural operations on farms. The Pelican Cargo features an extended range, increased payload capacity, and maximized cargo volume. A payload of up to 400 lbs can be carried in 66 feet of cargo space for a range of up to 200 miles (with a 20 min reserve). 

Video: Pyka Pelican Cargo Unveil – Large Autonomous Electric Cargo UAS

GA-ASI’s Eaglet Takes Its First Flight

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) conducted a flight demonstration of the Eaglet Air-Launched Effect (ALE) at the Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah. The Eaglet was launched from a U.S. Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) UAS. The Eaglet is a low-cost survivable UAV that can be launched from a Gray Eagle, rotary-wing aircraft, or ground vehicles.

Taser drones in schools? The idea isn’t completely kaput

There was some talk about the ethics of putting tasers on small UAVs to subdue dangerous people and using “shock drones” to protect schools. Several years ago, law enforcement company Axon asked its ethics board for input on the idea. After a year-long study, the board said it was not a good idea. Then the mass shooting at the school in Uvalde, Texas happened. Axon may be rethinking the idea.

FAA Should Improve Its Approach to Integrating Drones into the National Airspace System

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) says the FAA has developed planning documents to manage efforts to integrate drones into the national airspace, but it does not have a comprehensive strategy. According to the GAO, a comprehensive strategy includes seven elements and the FAA has only four of them. The FAA’s documents do not identify drone integration goals and objectives and they only partially include milestones and performance measures for all activities. The GAO recommends that the FAA address this as well as some other process deficiencies.

Cleo Robotics’ drones fly into tight spaces to gather data

The Cleo Robotics Dronut® X1 is a small bi-rotor ducted drone with no exposed propellers. It fits in the palm of your hand and is powered using bi-rotor thrust vectoring technology. Applications include inspections in dangerous and confined spaces and an ISR solution for GPS-denied environments.

Two MQ-9 Reaper UAVs just for a dollar but there are nuances

According to The Wall Street Journal, General Atomics is offering Ukraine two Reapers for $1.00. But Ukraine has to pay about $10 million to prepare and deliver them, and about $8 million for maintenance and support. The Pentagon would have to approve of the sale.

Flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight at Record-Breaking Altitude with Percepto

Percepto has FAA authorization to execute unmanned drone-in-a-box operations 200 feet above ground level without a pilot or visual observer on site. The FAA authorization is only for a large Texas solar power plant but Percepto will use this as a model for other industries, including oil and gas, mining, and utilities.

413 Community-Based Drone Organizations

FAA issues guidelines for community-based drone organizations, large Navy drone swarms, Iranian drone components, the 2023 FAA reauthorization bill, a large Chinese cargo drone, the Bell Autonomous Pod Transport, Russians with drones in Norway, plant specimen sampling with drones, a Wing drone comes to a fiery end, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

UAV News

FAA Updates Recreational Drone Flying Guidance

FAA logo

Recreational drone flyers are required to follow the safety guidelines of FAA-recognized community-based drone organizations. These organizations develop safety guidelines in coordination with the FAA. The FAA has issued guidance on how to become an FAA-recognized community-based organization for recreational drone flying. The FAA Advisory Circular 91-57C Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of Unmanned Aircraft provides a list of recommended safety guidelines. Applications for community-based drone organizations can be made through the FAA’s DroneZone website.

The US Navy wants swarms of thousands of small drones

According to budget documents, the US Navy wants to use thousands of small drones that flock together and overwhelm anti-aircraft defenses. Israel became the first nation to use swarming drones in combat in 2021. Other nations are working on swarms, including China, Russia, India, the UK, and Turkey.

Austrian engines, South Korean and Malaysian microchips, US parts found in Iranian Mohajer-6 drones

The examination of drones that have been shot down shows the international components they contain. The Iranian Mohajer-6 reconnaissance drone was powered by a Rotax engine. Rotax is investigating and said the company “have not authorized and has not given any authorization to its distributors to supply military UAV manufacturers in Iran or Russia.” Previously, microprocessors from South Korea and Malaysia, bought in violation of sanctions, were found in the Shahed-136 kamikaze drone. Both drones are used by the Russian military in Ukraine.

Drones and air taxis will be big part of FAA bill

Hearings for the 2023 FAA reauthorization bill are underway and the Senate Commerce Aviation Subcommittee is looking at “new entrants” into the airspace. eVTOL aircraft (Advanced Air Mobility – or AAM) will likely get a lot of attention this time.

China Flies Large Twin-Tailed Scorpion D Cargo UAS

The Twin-Tailed Scorpion D is claimed to be the world’s first large-scale, four-engined uncrewed aircraft system. The 18-minute test flight was deemed to be “trouble-free.” The Scorpion D is 10.5 m (34.4 ft.) long with a 20 m wingspan and a height of 3.1 m. The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 4.35 tons. The Scorpion D will be exhibited at Zhuhai Airshow 2022, which begins November 8, 2022.

Bell Brings Autonomous Cargo UAV To Air Medical Show

Bell brought its Autonomous Pod Transport (APT) eVTOL to the 2022 Air Medical Transport Conference in Tampa, Florida. The APT has been flying for several years and Bell hopes for a production version that will deliver 100 pounds, 100 miles, at 100 knots per hour.

Autonomous Pod Transport (APT). Courtesy Bell.
Autonomous Pod Transport (APT). Courtesy Bell.

Russian man arrested for flying drone over Norwegian airport

The 51-year-old man was arrested after flying over the Tromso Airport in northern Norway. Police seized a “large” amount of photography equipment, including the drone and memory cards. Police also found photos of the airport in Kirkenes, near the Russian border and of a Norwegian military helicopter. In February 2022, Norway’s Civil Aviation Authority banned Russians from flying or operating aircraft (including drones) in Norway. 

Drones Sample Rare Specimens from Cliffs and Other Dangerous Places

Drones are being used in Hawaii to capture specimens of rare and endangered plants in places that would be dangerous for humans. Historically, botanists would rappel down sheer rock faces to collect samples. A commercially available drone carries a second robotic machine named Mamba. The Mamba remote-controlled robotic arm was custom-built from scratch. It’s suspended from the hovering drone and picks the plant samples.

A Food Delivery Drone Hit Power Lines, Caught Fire, and Left Thousands Without Electricity

Subtitle: An Alphabet-owned Wing drone “incinerated itself” after it became entangled in power lines in Brisbane, Australia. On the bright side, the food stayed hot.

Danny Donald, a spokesperson from utility provider Energex, said: “We didn’t actually have to get the drone off, as such, it actually caught fire and incinerated itself.”

GA-ASI’s Gambit Series: The Future of Collaborative Combat Aircraft

With adversary aircraft and air defense systems improving, many are predicting a future with a mix of manned and unmanned aircraft. A new type of aircraft is emerging: the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is proposing the Gambit CCA family of aircraft built off a common Gambit Core.

Gambit concept. Courtesy General Atomics.
Gambit concept. Courtesy General Atomics.

UAV Video of the Week

Video: How a hive of 3D-printing drones could change construction | Mashable

A team of researchers at Imperial College London and Empa have been developing collaborative aerial drones that can 3D print buildings from a single blueprint. The drones are fully autonomous once in flight and have so far successfully completed tests with lightweight cement mixtures.

401 Air-One Vertiport Opens

A new vertiport opens in England, a new military tactical UAS, detect-and-avoid system deployment at a UAS test site, major Army drone swarm test, request for malicious drone legislation, NTSB wants more drones and pilots, DJI suspends business in Russia and Ukraine, and Drone Safety Day.

The Vertiport from Urban-Air Port.
Courtesy Urban-Air Port

UAV News

World’s first airport for drones opens in the heart of Coventry

An Air-One vertiport opened in Coventry, England for demonstrations of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. It is planned to remain in Coventry for at least a month then will move to other UK locations, and internationally. The circular vertiport structure with a central takeoff and landing zone includes traveler processing, arrival/departure lounge, baggage scanning, and retail.

Urban-Air Port Limited designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and operates infrastructure for urban air transport such as air taxis and autonomous delivery drones. The company wants to create a ground infrastructure that permits a “zero-emission-mobility ecosystem” and cuts congestion and air pollution. The company plans more than 200 vertiports worldwide over the next five years.

Meet ‘Phoenix Ghost,’ the US Air Force’s new drone perfect for Ukraine’s war with Russia

The Phoenix Ghost Tactical UAS was designed by the US Air Force and manufactured by AEVEX Aerospace. Similar to the Switchblade, it’s believed to be a single-use drone but the Pentagon isn’t providing any details.

NUAIR Partners with CAL Analytics and FAA

Under a Technical Assistance program with the FAA, CAL Analytics will deploy its detect-and-avoid system for low-altitude BVLOS operations at the New York UAS Test Site. NUAIR (the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance) manages the 50-mile Drone Corridor and FAA uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) Test Site at Griffiss International Airport in New York. 

The CAL detect-and-avoid service provides a suite of UTM services including situational awareness, conflict detection, health monitoring, and various weather services. The recent BVLOS Aviation Rulemaking Committee recommended that the FAA develop a methodology for approving safety-critical UTM services for BVLOS.

Army To Test Its Biggest Interactive Drone Swarm Ever Over Utah

The Army’s 2022 Experimental Demonstration Gateway Exercise (EDGE 22) will test up to 30 small networked drones launched from air and ground vehicles. This will include Area-I ALTIUS 600 drones and Raytheon-built Coyote drones. The swarm will use infrared sensors and electronic warfare payloads to detect enemy signals, establish their positions, and send the information back through the network to command posts and manned assault aircraft. The EDGE 22 exercise runs from April 25 to May 12, 2022, at Dugway Proving Ground near Salt Lake City, Utah.

The White House wants to counter the use of drones in the U.S.

The White House issued an action plan to deal with malicious drones: FACT SHEET: The Domestic Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems National Action Plan. The plan asks to “adopt legislation to close critical gaps in existing law and policy that currently impede government and law enforcement from protecting the American people and our vital security interests.” The action plan:

  1. Expands the set of tools and actors who can protect against UAS by reauthorizing and expanding existing counter‑UAS authorities for the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Defense, State, as well as the Central Intelligence Agency and NASA in limited situations. 
  2. Expands UAS detection authorities for state, local, territorial, and Tribal (SLTT) law enforcement agencies and critical infrastructure owners and operators.
  3. Creates a Federally-sponsored pilot program for selected SLTT law enforcement agency participants to perform UAS mitigation activities and permit critical infrastructure owners and operators to purchase authorized equipment to be used by appropriate Federal or SLTT law enforcement agencies to protect their facilities;
  4. Establishes a list of U.S. Government-authorized detection equipment, approved by Federal security and regulatory agencies, to guide authorized entities in purchasing UAS detection systems
  5. Establishes oversight and enablement mechanisms to support critical infrastructure owners and operators in purchasing counter-UAS equipment for use by authorized Federal entities or SLTT law enforcement agencies;
  6. Establishes a National Counter-UAS Training Center to increase training accessibility and promote interagency cross-training and collaboration;
  7. Creates a Federal UAS incident tracking database
  8. Establishes a mechanism to coordinate research, development, testing, and evaluation of UAS detection and mitigation technology across the Federal government;
  9. Enacts a comprehensive criminal statute that sets clear standards for legal and illegal uses, closes loopholes in existing Federal law, and establishes adequate penalties to deter the most serious UAS-related crimes; and 
  10. Enhances cooperation with the international community on counter‑UAS technologies, as well as the systems designed to defeat them.

National Transportation Safety Board Wants To Expand Drone Operations

The NTSB has a history of using drones in their investigations to document accident scenes and process the data using photogrammetry software. Currently, they have five pilots and seven drones but the NTSB wants more pilots and more drones.

Chinese drone maker DJI halts business in Russia and Ukraine

In an April 26 statement (DJI Reassesses Sales Compliance Efforts In Light Of Current Hostilities), the company said:

“DJI is internally reassessing compliance requirements in various jurisdictions. Pending the current review, DJI will temporarily suspend all business activities in Russia and Ukraine. We are engaging with customers, partners and other stakeholders regarding the temporary suspension of business operations in the affected territories.”

DJI

Ukrainian authorities claimed the Russian military was “using DJI products in order to navigate” missile attacks, and said DJI was complicit in Russian attacks. DJI has publicly stated they are opposed to their products being used for military purposes.

Drone Safety Day

The FAA has organized a National Drone Safety Awareness Week each year from 2019 through 2021. This year, however, the FAA is calling for a single Drone Safety Day, Saturday, June 18, 2022, with five focus areas:

  • Education – How to safely operate drones and highlighting how drones are being used in education.
  • Economics – Highlighting the economic, societal, and safety benefits of using drone technologies.
  • Equity – Opening opportunities for all operators.
  • Environment – Understanding the environmental and sustainability benefits of drone technologies.
  • Emergencies – Learn how drones are used in emergency situations such as: natural disasters, search & rescue, firefighting, public safety, and other uses.

On the National Center for Autonomous Technologies Drone Safety Day page, you can browse all the Drone Safety Day events, sign up to attend, and submit your own event.

UAV Video of the Week

Insane FPV Footage of Downhill Urban Bike Racing in Chile

The Red Bull Valparaíso Cerro Abajo urban downhill bike race is held annually in Chile. The 2-kilometer course goes down narrow staircases and alleyways and even through a house. A video of racer Thomas Slavik cycling through the run was filmed by the Dutch Drone Gods, considered to be among the best FPV drone pilots in the world.

395 Counter-UAS Contract

A $1B counter-UAS contract, Kittyhawk air mobility, sports game halted, no recreational drones in UAE, medical deliveries in the Navajo Nation, locating pets after a disaster, peeking at volcanos, an unidentified drone spotted, and a drone research contract at a UAS test site.

UAV News

US Special Ops Command Awards $1B Counter-Drone Contract

Anduril Industries has won a 10-year, $1 billion counter-UAS integration contract. Awarded by US Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Anduril is to “deliver, advance, and sustain” counter-UAS sensors and systems in a layered configuration. Anduril’s cUAS Lattice system includes a solar-powered Sentry Tower with sensors and the Anvil sUAS, all running on the Lattice operating system. The system “autonomously detects, classifies, and tracks targets, alerting operators to threats and allowing options for mitigation or engagement.”

A Larry Page-backed drone guru expects you to be a future passenger. Here’s why

Larry Page funded Kittyhawk and picked up a portion of 3D Robotics, co-founded by Chris Anderson, now the Kittyhawk COO. Kittyhawk pivoted from air mobility with a pilot to pilotless.

I am a drone guy, and this was the perfect, obvious next chapter, just bigger drones and the use case is so much more obvious, moving people from A to B more quickly and as cheaply as a car is the kind of mission I can get behind. On the tech side, there is no reason we can’t move a significant fraction of people off the roads and into the sky.

Chris Anderson

Premier League clash between Brentford and Wolves halted for 19 minutes due to a DRONE hovering over the west London stadium

Play of the English Premier League was halted due to an “unofficial drone” flying over the field. Both teams returned to the dressing rooms while a helicopter was used to try and shoo the drone away.

UAE bans flying of recreational drones after fatal attack

Recreational drones and light sport aircraft have been banned in the United Arab Emirates. This follows a fatal drone attack on an oil facility and a major airport. Also, some people were flying drones outside the area of their permits, often into areas where drones are prohibited. The penalty for violating the ban is heavy: Six months in jail and Dh100,000 fine for flying drones in the UAE, prosecutors says.

The “Healing Eagle Feather” project is a partnership between MissionGo and the Navajo Nation to deliver medical supplies and other essentials with drones to people in remote areas. Cargo includes insulin kits, prepackaged meals, large animal medicine, emergency communication devices, and anti-venom. In Episode 375 we talked with MissionGO’s Frank Paskiewicz, EVP of Cargo Operations, and Ryan Henderson, Lead Pilot.

Drones for Animal Rescue: Doug Thron Flies Around the World, Saving Pets and Wildlife After Natural Disasters

Douglas Thron is a photographer and drone pilot who travels to natural disasters and conducts animal rescues. He uses a Matrice 210 V2 drone with a FLIR XT2 camera and has found and rescued distressed animals around the world. The HBO Max TV show “Doug to the Rescue” chronicles the rescues.

Volcano-observing Drone Flights Open Door to Routine Hazard Monitoring

Under a long-term collaboration between NASA and Black Swift Technologies, the S2 UAS flew over the Makushin Volcano in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. The U.S. Geological Survey provided a payload that detects gases and collects visual and thermal images. The S2 fixed-wing drone is designed to carry scientific payloads in demanding atmospheric conditions.

Pilot Video And FAA Interview Reveal Bizarre Encounter With Unidentified Aircraft Over Atlantic City

An Air Force pilot flying a Diamond DA40 observed a strange drone above Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 16th, 2018. The KC-135 aerial refueling tanker pilot said the drone followed his aircraft.

Video: Unidentified Aircraft Encounter Over Atlantic City 9/16/18 Air-To-Air Video

FAA awards contracts for drone research at Grand Sky

More than $2 million was awarded to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and Appareo Systems LLC. GA-ASI will focus on detect-and-avoid technology while Appareo will examine how radio signals function at different altitudes and in different environments. They’ll also conduct research to evaluate the use of LTE cellular networks for unmanned aircraft. The companies will work in conjunction with the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, near Grand Forks Air Force Base.

UAV Video of the Week

Video: MONSTER WAIMEA BAY (part one) Heavy Carnage

Video: MONSTER WAIMEA BAY (part two) Taming The Beast

382 RaceDayQuads v. FAA

RaceDayQuads v. FAA and the Remote ID rule, drones for law enforcement and telehealth, Russian attack drones and drones that recharge from power lines, a DARPA program for underwater drones, and finding lost hikers.

UAV News

D.C. Circuit May Blow Up the Remote Identification Rule for Drones

Oral arguments were heard in the RaceDayQuads v. FAA case where the FAA’s remote identification (RID) rule is being challenged.

In brief, the RID rule applies to small drones (0.55-55 lbs) which would broadcast a “digital license plate” over WiFi and/or Bluetooth with a unique identifier, position, altitude, velocity, control station coordinates, and other “message elements.” The broadcast would be openly accessible by anyone. 

This RID capability must be either hardwired into the drone (Standard Remote ID) or attached externally in the form of a module (Broadcast Module RID or BMID). Drones without RID can only fly in FAA-recognized identification areas (FRIAs) under the purview of community-based organizations and educational institutions.

Manufacturers have until September 2022 to comply. Drone operators have until September 2023 to comply.

RaceDayQuads (RDQ) is a large online retailer that supports first-person view (FPV) drone-racing customers. RDQ’s co-founder and CEO, Tyler Brennan said he seeks “to protect the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens to be free from unreasonable searches from the government when they are flying in their own backyards.” RDQ alleges that:

  • The rule is a violation of the Fourth Amendment because it allows warrantless tracking in a backyard.
  • The FAA arbitrarily and capriciously relied on undisclosed ex parte communications during the rulemaking process.
  • The final rule was not a logical outgrowth from the NPRM.
  • The FAA failed to comply with a legal mandate to consult with Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
  • The FAA failed to address significant public comments as required by the Administrative Procedure Act. 

For its part, the Government contends:

  • Merely requiring RID technology onboard a drone does not equate to an unreasonable search. 
  • Planes flying in public view do not give rise to a reasonable expectation of privacy.
  • Even if the rule did violate the Fourth Amendment, the special needs exception would legally justify it.

A ruling is likely to come sometime in early 2022. 

Autonomous drones to respond to gunshots in new policing system

US company ShotSpotter and Israel-based Airobotics are teaming to provide Israeli law enforcement agencies with a system that detects and locates gunfire, alerts the police, and provides live drone video footage and stills of the scene. ShotSpotter would identify and locate the sound of gunshots with a network of acoustic sensors. Airobotics would deploy its autonomous drones to the ShotSpotter coordinates.

Special Delivery: Drones bring the doctor to you: Medicine’s next big thing?

Manish Kumar, Ph.D., Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati says, “We are building a telehealth drone that will have the ability to go inside people’s homes.” Engineers are designing and testing a system with sensors that allow the drones to maneuver through a front door and into a patient’s living room. Patients would connect with a doctor for a telehealth appointment. A medical kit on the drone would be used to measure and transmit health information.

Russian Orion Drone Downs Unmanned Copter

In a video, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) shows an Orion reconnaissance and attack drone that fired an air-to-air missile and destroyed a hovering unmanned helicopter. The drone is also to be fitted with an electronic warfare suite “to defend itself against missiles…and to suppress any enemy systems in the interests of other units on the battlefield.” 

Video: Первое применение беспилотника «Орион» по воздушной цели

Russia Developing Drones Chargeable From Power Lines

The drone clamps onto a power line and charges its battery. While charging, the camera is operational and the drone adjusts its position. After it’s charged up, the current clamp disconnects, and the drone flies away. This comes from the Tyumen Higher Military Engineering Command School.

These New Underwater Drones Made By DARPA Take Inspiration From Manta Rays

DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, awarded Phase 2 contracts to prime contractors Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation and Martin Defense Group. Each is developing full-scale demonstration vehicles for the Manta Ray program.

Video: Manta Ray – Breaking the UUV mold

Virginia fire department finds lost hikers via drones on Christmas

Two hikers were reported missing on Christmas at Sharp Top Mountain near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. The Bedford (Virginia) Fire Department was dispatched to find the hikers. They set up a command post, launched a drone that found the hikers, and sent in rescuers to guide them out.

388 12 Days of Drones

FAA launches the “12 Days of Drones” campaign, the dangers of drones to aircraft, injunctions against local drone rules, $9,000 drone from Sony, long-endurance electric solar drone, amphibious drone tanker, and a Navy drone hub.

UAV News

Looking to buy a drone this holiday? These are the FAA operating rules, regulations

The FAA’s “12 Days of Drones” educational campaign is underway to help the public understand how to fly holiday drones safely.  The campaign’s safety messages will be posted on the FAA Drone Zone Twitter and Facebook accounts throughout the week. The FAA also released a new video reminding everyone of the rules and regulations that drone pilots must follow.

Aviation expert weighs in on how to decrease drone dangers to aircraft

Captain John Cox says geofencing, FAA prioritization and enforcement, and increased requirements for drone licensing could help the situation.

Michigan judge blocks county’s drone ban on public properties

A circuit court judge in Michigan issued an injunction that blocks Ottawa County from restricting drone flights in parks and banning them at other public properties. It also prohibits the local authority from restricting recordings at county land or facilities. The judge ruled that local restrictions violated Michigan’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act (UASA) which defers to federal laws. The Michigan Coalition of Drone Operators filed the complaint.

Sony’s $9,000 pro drone starts shipping Christmas Eve

The Sony AirPeak S1 is a pro-level quadcopter designed for the Sony Alpha series of full-frame mirrorless cameras. Sony developed the propulsion device and flight control system. Flight time is up to 22 minutes without a payload. Retractable landing gear provides an unobstructed camera field of view. Pre-orders are open and the estimated ship date is December 24, 2021. The suggested retail price is $9,000. Gimbal ($2,200), camera, and lens sold separately

Video: Key features | Airpeak S1

E-solar-thermal drone flies marathon test mission

The K1000ULE is an electric-, solar-, and thermal-powered UAV that comes from California startup Kraus Hamdani Aerospace, which focuses on “ultra long-endurance unmanned aerial systems.” Onboard sensors scan for thermals and when found the motor shuts off, the blades retract, and the aircraft goes into glider mode.

Video: K1000ULE Promotional Video

Video: K1000ULE (Revision-C) UAV Full Video

On the horizon, a 1,000-gallon scooping amphibious drone air tanker?

Drone America has two versions of a twin-engine amphibious drone: the Ariel Mark2 with a load capacity of 350 pounds, and the larger Ariel ScooperDrone UAS. The ScooperDrone should be able to scoop up to 1,000 gallons of water off a lake then drop it on a wildfire.

“Designed as part of a squadron, the Ariel Scooper Drone would provide autonomous fire attack and water scooping. The Ariel system can also be used to transport oil, diesel, even water and dry supplies to remote locations when not being utilized as a fire air tanker.”

Drone America website

US Navy Announces Jordan-Based Joint Drone Hub

The US Navy and the Jordanian navy are creating a Red Sea-based drone operations joint hub. Task Force 59’s new Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel (USV) will be operated from a Royal Jordanian naval base. The Saildrone USV will perform autonomous long-range data collection missions in ocean environments. It features wind-powered propulsion, solar-powered meteorological and oceanographic sensors, and advanced acoustic and camera systems.

UAV Video of the Week

Video: Walmart Drones Drop Jerseys in Partnership with Arkansas Razorbacks

Walmart delivered a Razorback jersey via drone each time Arkansas scored in its game against Missouri. Drones were operated by DroneUP.

Mentioned

Avy presents the world’s first Drone Response Network

The Dutch company Avy launched a Drone Response Network that combines docking stations and VTOL autonomous aircraft. The network offers drone coverage in a certain area and enables rapid deployment to support medical deliveries or emergency services during critical incidents. First flights are planned for the first quarter of 2022.

373 ASRS for UAS Operators

The NASA/FAA ASRS safety reporting system is now extended to UAS operators. Also, an autonomy Level 4 drone, learning from dragonflies, a triple-drop drone, a possible ADS-B solution for UAVs, getting your groceries delivered in Ohio, and a virtual UAS Symposium.

UAV News

FAA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) now available for drones

NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) collects confidential information about near misses from pilots and others. The data is used by the FAA to make aviation safer while maintaining confidentiality to maximize the number of incidents reported. Aviation Safety Reporting Program (ASRP) for UAS describes how “NASA’s ASRS has a reporting form tailored to the UAS community. This will ensure that the safety data that is collected will result in actionable information for the entire aviation community.”

Exyn Technologies’ drones achieve autonomy milestone with on-board mapping

Drones from Exyn Technologies have reached “Level 4A” autonomy and can explore a designated 3D area without a remote operator and operate without GPS. All spatial and mapping computations are done onboard, and unlike Level 3 autonomy, they do not  require an operator who can take over if required.

The company says, “We developed an autonomous system that can take you into dark, dirty, dangerous environments. Place it at the edge of danger and send it off to collect the information that you need. Oftentimes the information you need is beyond the line of sight, both in terms of communications as well as visual.”

See The 6 Levels of Vehicle Autonomy Explained for more.

Future drones likely to resemble 300-million-year-old flying machine

Researchers at the University of South Australia designed and tested components of a dragonfly-inspired drone. They describe the dragonfly as the “apex insect flyer” because of its flying abilities. The team modelled the aerodynamic properties of the dragonfly’s body, studied dragonfly wing geometry of 75 species, and created 3D images of the wings. The researchers believe drones that mimic dragonflies could perform many tasks, such as collecting and delivering unbalanced loads, safely operating near people, exploring delicate natural environments, and executing long surveillance missions.

Published in the journal Drones, 27 March 2021: Biomimetic Drones Inspired by Dragonflies Will Require a Systems Based Approach and Insights from Biology

Wingcopter debuts a triple-drop drone to create ‘logistical highways in the sky’

Wingcopter is a German startup that calls their Wingcopter 198 “the world’s first triple-drop delivery drone.” It’s fully autonomous, fixed-wing, BVLOS, and one operator can manage up to 10 Wingcopter 198s simultaneously. It has quick-swap batteries and can deliver up to 3 packages in a single flight. The company is currently pursuing certification from the FAA that would allow it to operate commercial flights in the United States.

New Patent Integrates UAS into National Airspace Systems, Enables ADS-B Inert & Alert Capability

The patent from uAvionix (U.S. Patent 10,991,260) is titled “Intelligent Non-Disruptive ADS-B Integration for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).” The uAvionix patent claims to allow UAS to use ADS-B in a way that minimizes spectrum use. Under the Inert and Alert Concept, the UAS ADS-B solution stays “inert” or in a “listen” mode that is not broadcasting. However, when a safety-critical event takes place, the UAV begins broadcasting its ADS-B position as an “alert.” Once the conditions are safe again, the system reverts to its “inert” state.

Kroger to Deliver Groceries Via Autonomous Drones in Ohio

Forget something for your picnic or barbeque? Drones can help you out in Centerville

Supermarket chain Kroger wants to deliver groceries with autonomous drones, and they are starting a pilot program in Centerville, Ohio, south of Dayton using drones from Drone Express. Test flights near the Kroger Marketplace in Centerville will be managed by licensed Drone Express pilots from an on-site trailer, with additional off-site monitoring. Customer deliveries should begin within a few months and a second pilot is scheduled to start this summer at a Ralphs store in California.

FAA To Host Second Virtual UAS Symposium

The FAA has announced that it will be hosting a two-part virtual UAS/drone symposium in 2021. What the FAA is calling Episode III is scheduled for June 9-10. Episode IV is September 14-15. The FAA notes, “Each episode will feature keynote presentations, expert panels, guided and non-guided networking discussions, one-on-one meetings with experts in the FAA UAS Support Center, and informational sessions with live Q&A.”

Episode III in June will focus on international operations, STEM, public safety operations, recreational drone operations and commercial drone operations.

Episode IV will address UAS traffic management, technology, the FAA BEYOND program, advanced air mobility and international operations.

The symposium is co-hosted by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI).

FAA UAS Symposium program

Commercial UAV Expo Americas, September 7-9, Las Vegas

Showcasing the global commercial UAV industry, with a special focus on solutions in the Americas region and urban air mobility. Collocated with the Urban Air Mobility Summit.

Commercial UAV Expo Europe, December 7-9 Amsterdam

In its third year, this show co-locates with Amsterdam Drone Week for 2021. This leading pan-European conference and expo is focused on commercial drones.

Video of the Week: 

The makers of that Bryant Lake Bowl drone video now have a Mall of America version

Rally Studios of Minneapolis released a first-person video from the Mall of America and its indoor theme park, Nickelodeon Universe.

Video: The Quack Attack is Back

366 American Security Drone Act of 2021

The American Security Drone Act of 2021 incorporates drone detection and mitigation systems, an RFI is released for an MQ-9 Reaper replacement, one drone is on Mars and another is planned for Titan, the Choctaw Nation partners with the FAA, and US drone registrations plummet.

UAV News

Uncovering the legality and security of radio frequency based drone detection systems – 5 questions to ask technology providers

U.S. laws and regulations restrict what the public can do for drone detection and mitigation. To help non-federal public and private entities navigate federal laws and regulations, the Department of Justice, FAA, Department of Homeland Security, and the FCC published Advisory on the Application of Federal Laws to the Acquisition and Use of Technology to Detect and Mitigate Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The bipartisan American Security Drone Act of 2021 would modify the American Security Drone Act of 2019 to incorporate drone detection and mitigation systems.

MQ-9 Reaper Replacement Requirements Now Include Air-To-Air Capability In Contested Airspace

The U.S. Air Force has released a request for information for the MQ-Next program to replace the MQ-9 Reaper. The Air Force seeks a drone with defensive counter-air capabilities so it can protect high-value manned aircraft, like tankers, and potentially fly red air aggressor missions. A previous RFI from June 2020 focused on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and strike capabilities. The scope of the RFI is now expanded.

NASA preparing to fly Ingenuity Mars drone, enabling future airborne missions

Ingenuity flights are expected to begin in 30-60 days with a flight window is planned to last 30 days. The first flight is planned to be a simple 20-30 second low altitude hover test before landing with longer flights to follow. The Dragonfly large drone is set to launch in 2027 and land on Saturn’s largest moon Titan in 2036.

FAA, Choctaw Nation Team Up to Advance UAS

The FAA and the Choctaw Nation have partnered to study how UAS can best transport cargo, including parcels, at lower altitudes. The FAA’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC), signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The two will study human factors, supply chain management, and air traffic control using a virtual simulated urban environment. One goal of the MOU is to promote interest in STEM programs for students seeking possible careers in aerospace.

Drone Registrations With FAA Plummet By 50%

The total number of recreational flyer registrations and commercial-registered drones were aircraft 1,746,248 in December 2020. A large number of drone registrations expired in December 2020, after the three-year registration period. The FAA is continuing to review the registration data and plans to launch a drone registration information and awareness campaign later this year.

UAV Video of the week 

Right Up Our Alley

364 The Recreational Drone Test

How to become a drone test administrator, Ingenuity phones home from Mars, lessons of the dot-com crash and the eVTOL market, a Skunk Works “Speed Racer,” Naval resupply with an autonomous UAS, and a new animated drone show record.

UAV News

The FAA wants you… to be a drone test administrator

The FAA developed a 3-step process to implement a nation-wide system to train and test all recreational drone pilots. Test content development and test administration is complete, now the FAA needs volunteers to become an FAA Approved Test Administrator of The Recreational UAS Safety Test (FAA Approved TA TRUST). The FAA is inviting interested parties to submit applications to become testers and will announce selected test administrators in June 2021.

See: FAA Seeks TRUST Administrators for Drone Pilot Test and Aeronautical Knowledge and Safety Test Updates.

The first helicopter on Mars phones home after Perseverance rover landing

The Ingenuity helicopter that was carried to Mars by the Perseverance rover is successfully communicating with controllers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. A series of battery charging cycles will take place, then the helicopter will be released by the rover. A 30-day experimental flight test window will follow. The JPL said, “If Ingenuity succeeds in taking off and hovering during its first flight, over 90 percent of the project’s goals will have been achieved. If the rotorcraft lands successfully and remains operable, up to four more flights could be attempted, each one building on the success of the last.”

Entering the era of peak uncertainty for eVTOLs

Is the emerging air mobility market repeating the scenario that took place before the dot-com crash? Valuations are not connected to market fundamentals, we see significant technology trends, and an there is an inability to distinguish fact from hype. Also, power sources and capacities are not established, and viable eVTOL applications are not uncertain. Will people embrace UAM and who will be the corporate winners and losers? The crystal ball is cloudy.

Secretive New Skunk Works UAS Set For Ground Testing Soon

The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is about to start ground testing the “Speed Racer.” The name is an acronym, but its meaning is unknown. The vehicle is part of the StarDrive initiative where the U.S. Air Force wants to unite digital engineering tools for the design, manufacturing, and sustainment phases of new weapon systems. Lockheed intends that StarDrive will reduce the time and cost of producing and operating new flight vehicles for the military. 

Navy Tests Autonomous Aerial Supply Drone From Its Newest Supercarrier

On Feb. 21, 2021, the U.S. Navy demonstrated a small, autonomous VTOL unmanned aircraft that delivered “light-weight logistical equipment” to the USS Gerald R. Ford. The payload was transported from the Mid Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia to the Ford. The Blue Water UAS was commercially procured in October 2020. It’s a version of the Skyways V2.5 Hybrid-Electric that features an AI-driven flight system, maximum range of 500 miles, and maximum payload of 30 pounds.

Courtesy U.S. Navy.

UAV Video of the Week

Hundreds of drones took Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ to the skies — and set a Guinness World Record

Six hundred drones told the story of Van Gogh’s life in the night sky over China’s Tianjin Municipality, setting a Guinness World Record for the longest animation performed by unmanned aerial vehicles – 26 minutes and 19 seconds. The display was created by drone production company EFYI Group, along with Tianjin University.

Video: Unbelievable DRONE display – Guinness World Records