Tag Archives: NOAA

398 Cargo Drone

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The design for a large autonomous cargo drone, important noise research, Ford’s idea for a vehicle inspection drone, a high-speed VTOL concept challenge, identifying human trash on the beach, UAS in unsegregated airspace, Western parts in a Russian drone, the longest BVLOS waiver issued by the FAA so far, and an intelligent drone controller that “looks ahead.”

UAV News

Cargo drone concept from Natilus.
Cargo drone concept, courtesy Natilus.

Drones as Big as 747s Will Fly Cargo Around the World With Low Emissions, Startup Says

Natilus has designed a blended wing cargo drone that the company says allows it to carry 60 percent more cargo, slashes cost by 60 percent, and produces 50 percent fewer carbon emissions. Founded in 2016, the company announced $6 billion worth of pre-orders for over 440 of its aircraft. Four models are envisioned with cargo capacities ranging from 3.5 to 130 tons. Natilus has completed two wind tunnel tests and the first flight of a full-scale prototype is planned for 2023.

Video: Natilus Wind Tunnel Test 2021

Natilus Announces $6 Billion in Advance Purchase Commitments to Deliver Autonomous Cargo Aircraft to Customers

The advanced purchase commitments are for the delivery of 440+ aircraft in pre-orders, from Volatus Aerospace, Astral Aviation, Aurora International, Dymond Group, and Flexport. Others are to be announced. Flexport completed a $900 million investment round and has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for two 100T Natilus aircraft, with an option for a third.

Drowning Out the Sound of Drones

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are studying aeroacoustics using microphones in an anechoic chamber to test the frequency, wavelength, and amplitude of sound from drones. However, the “acceptable” noise level depends on where people are, the time of day, and the goal of the technology. For example, you might not mind the noise if the drone is delivering key medical supplies, but you might mind if it’s a pizza delivery to your neighbor.

Ford wants to hide spy drones in autonomous cars

Ford has patented a concept where a drone is hidden somewhere inside the vehicle, specifically, inside an autonomous ride-hailing car. The secret drone could inspect the vehicle for damage after the ride. Ford is co-owner of the Argo AI autonomous car company which plans a ride-hailing service.

Jaunt Air Mobility attracts market research investment to advance “U.S. DoD high-speed VTOL capabilities”

The AFWERX High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing (HSVTOL) Concept Challenge is a crowdsourcing effort for the United States Air Force and U.S Special Operations Command. Jaunt Air Mobility is one of 11 companies selected from 200 applicants to research solutions that enable optimal agility in harsh and difficult environments. Under the contract, Jaunt will develop two conceptual designs – the initial aircraft for the Multi-Mission Air Vehicle (MAV 55). That combines the features of a fixed-wing aircraft with VTOL. The AFWERX Challenge is a high-quality market research program, that uses design thinking workshops, crowdsourcing, events, and innovative contracting.

AI-enabled drones will tell human teams where to find marine debris

Researchers from Oregon State University and the NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) began a research project in June 2020, to use drones to identify human-made debris on the beach. Machine-learning algorithms were used to locate and classify synthetic-material objects. Drones would fly along the coastline and identify the debris to be removed.

Israel becomes 1st country allowing drones flight in civilian airspace: minister

The Israeli Civil Aviation Authority has given its approval for a UAS to operate in civilian airspace. The Elbit Hermes Starliner will be able to fly in the same unsegregated airspace as piloted vehicles. Planned missions include border security and anti-terror operations, security at large public events, maritime search and rescue, commercial aviation and environmental inspection, and precision agriculture work.

Russian drones shot down over Ukraine were full of Western parts. Can the U.S. cut them off?

A Russian surveillance drone was shot down in 2017 when Ukrainian forces were fighting Russia-backed separatists. When it was opened, the drone contained a German-made engine, navigation and communication chips made by U.S. companies, a motion-sensing chip from a British company, and Other components from Switzerland and South Korea.

The Longest Distance BVLOS Waiver Yet: Censys and Soaring Eagle Technologies

The BVLOS waiver is for 12 miles to inspect power lines. That’s the longest waiver the FAA has granted. Censys Technologies Corporation builds remote sensing solutions for UAS service providers, enterprise organizations, and government entities. Soaring Eagle Technologies is focused on structure inspections and aerial mapping. The companies are using Casia, the detect-and-avoid system from Iris Automation.

UAV Video of the Week

NFL Creates Super Bowl Show In The Sky With 500 Drones

The NFL flew 500 drones over the Convention Center to create a Super Bowl show in the sky.

Mentioned

Built-in Intelligence Comes to Small, Pilotless Fixed-wing Planes

Commercial controllers work well for simple paths, but high winds can cause a pilotless aircraft to go off course and crash. Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder are developing an onboard guidance algorithm for precision path-following. In tests, the controller allowed an autonomous drone to adjust to disturbances and modulate its airspeed as it followed a demanding path. It was faster and more accurate than a commercial guidance controller. The aircraft used a nonlinear numerical model for predictive control.

American Helicopter Museum

UAV Digest listeners can enjoy a one-year individual membership at a 50% discount. For $25.00 (normally $50.00) you get:

  • Unlimited admission to the Museum for one year, including the March 4 event, “The Helicopter and the Presidency.”
  • Two One-Day Guest Passes.
  • Admission to FamilyFest and SantaFest.
  • Invitations to Member Receptions.
  • 10% discount on gift shop purchases.

This offer is good through May 31, 2022, at this link.

383 Heavy-Lift UAS

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A heavy-lift UAS from BAE Systems, NOAA collects data from drones, drones cover motorsports events, bad weather affects delivery drones, Drone Racing League scores a sponsorship deal, Leonardo and Northrop Grumman working together, smuggling contraband, Volocopter eyes the U.S., building better batteries, Drone Safety Awareness Week, and the attack of the magpie.

UAV News

BAE Systems to build T-650 cargo quadrocopter with 300kg capacity

BAE Systems and Malloy Aeronautics want to develop an all-electric heavy-lift UAS targeted to missions for military, security, and civilian customers. The T-650 Heavy-Lift Electric UAS concept vehicle would accommodate payloads of over 300 kg with a range of 30 km on one charge of its batteries. The aircraft could fly autonomously or by remote control at a top speed of 140 km/h.

T-650 Heavy-Lift Electric UAS
T-650 Heavy-Lift UAS, courtesy BAE Systems.

NOAA Data Storage Needs May Grow as Drones Become Smarter

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration captures data with tube-launched fixed-wing drones, vertical-launch hexacopters, and even NASA’s Global Hawk aircraft. For many applications, the data is collected on-board, onto an SD card. But the amount of data is increasing as a result of AI-directed data collection and higher resolution sensors. Capt. Phil Hall, director of the NOAA Uncrewed Systems Operations Center in the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations:

The amount of data and data services is just the absolute key to all these uncrewed systems, whether they are marine systems or aviation systems. “Data archiving, data analysis, cloud storage networking — all those areas are priorities for NOAA.

Capt. Phil Hall

Video: Drones Aid NOAA Scientists with Hurricane Tracking and Animal Monitoring

The Best Way To Watch Rallycross Is From A Drone

Video coverage of a recent World Rallycross event in France was partly provided by a drone. The drone closely followed the action, just above the racers.

Video: FPV Drone Vs Rallycross Racing

Drones Fly Into Weather Data Deserts. Can They Be Stopped?

University of Calgary researchers recently published a paper that examined the impact weather had on flying commercial drones. The authors looked at historical data – temperature, wind, rain. The conclusion: weather restricts the average hours a drone can fly during the day.

Drone Racing League lands $100 million deal with crypto platform Algorand

The sponsorship deal with Boston-based Algorand is worth $100 million over five years, according to those with knowledge of the agreement. Algorand gets title rights to the League. DRL starts its sixth season on Sept. 29, 2021.

Leonardo and Northrop Grumman join forces on future rotorcraft UAS opportunities

Leonardo and Northrop Grumman plan to collaborate on VTOL air vehicle design, system architectures, payload optimization, and integration within next-generation battlespace architectures.

Man Sentenced To 3.5+ Years In Prison In Scheme Using Drones To Smuggle Contraband Into Federal Prison at Fort Dix

A New Jersey man was sentenced for conspiring to use drones to smuggle cell phones,  tobacco, and other items into a federal correctional facility. The former inmate participated in multiple deliveries of contraband by drone.

Volocopter shares plan to bring eVTOL urban air mobility to US starting with Los Angeles

Volocopter announced a partnership with Urban Movement Labs (UML) to bring UAM solutions to the Los Angeles area. If successful, this would introduce Volocopter eVTOLs to the US market. Volocopter CCO Christian Bauer:

Our partnership with Urban Movement Labs is a great entryway into the US with our innovative UAM services. By leading the conversation about urban air mobility with broad stakeholders in Los Angeles, Volocopter can strategically identify and address how our services can benefit cities in the country. More importantly, we are also gaining real insights into living transportation ecosystems in the US to build the best complimentary service to other modes of transportation for our future passengers.

Christian Bauer

Volocopter plans to launch its UAM services in the next 2-3 years, pending certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Certification from the FAA would be necessary for Volocopter to bring its eVTOL services to the US.

Batteries of the future set to be cheaper and better — just by adding sugar

Lithium-Ion batteries are made from toxic chemicals that are increasingly difficult to obtain. On the other hand, Lithium-Sulfur batteries are made with cheaper, safer, and easier-to-obtain materials that can store two to five times more energy per kilogram than lithium-ion batteries. 

National Drone Safety Awareness Week: We’re All In

National Drone Safety Awareness Week was hosted by the FAA Safety Team (FAAST). Short daily videos were published during the week featuring important safety topics. This was a collaboration between DRONELIFE, P3Tech Consulting, and a volunteer FAAST member and co-founder of Influential Drones.

Find the videos in the article and on the DRONELIFE  TV YouTube channel.

UAV Video of the Week

FPV drone video films sudden, determined magpie attack

“Everything in Australia wants to kill you, even birds!”

362 United eVTOL

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United Airlines plans to provide eVTOL service, hydrogen transportation for fuel cell UAVs, flying an uncrewed aircraft through a hurricane, drones meet law enforcement and privacy, and drones for STEM.

UAV News

United First Major Airline to Move on Electric Planes Starting with Uber-Like Service to Airports

United Airlines plans to have a role in the urban air mobility market with “last mile” transportation between airports and urban destinations using low-emission electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

The United eVTOL will be developed by partner Archer and carry four passengers up to 60 miles at speeds up to 150 miles per hour. United and regional affiliate Mesa Airlines have committed to purchase up to 200 of the planes in a deal valued at $1 billion.

High-Pressure Valve Developed for UAV Hydrogen Transportation

Without a special rated valve, transportation of full UAV-compatible hydrogen cylinders is not permitted. In the EU, the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive (TPED) specifies the safety requirements for transportable pressure equipment used exclusively for the transport of dangerous goods (Class 2) within the Union. Transportable pressure equipment is required to bear the Pi marking to indicate compliance with the directive. The US DoT also has a similar requirement.

Intelligent Energy, which offers hydrogen fuel cell modules and accessories for UAVs, developed the rated Pressure Tech CV414 valve. With it, you can transport full cylinders of hydrogen for powering drones. Andy Kelly, Head of UAV Product Development at Intelligent Energy says, “Now full UAV compatible cylinders can be transported; the next logical step is to get them delivered directly to our customers. We want it to be as straightforward as ordering barbecue gas and getting empty cylinders collected.”
Promotional video: Fuel cell power for UAVs

Drones That Hunt Hurricanes – NOAA Puts Some To The Test

Last month, NOAA scientists launched a small research drone from a Hurricane Hunter plane to collect weather data used for hurricane forecasts. The Altius-600 uncrewed aircraft created by Area-I was adapted for sampling weather data, can fly up to four hours and up to 265 miles, and is not recoverable after being used in a storm.

An Altius uncrewed research drone similar to those being tested by scientists aboard NOAA Hurricane Hunters. Courtesy of Area-I via NOAA.

The Altius-600 is the first of three small uncrewed aircraft systems NOAA is testing. The research supports NOAA’s Uncrewed Systems Strategy to expand the use of uncrewed systems. The development and testing of the uncrewed systems is also supported by NOAA’s Small Business Innovation Research Program.

Florida Legislation Could Bolster Police Use of Drones

State Senate Bill 44 unanimously passed the Florida Senate’s Criminal Justice Committee. It expands the use of drones by law enforcement and government agencies. Under the bill, drones could be used to assist with traffic management (but not to issue a ticket based on images or video captured by a drone), assist in collecting evidence at a crime scene or traffic crash scene. assess damage after natural disasters, and assist fire department personnel. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has raised privacy concerns. The bill is under review by the Senate’s Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Committee.

Drones for Schools: The North Carolina Educator UAS Cohort is a Model that Works

The North Carolina Educators UAS Cohort (NCEUASC) provides educators with support and training so they can effectively adopt drones as a tool in a STEAM curriculum. The Cohort provided all members with a Tello EDU fly more kit, as well as a one-year membership to drone curriculum provider DroneBlocks. The UAS Cohort is a partnership between the North Carolina Business Committee for Education, the North Carolina DOT, Nine Ten Drones, STEMERALD City, and media partner, Dronelife. In May 2021, the NCEUASC will be hosting a virtual competition for North Carolina students.

360 Mars Helicopter Ingenuity

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The Mars Helicopter Ingenuity travels to the Red Planet, UK Defence innovation criticized, Black Swift and GPS-denied navigation, online drone education, unmanned loyal wingman for the UK, Coke and Coffee drone promotion, and researching the impact of drones on ducks.

UAV News

6 Things to Know About NASA’s Mars Helicopter on Its Way to Mars

NASA’s Perseverance rover is scheduled to land on Mars on Feb. 18, 2021. It’s carrying Ingenuity, the Mars Helicopter in what NASA calls it “a technology experiment.” If successful, it will be the first powered, controlled flight on Mars.

Video: NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter: Attempting the First Powered Flight on Mars

Theseus, Daedalus and Icarus

Wavell Room argues that “UK Defence is well behind the curve” with respect to its Project Theseus for autonomous resupply on the battlefield.

NOAA Awards Black Swift Technologies Contract to Develop GPS-Denied Navigation for Drones

Loss of positioning signal (like GPS or GNSS) is an urgent situation for a drone. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded a contract to Black Swift Technologies. The company provides a commercially viable system that allows UAVs to navigate when GPS is not available. Black Swift plans to use a secondary navigation option with their diverse-source global positioning system (DS-GPS).

ODOT offers free online drone course

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is offering self-paced online courses for residents of Ohio. Sign up for the UAS Awareness Course or UAS Remote Pilot Certification Training at the ODOT website.

The United Kingdom Has Chosen Who Will Build Its First Prototype Loyal Wingman Combat Drone

The Royal Air Force says by 2023 they should have a prototype loyal wingman-type UAV flying. A $41 million contract for the prototype “uncrewed fighter aircraft” was awarded to Spirit AeroSystems as head of Project Mosquito. The drones would work together semi-autonomously with manned aircraft, such as the RAF Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35B Lightning, and the future Tempest stealth fighter.

Walmart perks up Coke promotion with drones

Coca-Cola has a new product line: Coca-Cola with Coffee. As part of the promotion, Coca-Cola and Walmart have teamed up where Walmart will provide drone-based home delivery to select consumers in Coffee County, Georgia through drone services provider DroneUp.

Duck count studies numbers and behavior with drones flying above them

University of North Dakota students and their student advisor have been counting duck pairs, recording nests, and studying how ducks react when a drone passes over them. The research project was performed last summer in the Missouri Coteau country of central North Dakota. Graduate student Mason Ryckman will use the findings in his master’s thesis, Protocols and Best Practices for Breeding Waterfowl Surveys Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Mentioned

Airplane Geeks podcast Episode 638 Geospatial Data for Airports, with guest Bob Vander Meer, vice president of business development for NV5 Geospatial.

UAV 324 Drones and the Pandemic

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Drones fight the pandemic through cloud-based drone technology, spraying disinfectant, and medical deliveries. Also, a first responder drone endurance challenge, NOAA’s new unmanned systems program, and some free drone training.

UAV News

New NOAA program to support and expand agency’s use of unmanned systems

NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, continues to expand their use of UAS to collect high-quality environmental data. To support this, NOAA is establishing a new Unmanned Systems Operations Program. The deputy NOAA administrator said, “Unmanned airborne and maritime systems are transforming how we conduct earth science at NOAA. Our new Unmanned Systems Operations Program will help us dramatically increase the application and use of these technologies in every NOAA mission area.”

The new program will be housed at two locations:

  • The NOAA Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Florida, will continue to support the agency’s unmanned aircraft activities. 
  • A new facility being built by the Mississippi State Port Authority in partnership with the University of Southern Mississippi in Gulfport, Mississippi, will support unmanned maritime systems.

The new Unmanned Systems Operations Program was a key goal of NOAA’s recently released  Unmanned Systems Strategy.

Emergency responders seek the last drone standing

The Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Safety Public Safety Communications Research has launched the First Responder UAS Endurance Challenge with cash prizes totaling $552,000. The challenge is designed to keep a UAS and its payload airborne for the longest time possible supporting first responders on the ground. Concept papers are due April 30, 2020.

First Responder UAS Endurance Challenge YouTube Channel

Drones Provide Planetary Protection During Pandemics and CT Company is Prepping to Power Them!

Aquiline Drones uses cloud-based technology to build drone-based solutions, The AD Cloud programs UAVs and unmanned ground-based vehicles (UGVs) with cloud-based command and control to conduct tasks such as:

  • Delivery of medical supplies to front-line healthcare workers
  • Transport of test results to labs
  • Delivery of medicine and urgent supplies to individuals quarantined at home
  • Disinfectant spraying into public pandemic areas
  • Serving as mobile public speakers to inform people of safety measures and tips
  • Patrolling high-risk areas with photoelectric sensors to enforce curfews
  • Monitoring health of employees with heat signature, infrared cameras
  • 24-hour surveillance of critical infrastructure

Kuala Lumpur is testing drones to sanitize high-rise buildings

Using manned crews to spray disinfectants is expensive and poses a safety risk. Test flights of spray drones are underway in Kuala Lumpur.

Coronavirus: Should the UK use drones to disinfect public spaces?

Some UK drone experts want prohibitions against spraying relaxed. They’d like to see drones spray disinfectant in public areas. Authorities aren’t convinced it’s effective.

Zipline will bring its medical delivery drones to the U.S. to help fight the coronavirus

Zipline has used drones effectively in Africa and they had intended to come to the U.S. later in 2020. But now Zipline wants to move that up. They envision:

  • Home equipment deliveries enabling telemedicine
  • Delivery of specialty medicines that aren’t available at local drugstores.
  • Delivery of masks and other PPE.
  • Vaccine delivery, when it becomes available

In a 2019 exercise with the Department of Defense, Zipline only took a couple of weeks to set up a new system.

What to do at home…

Using LAANC to Fly Drones in Controlled Airspace

This free course shows you the information you need to fly your drone in controlled airspace. Other King Schools drone test prep courses include:

UAV206 DJI and Data Security

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DJI drones come under attack for data transmissions, the U.S. Army responds, military installations get approval to take down drones, a Navy fighter is forced to take evasive action, automated approval to fly in airport airspace, and thrust-assisted perching.

DJI Phantom 4 Advanced

Phantom 4 Advanced, courtesy DJI.

UAV News

Drone Data Security

sUAS News describes the data they say is collected during the flight of a DJI drone, logged into your DJI Go app, and transmitted back to DJI Servers.

US Army calls for units to discontinue use of DJI equipment

The U.S. Department of the Army issued a “Memorandum for Record” directing military installations to “Cease all use, uninstall all DJI applications, remove all batteries/storage media from devices, and secure equipment for follow on direction.” This is in reaction to U.S. Army Research Lab and U.S. Navy studies that concluded there are operational risks associated with DJI equipment.

A government study found DJI drone, banned by US Army, kept data safe

In October 2016, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tested a DJI DJI S-1000 using a packet sniffer to monitor transmissions between the drone and the computer. NOAA’s report states that “The majority of transactions to the DJI servers were to login to DJI servers hosted at both Amazon Web Services and Linode to check for software updates. These transactions are quite common for software of this type, and nothing unusual was detected during the experiment.” Further, “There was no evidence whatsoever of any attempt by any software to transfer any data from the aircraft.”

However, one of the authors of the NOAA study observed a different result when he tested personal Phantom 3. The Phantom was sending encrypted data back to DJI servers.

New policy: Military bases can shoot down trespassing drones

In July, a classified policy was sent to the services from the Pentagon. More recently unclassified guidance was sent concerning how to communicate the new policy to local communities. Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said military installations “retain the right of self-defense when it comes to UAVs or drones operating over [them.] The new guidance does afford of the ability to take action to stop these threats and that includes disabling, destroying and tracking.”

Iranian drone forces US jet to take evasive action

A Navy F/A-18 had to make an evasive maneuver while trying to land on the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf. An Iranian QOM-1 drone came within 100 feet below the F/A-18 and 200 feet to the side.

50 Airports Across the U.S. to Adopt Automated Airspace Authorizations for Drones

The FAA Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) page says, “The FAA is currently in acquisition for the first step of a UTM system, the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC), which supports air traffic control authorization requirements for UAS operations conducted under the Special Rule for Model Aircraft (part 101e) and the Small UAS Rule (part 107). The current airport notification and airspace authorization processes are manual for the small UAS. LAANC will provide part 101 & 107 UAS operators a streamlined solution to enable real time automated notification and authorization.”

Now fifty airports will start using LAANC in Autumn 2017. UAS operators will be able to apply for automated authorizations to fly in controlled airspace around those airports.

UAV Video of the Week

Innovative Vertical-Landing Drone Can Stick to Walls Like a Fly

Researchers at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada have developed the fixed-wing Multimodal Autonomous Drone (S-MAD) that is capable of repeated perching and take-off cycles.

The S-MAD: A Drone Landing on Walls Like a Bird

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UAV169 The X-37B Space Drone

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The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, Part 107 implications for business, UAS for NOAA, and a drone detecting system.

X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle

X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle. Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force.

News

The Air Force’s space drone has been in orbit for over 500 days — and its mission is classified

The Boeing X-37B looks a little like a baby Space Shuttle, and its purpose is not public.

The Impact of Commercial UAVs on Corporate America Part 1

The author writes about the impact of UAV package delivery on the package delivery industry, and on companies that use that industry to ship products to customers.

Part 107: What We Got, What We Didn’t, What We Need

The article reviews the major rules in Part 107 and discusses the commercial implications of visual line of sight restrictions, and limits to flying over people.

Waves of Innovation

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) created the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Program in 2008 to evaluate UAS technology for use in NOAA operations.

Cherokee Nation Technologies continues support of NOAA-led program helping forecasters better predict hurricanes

Cherokee Nation Technologies is working with NOAA and NASA in the areas of hurricane forecasting and post-storm damage assessment.

DeDrone provides drone security for presidential debates

Technology from German company Dedrone GmbH has been used to protect U.S. presidential candidates.

Mentioned

70 Drone Blogs to Follow in 2017

 

 

UAV096 DOJ Drone Privacy Guidelines

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The SpriteDOJ privacy guidelines for agencies using drones, dumb drone flying, a drone-only store, interesting Kickstarter drone projects, NOAA says don’t mix drones and whales, drones as a tool for football practice, and a drone film festival.

News

What the Justice Department’s New Drone Rules Mean for Your Privacy

On May 22, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice announced agency-wide guidelines that set standards for the domestic use of UAS. These apply to the United States Marshals Service, FBI, DEA, and ATF.

In its announcement, the DOJ says, “The policy highlights protections of privacy, civil rights and liberties and makes clear that UAS use must be consistent with the protections afforded by the U.S. Constitution.  Justice Department components are barred from using UAS solely for the purpose of monitoring activities protected by the First Amendment, and components can only operate UAS on properly authorized investigations and activities.  The collection, retention and dissemination of information collected by UAS is also subject to Privacy Act protections.”

Here’s Some of the Dumb Stuff People Did With Drones Last Year

Last November the FAA released a list of 193 incidents of “drone misbehavior” reported to air traffic control officials in 2014. Incidents reported to law enforcement were not included so the actual count is most likely higher.

Drone Crashes, Hits 2 People During Marblehead Parade

A drone flying over a Memorial Day parade in Massachusetts lost control, crashed into a building, and hit two people – a woman on the shoulder and a man on the back of the head leaving some minor cuts. According to a police report, the drone operator was very apologetic and embarrassed. The FAA is investigating the crash.

Drones-only store opens in Beaverton

Beaverton Town Square in Oregon is now home to Drones Plus, a business featuring DJI drones. The store manager says they’ve had 1,500 people come in over the course of about three weeks. Drones Plus opened its first retail venture 1 1/2 years ago in Las Vegas, and now has stores in Los Angeles, Seattle, Toronto, and Studio City, California.

Meet Aexo and Sprite, New Rugged Camera Drones That Look Like Something Else Entirely

Two Kickstarter projects caught our attention:

  • The Sprite is a portable, rugged, vertical tube UAV with counter-rotating rotors. It’s waterproof and floats, with a high impact airframe and a high-def camera on a 1-axis gimbal. A 2-axis GoPro mount is available. From Ascent Aerosystems.

NOAA Says Drone Pilots Can’t Film Endangered Whales

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has put us on notice: Approaching by any means within 500 yards of a species “protected under the Endangered Species Act and the regulations governing Endangered Marine and Anadromous Species” is a violation. That includes using a drone to take video of a North Atlantic right whale, which someone did and posted on YouTube.

A NOAA Office of Law Enforcement Special Agent said, “We try to take an education and outreach approach and ask for people’s cooperation before we move forward with any enforcement action. The video itself could actually give the impression that it’s okay to engage in that type of behavior.”

He also said, “If you cause the animal stress, cause a change in its behavior, or cause the animal to try to interact with the drone, you run the risk of breaking the law.”

Cowboys Using Drones In Practice

The Dallas Cowboys football team is using drones to film practice sessions. This replaces the “old” method of using handheld cameras on the sidelines and end zone.

InterDrone Film Festival Announced

Video captured with a drone is to be judged in six categories: Natural Wonders, Cityscapes and Architecture, Action Sports, Acrobatics/Technical Skill, Storytelling, and Reel. The festival includes a People’s Choice Award in each category plus an overall Best in Show, which carries a Grand Prize of $2,000 or equivalent drone. Winners will be announced at InterDrone, the International Drone Conference and Exposition being held September 9-10-11 at The Rio in Las Vegas.

The show will feature special events (including a keynote with Chris Anderson, CEO of 3D Robotics and founder of DIY Drones) and networking opportunities as well as industry panels and two technical programs: Drone TechCon for builders, Drone Flyer for drone flyers and buyers, as well as Drone Business for the opportunities the market has to offer.

Video of the Week

The moment territorial goose swipes drone out of air

A goose attacks a drone flying over the Oudorperpolder area in Alkmaar, northern Netherlands. Seeing the drone as an intruder, the goose attacks the machine.

Mentioned

getwell

The special video created for David.

UAV006 Spy on the Chicken

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PUMA AE beach launch

PUMA AE beach launch. Courtesy AeroVironment, Inc.

This Episode:

The Reaper is turned into a Jammer, drones are spying on chickens in Australia, FAA rules for small UAS’s delayed again, UAV privacy questions remain, a new UAS Test Center in the UK, monitoring wildlife with a PUMA and the weather with a Global Hawk, FEMA shuts down Colorado UAV flights, and more multi-rotor’s come down in crowds.

The News:

Jamming Pod Demonstrated on MQ-9 Reaper UAV

General Atomics has fitted a Northrop Grumman jamming pod to an MQ-9 Reaper. The test flight occurred back in April during a U.S. Marine Corps weapons and tactics instructor (WTI) course, but has only recently been made public. Planned for the October WTI course is a demonstration with EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare (EW) jets and smaller unmanned aircraft.

Animal Liberation activists launch spy drone to test free-range claims

Australian activists are concerned that some large free-range chicken farms are not in fact free-range. So for $17,000 they purchased a hexacopter, fitted it with an HD video camera, and flew it over the farms to document their claims. The group says this does not violate trespass laws.

First Commercial UAS Flight Due; Small UAS Rule Delayed

An Insitu ScanEagle was expected to make the first commercial flight of an unmanned aircraft on September 11, under a restricted category type certification the FAA awarded in July. ConocoPhillips was to launch the ScanEagle from a research vessel in the Arctic Ocean west of Alaska to monitor whale migrations and ice flows.

The FAA’s release of a Notice of Proposed RuleMaking (NPRM) which would govern the operation of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) weighing up to 55 pounds has been delayed until early in 2014.

UAV Operations in National Air Space Advance as Privacy Fight Heats Up

The standards being developed for sUAS over: UAV design, including command and control systems, batteries, production, quality assurance, maintenance, and continued airworthiness, the aircraft flight manual, and operations over populated areas.

ASTM International developed the initial standards for the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Committee that was chartered in 2008. That feeds the NPRM process which includes a mechanism for public comment.

The ASTM standards committee for large UAS was unable to make enough progress, so it’s mission was changed to minimum operational performance standards (or MOPS) for detect-and-avoid equipment.

Unlike the slow rule-making progress for commercial UAS, Government agencies (like law enforcement and public safety) can move quickly as a result of the March MOU between the FAA and the Department of Justice.

UK Inaugurates National UAS Test Center

Two UK airports (West Wales Airport and Newquay Cornwall Airport) have launched a “National Aeronautical Center” (NAC) to develop, test and demonstrate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), both commercial and military.

More drones coming Saturday in NOAA tests

NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations is testing the PUMA UAS in the Florida Keys to monitor wildlife without disturbing them.

 

NASA Global Hawk

A NASA Global Hawk undergoes systems testing while parked on the ramp at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center on the edge of Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in preparation for participation in NASA’s Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes, or GRIP, hurricane mission.

Spy Drones Turning Up New Data About Hurricanes And Weather and NASA to Investigate Tropical Storm Humberto: Atlantic’s Second “Zombie Tropical Storm”

NASA is flying two Global Hawks from Wallops Island over Hurricanes under the five-year HS3 (Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel) Mission.

Falcon UAV Supports Colorado Flooding Until Grounded by FEMA

The Falcon UAV was providing valuable aerial imagery of the recent tragic Colorado floods. However, FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) has arrived with conventional manned aircraft and the Falcon was ordered to stand down.

Multirotor Crashes into Crowd in Spain and Pirate Party Crashes Spy Drone in Front of German Chancellor Angela Merkel

A hexacopter comes down into a packed crowd in Spain, allegedly injuring several people. Meanwhile, in Dresden, Germany at a political party campaign rally, another copter came down in front of the podium.