Tag Archives: package delivery

330 Passenger Drone Hotel

A passenger drone hotel, a pub drone for beer delivery, UFOs that might be drones, distance-learning UAS education, flying creatures make drones better, measuring whales from above, and a close encounter with the Blue Angels.

UAV News:

A Passenger Drone Hotel: EHang and LN Holdings Make it a Reality

EHang plans to create a passenger drone hotel in China. Hotel guests could travel to and from the hotel via EHang’s passenger drones and they could take sightseeing tours of the area with the drones. The first passenger drone hotel will be in a Guangzhou coastal district. EHang and the Chinese government have an agreement to establish Guangzhou as “China’s first and the world’s leading UAM smart city.”

Video: EHang Joins Hands with LN Holdings in Building the World’s First “UAM” Theme Hotel

Irish pub using drones to fly beer to its customers during COVID-19

The doors of McKeever’s Bar and Lounge outside Dublin are closed during the pandemic. But thirsty customers have an option since McKeever’s is now using a drone to fly beer and wine to patrons.

Newly released incident reports detail US Navy’s ‘UFO’ encounters

Videos of US Navy F/A-18 fighters encountering “unidentified aerial phenomena” have been circulating for some time, and the Pentagon has officially declassified and released the videos. Now the Navy has publically released incident reports that describe many of the unidentified aircraft as “Unmanned Aerial Systems.”

  • In June 2013, the encountered “aircraft was white in color and approximately the size and shape of a drone or missile.”
  • In November 2013, the aircraft was described as having a 5-foot wingspan. “…the aircraft was determined to be a UAS.”
  • From a March 2014 incident: “The unknown aircraft appeared to be small in size, approximately the size of a suitcase, and silver in color.”

How Are Drone Programs Utilizing Distance-Learning Setups?

The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide Campus offers distance-learning for some of their drone programs. Christian Janke, the Program Chair for the Bachelor of Science in Unmanned Systems Applications program offered by ERAU, was interviewed by Jeremiah Karpowicz for Commercial UAV News. The ERAU Worldwide Campus offers distance-learning.

How the wings of owls and hummingbirds inspire drones, wind turbines and other technology

“…biomimicry draws inspiration from natural inventions to design and improve upon our current technologies.” The hummingbird offers large wing muscles to continuously flap their wings, a long chest bone for the surface area needed for those muscles, and a figure-8 wing-beating pattern. The AeroVironment’s Nano Hummingbird prototype for DARPA (the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) draws on these qualities.

Video: Stunning Slo-Mo Footage of Hummingbirds Hovering in Air

Video: AeroVironment’s Nano Hummingbird – 360 degree Lateral Flip

Meanwhile, the owl employs silent tactics, despite it’s huge wings. Owl wing feathers have leading-edge serrations that break up the turbulence that causes noise. Also, fringes at the end of the feathers further disburse turbulence and reduce noise. Similar turbulence-disrupting structures can reduce the noise produced by wind turbines and fans.

Video: Experiment! How Does An Owl Fly So Silently? | Super Powered Owls | BBC

I measure whales with drones to find out if they’re fat enough to breed

Many whales and dolphins spend little time at the surface of the water, so they are hard to find and difficult to study. A Southern Cross University PhD candidate and scientist plans to use drones to find and measure the length and width of whales. Using photogrammetry techniques, video will be recorded of humpback and pygmy blue whales in Australian waters. With the measurements taken, the size and volume of a whale can be calculated. This provides an indication of its health.

Video: See Blue Whales Lunge For Dinner in Beautiful Drone Footage | National Geographic

Drone Flies Dangerously Close to Blue Angels in Detroit America Strong Flyover

The name Giovanni Lucia has been associated with a drone video of the Navy Blue Angels America Strong flyover in Detroit, Michigan on May 12, 2020. At one point, the Blue Angels fly past the drone at an apparently very close range. The video is currently on the Moss Photography YouTube channel, copied from Lucia’s FB page before he took it down.

UAV 324 Drones and the Pandemic

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:

316 DJI Responds to US Government Restrictions

DJI takes off the gloves and issues a statement of displeasure, Japan Airlines looks at the drone delivery business, why we need standards, drones shut down the airspace over a fatal crash, the Army launches a new counter-drone office, stalking with a drone, and were mystery drones really mass hysteria?

UAV News

DJI Statement On U.S. Department Of Interior Drone Order

DJI says they are “extremely disappointed by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) order… which inappropriately treats a technology’s country of origin as a litmus test for its performance, security and reliability.” Further, “This decision makes clear that the U.S. government’s concerns about DJI drones, which make up a small portion of the DOI fleet, have little to do with security and are instead part of a politically-motivated agenda to reduce market competition and support domestically produced drone technology, regardless of its merits.”

Japan Airlines and Yabu City in Japan to trial UAV delivery trials

Japan Airlines wants to offer a medical supply delivery service to remote areas using UAVs. Meanwhile, Yabu City has been using drones for agriculture applications and they want to expand into other fields, like disaster, logistics, and medical care assistance. Starting in the Spring of 2020, Japan Airlines and Yabu City will collaborate on UAV trials using Terra Drone Corporation UAV technology.

Developing Drone Standards Is Key to Successful Growth in the UAV Industry

The potential UAV market is recognized as huge, but growth depends on having public standards, frameworks, and certifications. Last April, the Drone Advisory Council of CompTIA released Drone Standards and Best Practices which is targeted to companies who want to implement UAS operations internally or through outsourcing. There is still much to be done and CompTIA’s chief technology evangelist will represent CompTIA’s members and work with the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). The AIA wants to have a completed standards protocol by Q2 or Q3 2020.

So many drones and aircraft swarmed the site of Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crash that the FAA was forced to close the airspace

A recent crash of a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter in California killed 9 people, including Kobe Bryant. So many drones showed up that the FAA had to issue a temporary airspace restriction for 5 nautical miles from the crash site, up to 5,000 feet.

Defense Department to Stand Up New Counter-Drone Office

The military is concerned about small weaponized drones. The Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord said, “We see that small UAS are becoming a more popular weapon of choice … [and] we need to be agile and pivot to that challenge.” A new counter-unmanned aerial system office will be created under the Army.

Untangling Maine’s Drone Stalking Mystery

A woman in Gorham, Maine says a drone has been following her over the course of several days. When responding to her call, law enforcement also observed the drone.

What happened to the mysterious Colorado drones?

NBC affiliate KUSA in Denver says those mysterious drone sightings have significantly dropped off. Are the drone gone? Were there ever any drones? The Colorado Department of Public Safety issued a news release that calls into question the credibility of the sightings. See also, The Colorado Mystery Drones Weren’t Real.

315 PrecisionHawk Leadership Change

PrecisionHawk appoints a new CEO, a plan to deliver cannabis in Seattle with drones, flying medical specimens to the lab with UAS, a Chinese 3-engine MALE drone, taking down small drones with an F-16, a Gremlins maiden flight, and a drone solution to parasitic disease in humans.

UAV News

We’re Welcoming James Norrod as CEO of PrecisionHawk

James Norrod has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of PrecisionHawk. Norrod has 25 years of experience leading companies and “specializes in forming strategic partnerships, optimizing domestic and international operations, establishing new sales distribution channels, and developing management teams.” Previous CEO Michael Chasen will lead PrecisionHawk’s advisory board and continue to act as chair of the FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee.

Deloitte, Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine Announce Project to Accelerate Medical Sample Delivery Via Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Genomic test results for acutely ill babies and children would get back to the medical team more quickly if the specimens were flown to the lab in a UAS, instead of using slower ground transportation. Deloitte Consulting principal Josh Nelson says, “This UAS project is an innovation to speed transport and delivery of samples to their lab. Together with [the Children’s Institute], we plan to go from strategy to testing to operational and develop a blueprint for other health care organizations to use.”

Three-engined variant of China’s Tengden TB001 UAV makes maiden flight

China showed images said to be of the first flight of the Sichuan Tengden Technology Company TW328/TB001 UAV. The strike-capable, reconnaissance MALE UAV is a new three-engined variant with an overall wingspan of 20 m and an 11 m length. The maximum take-off weight is 3.2 tons with an endurance of 35 hours.

Air Weapons: The Little Little UAV Killer

The U.S. Air Force tested a system where an F-16 fighter shoots down a small UAV with a laser-guided missile. The APKWS II (Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System) uses a targeting pod that spots and identifies small flying objects. It enables the pilot to launch an AGR-20A missile that can hit slow-moving targets, UAV of all sizes, and cruise missiles.

Dynetics’ X-61A Gremlins air vehicle performs its maiden flight

The Dynetics X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicle has flown for the first time. This is part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Gremlins program. The flight was carried out in November 2019 at Dugway Proving Ground near Salt Lake City, Utah. One captive-carry X-61A flew a TBM, Inc. C-130A which was then air-launched and flew for one hour and 41 minutes.

Flight test video: Gremlins X-61A Maiden Test Flight

Identifying aquatic plants with drones could be the key to reducing a parasitic infection in people

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by worms in the human circulatory system. The parasitic worms incubate in snails and people become infected through contact with contaminated water. More than 200 million people are affected, worldwide. There is no vaccine. Now a University of Washington lab found that snail clusters favor certain types of aquatic vegetation, which can be identified through drone images. The snails can then be targeted.

Cannabis delivery drones are likely to fly above Seattle this year

GRN Holding Corporation announced in December that it was signing a non-binding letter of intent to purchase Squad Drone. The drones would be used for a business-to-business marijuana delivery service. Squad Drone will license its drones and technology to state-registered hemp and cannabis companies. Press release: Cannabis Delivery Drones Could be in Seattle Skies by March.

312 Drone Remote ID NPRM

An NPRM for drone remote ID was published by the FAA, drones used by the NYPD for event security, public agencies contracting for UAS services, methanol-powered drones, a mystery swarm of drones, and delivery by UAS in the 2020s.

UAV News

U.S. Department of Transportation Issues Proposed Rule on Remote ID for Drones

The FAA published Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the Federal Register. This Notice of Proposed Rule Making [PDF] describes the rules for inflight identification of recreational and commercial UAS and includes individual registration of all unmanned aircraft registered under part 48. Each registered UAS would have a unique serial number and identification data would be broadcast or transmitted over the Internet to government-contracted service providers. Comments from the public will be accepted through March 2, 2020, at the Regulations.gov website.

Everything we know about the drones watching over Times Square on New Year’s Eve

The New York City Police Department planned to fly drones over the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square. Drone detection and interdiction units were planned to join bomb-sniffing dogs, radiation-detection teams, heavy-weapons squads, police helicopters, counterterrorism boats, and plainclothes officers. The NYPD has been working with “federal partners” on drone mitigation measures.

Connecticut Signs Participating Addendum with Avion Unmanned To Provide Drone Services to Public Agencies

Avion Unmanned has been chosen to provide UAS services throughout the US through the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) ValuePoint Cooperative Purchasing Organization. The company signed a Participating Addendum with the State of Connecticut and all its state agencies, political subdivisions, and institutions. With this contract, Avion Unmanned could provide UAS services to state and local government agencies in Connecticut.

This Methanol-Powered Drone Could Fly for a Straight 12 Hours

China-based drone-maker Feye UAV Technology claims to have developed a battery that can power a drone for 12 hours. The methanol-powered fuel cell powers the FY-36 flying prototype drone that weighs 15 kilograms with a top speed of 90km/hr. Feye UAV Technology plans to commercially launch the FY-36 after finetuning its performance.

Drones flying in rural Colorado and Nebraska have residents freaking out. No one knows who’s behind them

Multiple reports of drone swarms flying at night over rural Colorado and Nebraska. Even law enforcement has seen the objects. Authorities can’t figure out who’s behind the aircraft. Federal agencies are investigating.

From pizza to transplant organs: What drones will be delivering in the 2020s

During this decade, we may see delivery drones from Amazon Prime Air, Walmart, FedEx, and UPS. Applications may include pizza by drone, organs on-demand, and medical deliveries.

297 Nano Drones, Swarms, and AI

A drone crash halts Swiss package delivery, AI used to detect drone faults and locate/track other drones, swarming nano-drones, mesh networked drones for precision agriculture, a drone mesh for event security, UAS for airport and public safety, and the reliability of drone sightings from aircraft.

UAV News

Swiss drone crashes near children, forcing suspension of delivery program

In May, a 22-pound Swiss Post drone crashed 50 yards away from a group of children. As a result, the drone delivery program in Switzerland has been suspended indefinitely. Swiss Post has asked Matternet to make several changes to the system: parachutes connected to the UAV by two ropes instead of one, ropes reinforced with metal braiding, and a louder emergency landing whistle.

Fault Diagnosis of Drone Propellers Using AI

Propeller defects in drones can cause them to fall from the sky and researchers have used different methods to perform fault diagnosis. But a new study by Italian researchers takes a different approach and focuses on measuring the noise emitted by the drone. Different noise patterns are used to build an artificial intelligence (AI) model that detects unbalanced blades in a UAV propeller. See Fault Diagnosis for UAV Blades Using Artificial Neural Network.

Drones Chasing Drones Using Deep Learning and AI

A Canadian study proposes target-detection and target-following using AI techniques for UAV pursuit-evasion. Deep reinforcement learning predicts the actions to apply to the follower UAV to keep track of the target UAV. A deep object detector and a search area proposal predict the position of the target UAV for tracking purposes. The proposed framework uses vision data. See Drones Chasing Drones: Reinforcement Learning and Deep Search Area Proposal.

The amazing world of nano drones

Nano drones have been studies for several years. Draper Lab’s DragonflEye drone project was announced in 2017. A real dragonfly wears a tiny backpack fitted with electronics, sensors, and a solar cell. AeroVironment has been working on a nano-hummingbird since 2011. The market for the nano drones alone is expected to reach $13.4 billion by 2023.

If one drone isn’t enough, try a drone swarm

Drones are being used for precision agriculture, but there are shortcomings with one drone and a big farm. Many battery changes may be required and the survey could take a lot of time. The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and Rajant Corporation in the US are working on a drone swarming approach with decentralized communications, self-organizing drones, and little human supervision. The technology uses Rajant’s “Kinetic Mesh®” radio technology and “foreign function interface” distributed computing software.

Atlas Multi-Drone System Used by Rio Military Police to Secure Soccer Tournament

Atlas Dynamics partnered with the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State to use the AtlasPRO  at the Copa America soccer (football) tournament. The AtlasPRO was flown in single and multi-UAS missions along the perimeter of the stadium during the tournament’s final series. Data was gathered on public safety hazards and to facilitate emergency response. This was the first time the Atlas mesh multi-drone UAS technology was approved for use at a major sporting event. The mesh multi-node communication capability allows a single operator to command and control a drone network from a unified ground control system. The operator can divide missions among several UAS and maintain constant “eyes in the sky” using autonomous hot-swap capabilities.

Report: Data Management a Challenge for Public Safety UAS Programs

Droneresponders has released the 2019 Mid-Year Public Safety UAS Report. Three out of four public safety agencies say they are already either operating drones or working on implementing a drone program. More than 80% of public safety UAS operators either have obtained or are pursuing, their FAA Part 107 certification. 82% of public safety agencies with a UAS program are operating multi-rotor systems, while only 11% are using fixed- or delta-wing drones. Over 35% of public safety UAS programs are using the FAA’s LAANC system for airspace requests.

UAS Used For Part 77 Airport Inspections in Washington

AeroTEC has completed proof-of-concept aerial surveys in Washington State at Sunnyside Municipal Airport (1S5) and Prosser Airport (S40). The AeroTEC system looks for runway obstacles using photogrammetry to meet the requirement of FAA FAR 14 CFR Part 77. See AeroTEC Conducts First UAS Part 77 Survey of Washington State Airports for WSDOT.

Video of the Week

Epic Long Range FPV Mountain Surfing – 7km round trip

Mentioned

Drone Sightings (2014-2018) from the FAA from Rupprecht Law.

287 Embry-Riddle UAS Program

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers an Unmanned Systems Science degree, delivery drones produce an annoying noise, Uber Eats is hiring UAS specialists, AUVSI announces humanitarian award winners, and autonomous BVLOS patrol drones are planned for the Australian coastline.

Embry_Riddle uses the Penguin C  UAS from UAV Factory.
The Penguin C UAS. Courtesy UAV Factory.

Interview

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University UAS Flight Standards and Training Manager Michael Zebehazy talks about the Embry-Riddle BS in Unmanned Systems Science, and the Penguin C aircraft from UAV Factory for extensive hands-on training. Recorded at the 2019 Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-in & Expo in Lakeland, Florida.

Embry-Riddle Penguin C showing open sensor bay.
Embry-Riddle Penguin C showing open sensor bay. Photo by Max Flight.

UAV News

Drones to deliver incessant buzzing noise, and packages

Multirotor UAVs create an annoying buzzing sound. If delivery drones proliferate, who will set and monitor sound levels?

Video: QUADCOPTER Sound FX from the HISSandaROAR sound library.

Here’s who Uber is hiring to build its drone delivery service for Uber Eats

Forty UAS positions have been posted on Uber’s jobs site since March 2018. Uber Eats is preparing to employ drones to deliver food on demand.

Here are the 5 Winners of the 2019 AUVSI XCELLENCE Humanitarian Award

The five winners of the second annual XCELLENCE Humanitarian Awards announced at AUVSI XPONENTIAL:

North Carolina Department of Transportation – Using drones in an innovative response to Hurricane Florence.

Swoop Aero – Vaccine and health supply delivery on the island nation of Vanuatu.

NASA/MIT Search and Rescue Under the Canopy (SARUC) – Locating people and other important targets lost in challenging and cluttered forest areas.

Project Lifesaver International – Search and rescue for ‘at risk’ individuals who are prone to the life-threatening behavior of wandering.

Zipline International – Medical drone delivery operations in Africa.

Surf lifesaving drone-maker plans long-haul, autonomous UAV

Currently, The Ripper Group operates 51 ‘Little Ripper’ drones in New South Wales and Queensland. They spot sharks and drop self-inflating floats for people in distress. Now The Ripper Group is working on a much larger, beyond line-of-sight fixed-winged drone called The Ripper Ranger.

Mentioned

Academy of Model Aeronautics Programs & Benefits

285 Tethered UAS for First Responders

An actively tethered UAS for situational awareness, a fixed-wing drone studies the atmosphere in Greenland, a larger “hive” drone releases a swarm of smaller “cicada” drones, Virgin Atlantic reports a drone near-hit, a drone that plants tree seeds, Wing receives FAA certification allowing delivery service in the US, and a drone powered by variable-buoyancy.

The Fotokite actively tethered UAS for first responders.
The Fotokite actively tethered UAS for first responders.

UAV News

Fotokite Launches Firefighter Situational Awareness System in Partnership with Pierce Manufacturing

The “Pierce Situational Awareness System by Fotokite” is an actively tethered UAS that integrates directly into public safety vehicles and firefighter operations. The Fotokite provides persistent aerial situational awareness and since they are tethered, no pilot licenses or authorizations to fly are required. The Pierce Fotokite systems have already been installed into Pierce fire apparatus, as well as command vehicles, and fire chiefs’ SUVs. The Fotokite Sigma Ground Station and Kite are available for first responders in general.

Black Swift UAS chosen for arctic research project in Greenland

The Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, part of the University of Colorado Boulder, Is deploying Black Swift S2 drones from Boulder, Colorado-based Black Swift Technologies. They will conduct high-altitude, high-latitude atmospheric research studies in Greenland and create vertical profiles of the Arctic atmosphere. This will help understand how sublimation into the atmosphere affects climate conditions. The project is supported by the National Science Foundation and is part of the larger international East Greenland Ice-Core Project, or EastGRIP.

See NASA test a swarm of 100 US Navy Cicada drones

NASA’s Langley Research Center released a video showing four large “Hive” drones releasing over 100 smaller “Cicada” drones. The Cicada is a “Close-In Covert Autonomous Disposable Aircraft” and they fit in the palm of your hand. The Navy says, “Cicada is a concept for a low-cost, GPS-guided, micro disposable air vehicle that can be deployed in large numbers to ‘seed’ an area with miniature electronic payloads.” NASA is looking at the Cicadas as tools for meteorologists with sensors that measure temperature, air pressure, and wind-speed.

Video: It’s Raining Drones! NASA drops 100 drones tiny enough to fit in your hand

Virgin Atlantic jet carrying 264 passengers ‘came within SECONDS of crashing into two drones at 14,000ft as it approached to land at Heathrow’

The B787 Dreamliner with 264 passengers was flying at 320 mph over Essex when two drones were spotted. One drone was estimated to be 90 feet from the aircraft.

These tree-planting drones are firing seed missiles to restore the world’s forests

BioCarbon Engineering drones have been planting mangrove trees in Myanmar. The drones map the area, collect topography and data on soil condition, and combine that with satellite data. An analysis is performed that determines the best locations for the seeds, and the drone fires biodegradable pods into the ground. We had previously talked about a similar capability from Seattle-based DroneSeed.

Alphabet’s Wing becomes first drone delivery firm to win FAA approval in the US

As previously speculated, Alphabet’s Wing unit received Air Carrier Certification from the FAA. Wing is the first drone delivery company receiving this certification in the US, and it allows the company to start a commercial delivery service with drones. Wing plans to start the service in Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Virginia over the next few months. See also, Wing becomes first certified Air Carrier for drones in the US.

Wing package delivery drone.
Courtesy Wing.

Ultra-long endurance UAV flies using variable-buoyancy propulsion

The Phoenix ultra-long endurance autonomous UAV is powered by variable-buoyancy propulsion. It creates thrust by alternating between being lighter than air and heavier than air.
Researchers at the University of the Highlands and Islands in the UK use electrically-powered pumps and valves in the Phoenix.

Video: Phoenix: UK team trials first large-scale aircraft powered by variable-buoyancy propulsion.

265 AUVSI’s Trusted Operator Program

AUVSI creates the Trusted Operator Program (TOP) for professional certification, Aurora Flight Sciences builts the Odysseus HALE aircraft, fast food delivery service generates some complaints, the DRL announces the Alpha Pilot Challenge for autonomous drone racers, the Office of Aviation Services wants information about using drones to fight wildfires, and the Office of the Inspector General conducted an audit of the FAA’s UAS waiver process.

UAV News

Unmanned systems: New AUVSI Trusted UAS Operator Program

AUVSI Trusted Operator ProgramAUVSI worked with industry experts to create the Trusted Operator Program™ (TOP) for professional certification. AUVSI says the program was created “to raise the trust and acceptance of the use of unmanned aircraft around the world. TOP is a professional unmanned systems community initiative aimed at supporting industry accepted remote pilot standards and protocols, which will result in the safe and sustainable advancement of the industry.”

The program features three certification levels where each corresponds to the level of safety precautions required. Level one covers relatively low-risk operations for flights under Part 107. Level two is for companies that conduct flights near expensive infrastructure requiring an FAA waiver. Level three addresses flights in “safety critical” environments, such as near chemical, oil, gas, nuclear or mining facilities, even if they are offshore and no waiver is required.

TOP training providers:

TOP Certification bodies:

TOP uses a set of safety protocols and includes aviation regulations from the Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Aviation Safety Authorities, Directorates General of Civil Aviation and others.

Aurora Builds Stratospheric Solar Aircraft With Boeing’s Backing

ODYSSEUS: Global Reach, Airborne for Months, Powered by the Sun

Aurora Flight Sciences built the 243-foot span Odysseus, a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) aircraft. Odysseus uses lithium-polymer batteries and Alta Devices thin-film gallium-arsenide solar cells. Flight testing is scheduled to begin in 2019 in Puerto Rico. The first aircraft is battery-powered and the second and third aircraft will be solar-powered.

The Odysseus High Altitude Long Endurance drone. Courtesy Aurora Flight Sciences.

The Odysseus High Altitude Long Endurance drone. Courtesy Aurora Flight Sciences.

Odysseus uses thin-walled carbon-fiber tubes bonded together into box-section trusses for the wing spar and fuselages, and truss ribs for the wing and tails.

Food delivery drones are annoying residents in Australia because…of course!

Launched by Wing, an initiative from Alphabet X, Google’s parent company, the trial fast food delivery service in Canberra, Australia is generating some complaints. Some residents find the drones noisy, they scare away local birds, and they are perceived as an invasion of privacy.

The Next ESport Craze: Autonomous Drone Racing

The Drone Racing League has announced the Alpha Pilot Challenge for autonomous drone racers. Using the same courses that human drone pilots use, the series is intended to accelerate the pace of innovation. Eventually, the autonomous drone racers will be pitted against human pilots.

OAS Requests Information for Heavy-Lift UAS During Wildfires

The Office of Aviation Services (OAS) wants information about using drones to carry water and fire retardant and conduct heavy-lift cargo delivery during wildfires and emergency situations. See the solicitation: Heavy-lift Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to conduct cargo delivery during wildfires.

OIG Audits FAA on Drone Waivers, Calls for Eight Actions

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit of the FAA’s unmanned aircraft system waiver process between May 2017 and September 2018. In a summary of its findings, the OIG says the FAA has “established processes for reviewing and granting waivers but has experienced difficulties obtaining sufficient information, managing the volume of requests and communicating with applicants, particularly in explaining reasons for denying requests.”

“As a result, FAA’s Flight Standards office has disapproved 73 percent of operational waiver requests (e.g., over people and beyond line of sight), and a significant backlog of waiver requests to operate in airspace with manned aircraft exists,” the audit summary explains.

On the FAA’s “risk-based oversight system,” OIG says, “While FAA has developed guidance for planning annual inspections, few UAS operators have received inspections to verify their compliance with regulations and the terms of their waivers.  Moreover, the agency’s ability to perform meaningful risk-based surveillance is hindered by limited access to detailed UAS operator, FAA inspection, and risk data. As a result, FAA does not have assurance of operators’ compliance with regulations, is not well-positioned to develop an oversight strategy, and is missing opportunities to gather information that will help shape rulemaking and policies.”

The audit offers eight recommendations for the FAA:

  1. Assess the workforce tasked with reviewing waiver and authorization requests to determine if Air Traffic Organization (ATO) staffing is adequate, and take appropriate action as needed.
  2. Assess the performance of the ATO’s non-automated airspace waiver request process to determine if volume and timeliness goals would improve the process, and if so, implement these goals.
  3. Implement performance metrics for the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) to evaluate its effect on application processing volume and timeliness, and take appropriate action as needed.
  4. Create internal controls to improve consistency in standard template responses used to correspond with applicants regarding requests for information.
  5. Update National Flight Standards Work Program Guidelines to require field offices to perform inspections on a sample of commercial drone operators in their area for a two-year period (designed to increase available inspection data for creating a risk profile of UAS).
  6. Develop a baseline risk assessment profile of small commercial drone operators to inform inspector surveillance planning decisions, as well as procedures to periodically update this profile.
  7. Issue guidance to field offices on how to obtain FAA information on waiver- and/or authorization-holding UAS operators (designed to help inform their inspection planning).
  8. Provide clarifying guidance to UAS operators regarding the small UAS rule’s provision relating to operations over people.

Mentioned

‘Lambulance’ drones used to check animal health in lambing season

 

UAV255 Virginia UAS Integration Pilot Program

Project Wing demonstrates package delivery under the Virginia UAS Integration Pilot Program, Zephyr achieves altitude and duration records, DARPA recharges drones with lasers, drone-themed tours entice enthusiasts, FAA details shortcomings with many waiver applications, and DroneSeed raises venture capital.

Virginia UAS Integration Pilot Program

Wing package delivery drone flying under the Virginia UAS Integration Pilot Program.

UAV News

Country’s first long-distance, residential drone delivery touches down in Montgomery County neighborhood

Alphabet subsidiary Wing is a partner in the Virginia UAS Integration Pilot Program, which had proposed package delivery in Wise County, Montgomery and Roanoke counties, and Loudoun County. Under the Pilot Program, Wing can now fly long distances, over people, and beyond visual line of sight. Demonstration flights are underway.

Zephyr claims new endurance record

The Airbus Defence and Space Zephyr ‘pseudo-satellite’ has achieved an endurance record with a 26-day flight. At the same time, the solar-powered production-standard Zephyr S also set an altitude record for a UAV in its class at 70,740 ft. A Zephyr has previously held the record with a 14-day flight in 2010. Note that the record still has to be officially ratified by the FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale).

Drones Recharged by a Laser Could Fly Forever

DARPA’s Stand-off Ubiquitous Power/Energy Replenishment – Power Beaming Demo (SUPER PBD) uses lasers to recharge drone batteries. The Silent Falcon drone has solar panels on the wings and batteries in the fuselage. When batteries get low lasers are aimed at the solar panels to recharge them.

Tour operators take a flyer on multi-thousand-dollar drone photography trips

The New York Times Journeys travel program now offers the Drone Photography Journey, departing June 2019 for an eight-day trek around Norway. Daily drone-photography sessions will be led by a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer. You can bring your own drone or use one of theirs. As an alternative, Airbnb Experiences offers single day, lower cost drone experiences.

FAA: Why Most Drone Rule Waiver Applications Crash and Burn

In 2018 to date, the FAA has reviewed 11,345 waiver applications, and only 16% of them were approved. At the FAA webinar on applying for Part 107 operational waivers, the agency noted that almost 8,000 of the rejections were for incomplete information and another 800 made “an insufficient safety case.” The biggest issue: not reading the requirements and leaving information out or not being specific enough.

A Seattle Startup Is Pioneering a New Way to Use Drones in Agriculture

As we described in Episode 195, the FAA approved delivery of agricultural payloads by DroneSeed with drone swarms. The company planned to plant tree seeds and spray fertilizer and herbicides on trees. In this update, we see that DroneSeed now has eight employees, they raised over $3 million in venture-capital backing, and two large timber companies are now DroneSeed customers. One pilot operates up to five drones, each carrying four gallons of payload with a 20-minute spray time. Planting tree seeds could take another year or so.