Tag Archives: regulations

288 Recreational Drone Restrictions

The FAA has new recreational drone restrictions, along with exceptions for those that cannot be presently met. Also, drones that identify polluting ships, data security fears for Chinese drones, professional sports leagues weigh-in on drones, UAS that measure environmental conditions for weather prediction, and states in the US are actively using unmanned aircraft.

UAV News

FAA Implements New Recreational Drone Restrictions

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 repealed the Special Rule for Model Aircraft and replaced it with “new conditions to operate recreational small unmanned aircraft without requirements for FAA certification or operating authority.” Recreational drone users must meet eight statutory conditions. However, since the FAA cannot implement all of them immediately, exceptions were published in the Federal Register May 17, 2019, as Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of Unmanned Aircraft.

The eight conditions, and where exceptions apply:

1. The aircraft is flown strictly for recreational purposes.

2. The aircraft is operated in accordance with or within the programming of a community-based organization’s set of safety guidelines that are developed in coordination with the FAA.

The Act requires the FAA to establish guidelines for recognizing community-based aeromodelling organizations (CBOs). Since those guidelines don’t exist and CBOs thus cannot be recognized, the FAA will allow “operations conducted in accordance with existing safety guidelines of an aeromodelling organization.” As an alternative, the basic safety guidelines published in faa.gov/uas are sufficient. But, you “should be able to explain to an FAA inspector or law enforcement official which safety guidelines you are following if you are flying under the exception for limited recreational unmanned aircraft operations.”

3. The aircraft is flown within the visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft or a visual observer co-located and in direct communication with the operator.

The visual observer is optional unless flying FPV and the operator can’t see the surroundings.

4. The aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft.

5. In Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace [controlled airspace] or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport, the operator obtains prior authorization from the Administrator or designee before operating and complies with all airspace restrictions and prohibitions.

Until Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) is upgraded to enable recreational flyers to obtain automated authorization to controlled airspace, the FAA is granting temporary airspace authorizations to operate at certain fixed sites that are established by an agreement with the FAA. The list of authorized fixed sites is available on the FAA’s website.

6. In Class G airspace, [uncontrolled airspace where the FAA does not provide air traffic services] the aircraft is flown from the surface to not more than 400 feet above ground level and complies with all airspace restrictions and prohibitions.

7. The operator has passed an aeronautical knowledge and safety test and maintains proof of test passage to be made available to the Administrator or a designee of the Administrator or law enforcement upon request.

The test doesn’t yet exist. Recreational flyers who adhere to the other seven conditions may use the exception for limited recreational unmanned aircraft operations.

8. The aircraft is registered and marked and proof of registration is made available to the Administrator or a designee of the Administrator or law enforcement upon request.

Registration and marking requirements are published and an online registration process is in place. Each unmanned aircraft used for limited recreational operations must display the registration number on an external surface of the aircraft. Proof of registration must be available upon request.

Sniffer Drones Will Start Patrolling the World’s Busiest Shipping Ports

New regulations apply to air pollution from ships, specifically sulfur oxides. Drones are being tested or used in ports around the world. These will quickly fly through a ships exhaust plume and measure the emissions. If a “dirty” ship is encountered, that vessel can be singled out for a test of its fuel. The Skeldar V-200 drone is an example.

DHS warns of ‘strong concerns’ that Chinese-made drones are stealing data

The US Department of Homeland Security issued an alert through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that says the drones “contain components that can compromise your data and share your information on a server accessed beyond the company itself.” Further, that “…certain Chinese-made (unmanned aircraft systems)-connected devices capable of collecting and transferring potentially revealing data about their operations and the individuals and entities operating them, as China imposes unusually stringent obligations on its citizens to support national intelligence activities.”

DJI said that it gives customers “full and complete control over how their data is collected, stored, and transmitted,” adding that “customers can enable all the precautions DHS recommends.”

Drones And Sports? Pro Leagues And NCAA Weigh In

Through the NPRM commenting process, the NFL, MLB, NASCAR, and NCAA have expressed concerns. The Leagues want to see the rules explicitly state that UAS operations at night comply with rules applicable to aircraft. Also, they want to see the requirement that pilots make their credentials available to law enforcement expanded to include private security officials.

States turn to drones to predict avalanches, spot wildlife

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials found all but one State public transportation agency was using drones. (Rhode Island wasn’t, but since then they bought a drone.) In 2016, no state transportation agency was using drones every day. Now, 36 states have certified drone pilots on staff.

Researchers test unmanned aircraft systems for measuring the lower atmosphere, potentially improving short term weather forecasts

This is a project with the National Severe Storms Laboratory, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Colorado, and Meteomatics. Researchers used fixed-wing and rotary small UAS in Oklahoma to test the value of UAS for observing local environmental changes that can lead to severe thunderstorms.

Video of the Week

Beautiful! Drone footage captures school of stingrays swimming off coast of Australia

283 NPRM for sUAS Operations over People

Comments close soon for an NPRM for sUAS operations over people and an ANPRM for safe sUAS operations. In the news, advice for drone operators near agricultural aircraft, rogue drones in China, Google’s Wing receives authority to operate in Australia, FAA close to awarding the first drone airline license, and GENIUS NY awards are announced.

UAV News

Safe and Secure Operations of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

In this Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), the FAA seeks comment on whether and in what circumstances the FAA should promulgate new rulemaking to require stand-off distances, additional operating and performance restrictions, the use of UAS Traffic Management (UTM), and additional payload restrictions. The FAA also seeks comment on whether it should prescribe design requirements and require that unmanned aircraft be equipped with critical safety systems.

Operation of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Over People

Under this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), operations of small unmanned aircraft over people would be allowed in certain conditions without a waiver, along with operations of small UAS at night. It would also require remote pilots in command to present their remote pilot in command certificate as well as identification to certain Federal, State, or local officials, upon request, and proposes to amend the knowledge testing requirements in the rules that apply to small UAS operations to require training every 24 calendar months.

NAAA Cautions Hobbyist and Professional UAS Operators to be Mindful of Low-Flying Agricultural Aircraft this Growing Season

The National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) would like drone operators to be aware that agricultural aircraft aviators fly as low as 10 feet off the ground when making an application. That puts UAVs and Ag pilots in the same airspace. The NAAA has some specific recommendations for UAS operators. Local agricultural aviation operations can be identified by consulting AgAviation.org/findapplicator.

Authorities take action to counter increasingly intrusive UAV flights

China is subject to the same type of rogue drone flights that we see elsewhere. The State Council and the Central Military Commission jointly released a draft of interim UAV rules that put drones put into five categories based on weight and speed: mini, light, small, medium and large. Mini drones are required to fly below 50 meters without permission except for airspace over and around restricted areas, airports, restricted military zones, and dangerous areas. Light drones are allowed to fly in airspace lower than 120 meters.

Jianzhen Technology Company is developing a C-UAV system with four steps: detection, recognition, following, and handling. The company explained: “The drone can be recognized on a cloud platform. We continuously follow and locate the drone, generating a real-time flight trajectory. Counter-drone devices and a drone navigation deception system will then be used to disrupt their communication. Finally, the drone will be shot down by a laser net.”

Google’s Wing drones approved to make public deliveries in Australia

Australian regulator CASA given Wing approval to deliver products from local businesses. The initial service will be for about 100 homes in three Canberra, Australia suburbs. The service will expand in the coming months. The approval comes with some restrictions.

FAA to award first drone airline license in the next month

The FAA requires that large-scale commercial package delivery operations by drones need to meet the same safety and economic certification standards as other licensed U.S. airlines. At a conference in Singapore, FAA Office of Unmanned Aircraft System Integration Executive Director Jay Merkle said, “In the next month we expect to announce we will have our first … air carrier certificate for operating a drone airline.” He wouldn’t say who that is, but Wing Aviation LLC is the only air carrier certificate application for a drone carrier listed on a U.S. government website.

Italian company wins NY commercial drone competition

The latest winner of the GENIUS NY prize is Sentient Blue of Italy, a designer of small, gas engines for UAVs. GENIUS NY is a business accelerator for unmanned systems. Sentient Blue is developing efficient, environmentally friendly, hybrid micro gas turbine based power systems for use in UAVs and will receive $1 million, Four other businesses were named as finalists and receive $500,000 in funding: CivDrone (Israel), ​EagleHawk (Buffalo, NY), ResilienX (Syracuse, NY), and Vermeer (Brooklyn, NY).

UAV Video of the Week

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

Tom Brown took this video of the poppy super-bloom with his DJI Mavic Pro

Mentioned

Lake Victoria Challenge
An initiative that aims to explore drones as a new mobility model for the hard-to-reach, rural communities of the Lake Victoria region in Mwanza, Tanzania. The LVC will feature three Flying Competitions. Registrations close on April 25, 2019. An informational webinar will be held April 12, 2019, at 7 AM GMT.


274 A Nano-UAV for the Army

A FLIR Systems acquisition and a nano-UAV contract, proposed drone rules for Australia, testing UAS in the wind, a market forecast for drones, and Amazon tests UTM.

Black Hornet PRS nano-UAV from FLIR Systems
The Black Hornet PRS nano-UAV. Courtesy FLIR Systems, Inc.

UAV News

FLIR Systems acquires Aeryon Labs for $200 million

UAS Magazine reports that FLIR Systems has acquired drone developer Aeryon Labs Inc. for $200 million. FLIR wants to be more than a sensor supplier and Aeryon develops quad-copters that integrate multiple sensors.

FLIR Systems Awarded $39.6 Million Contract for Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance Systems for US Army Soldier Borne Sensor Program

FLIR Systems was awarded a $39.6 Million order to deliver FLIR Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance Systems (PRS) to the United States Army. This is a follow-on order to the first phase award in June 2018. These nano-UAV systems were bought for the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) Program and will support platoon and small unit level surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. FLIR has delivered over 8,000 Black Hornet nano-UAVs around the world.

Proposed new remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) registration and RPAS operator accreditation scheme (PP 1816US)

The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has proposed requirements for remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) registration and operator accreditation. These apply to RPA more than 250 grams operated recreationally and all RPA operated commercially, including excluded RPA operations, regardless of weight. Excluded from the RPA registration and accreditation requirements are RPA 250 grams or less operated recreationally, model aircraft at CASA-approved model airfields, and RPA operated recreationally indoors. There is an online response form for comments.

NUAIR Alliance, TruWeather Solutions, and Windshape Demonstrated the Impact of Weather on Drone Airworthiness at NYS UAS Test Site

Windshape is a Switzerland based company that developed a drone flight testing environment that can be installed indoors. TruWeather Solutions works with highly precise weather data for analytics applications. They and the NUAIR Alliance have been testing the impact of wind on different UAS platforms.

Drones reporting for work – Goldman Sachs forecasts $100B drone market by 2020

In 2016, Goldman Sachs produced a webpage titled “Drones Reporting For Work.” Between 2016 and 2020, they expected a $100 billion market opportunity for drones. The military remains the largest market for the foreseeable future with $70 billion of the $100 billion. The company expects $17 billion for the consumer market and $13 billion for the commercial and civil government market.

Amazon testing commercial UAS traffic management system

Amazon wants to deliver packages to customers in 30 minutes or less, and drones are part of that strategy. Amazon Prime Air is working Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) and NASA to develop an autonomous UAS traffic management system. Amazon Prime Air is building teams in Seattle, Tel Aviv, Cambridge, and Paris.

271 Fuel Cell Drone

A fuel cell drone flies for over an hour, new drone laws for Canada and the UK, another airport incursion, terrorists and UAVs, the world’s smallest and lightest weather station, and using drones to insert sensors in the soil.

UAV News

First ever hour-long flight for hydrogen multi-rotor UAV with 5kg payload

Project RACHEL is an attempt to develop a hydrogen fuel cell powered multi-rotor UAV with a flight target of 60 minutes carrying a 5kg payload. Project RACHEL is supported by Innovate UK, and led by venture engineering company Productiv on behalf of UK UAV filming specialists BATCAM. The fuel cells come from Intelligent Energy which is commissioning specialist hydrogen fuel systems supplier NanoSUN to develop a portable refueling solution.

Further information about the project and video of the flight test can be found at The Hydrogen Drone.

Transport secretary to introduce new drone laws within months

Secretary of state for transport, Chris Grayling MP, has told the House of Commons that new drone laws will be introduced in the coming months, likely May 2019. The new rules increase airport exclusion zones to 5km (now 1km), and give police the right to interfere with the movement of drones and inspect devices to ensure safety features had not been tampered with. In November, owners of drones weighing between 250g and 20kg must register and take an online drone pilot competency test.

Heathrow airport: Drone sighting halts departures

A drone was reportedly sighted at Heathrow Airport. As a “precautionary measure,” flights were halted for about an hour. A BBC cameraman was driving on the M25 past Heathrow airport when he saw what he believes was a drone.

ISIS ‘has capability to launch DRONE bomb attacks in UK’

The MI5 intelligence agency fears drone attacks against civilian and military targets. Reportedly, they have documents showing terrorist plans. MI5 believes they are from ISIS, and worries that up to a dozen weaponized drones could be used.

Minister Garneau unveils Canada’s new drone safety regulations

Transport Canada has new rules for remotely piloted aircraft systems that apply to drones between 250 grams and 25 kg, operated within the drone pilot’s visual-line-of-sight, and flown for recreation, commercially, or for research. The rules include drone registration, an exam and pilots certificate, a minimum age, flight below 122 m (400 feet) AGL, and a requirement to stay away from air traffic. Flying outside the rules requires a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC). For more information, see the government Drone Safety website.

TriSonica Mini Wind and Weather Sensor Suited for Use on Drones

Specialized meteorological instrument design firm Anemoment LLC has announced the availability of the TriSonica Mini Wind and Weather Sensor that cen be integrated with drones.

They call the 50 gram device “the world’s smallest and lightest 3D ultrasonic anemometer.” It can measure wind speed, direction and temperature, magnetic heading, relative humidity, air pressure, and dew point wind.

How to Dig a Hole With Two Drones and a Parachute

The NIMBUS Lab at the University of Nebraska has developed a two-drone system that can fly to a designated location, land, drill a hole and deploy a sensor, then fly away. The UAS can deploy sensors in locations that are otherwise difficult to reach. The sensor is inserted into the soil using an auger attached to the drone. The UAS identifies the proper target location, breaks the ground surface, removes the soil, and places the sensor.

Video: Unmanned Aerial Auger for Underground Sensor Installation

Video: Parachute and Digging UAS

263 Civil Drone Regulations for India

India releases civil drone regulations, detect and avoid testing begins in Kansas, the future of recreational drone flights, unmanned industry consolidation trends, an over 55-pound UAV approved, and a Chinese HALE drone.

UAV News

India’s First Step Towards Regulating Drones

The Director General Civil Aviation’s (DGCA’s) Civilian Aviation Requirements (CAR) for Unmanned Aircraft System, was released August 27, 2018. The CAR takes effect December 1, 2018. Requirements include using the Digital Sky Platform on the DGCA’s website for administrative and procedural control of drones, registration numbers, and filing of flight plans.

Tests for UAS Integration Pilot Program begin – Iris Automation

The Kansas Department of Transportation is in the testing phase of the Integration Pilot Program, with a focus on new detect and avoid capabilities for drones. Iris Automation will test fly its computer vision and artificial intelligence technology for collision avoidance against a manned aircraft.

Video: Airborne Drone Collision Avoidance Field Trial – Iris Automation

The dark future of civilian drone operation

Justin Oakes from Droneworks Studios flies commercially but asks if measures under the recent FAA reauthorization will cause an end to recreational drone flying.

Video: Drone Pilots are FINISHED (New FAA Laws)

After Airware’s Demise, Consolidation Looms For The Commercial Drone Industry

Director of Corporate Analysis at Teal Group Philip Finnegan looks at the reasons we’ll continue to see consolidation in the drone industry.

FAA Approves HSE Over 55 lb Crop Sprayer Drone for Commercial Use!

UAV company Homeland Surveillance & Electronics, LLC (HSE) and aviation consulting firm UASolutions Group, Inc. were granted approval from the FAA for the AG-V6A+ multirotor UAS for Commercial Operations over 55 lbs. The AG-V6A+ is fully autonomous and designed for precision spraying.

A huge solar-powered drone that can supposedly stay in the air for months at a time has taken flight in China

China has a solar-powered high-altitude, long-endurance drone. Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has flown the Morning Star UAV. The 20-meter (66-foot) wingspan drone flew at an altitude of more than 20,000 meters (66,000 feet).

UAV Videos of the Week

This is Fall Foliage in Groton Vermont – October 8th – Green Mountain Drone

Utah Fall Colors at Snowbasin by Drone

 

UAV240 Calls to Repeal Section 336

The Commercial Drone Alliance seeks to repeal Section 336, the FAA Reauthorization ACT of 2018 is introduced, Apple might not like drone flights over its new corporate headquarters, Temple University students build an autonomous drone for campus tours, and the DARPA Gremlins drone swarm program.

UAV News

Commercial Drone Alliance Calls for Section 336 Repeal: ‘Times Have Changed’

The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 prohibits the FAA from regulating model aircraft flown as part of a community-based organization. The Commercial Drone Alliance wants Congress to repeal Section 336 of the Act because all drones need “rules of the road.” Lisa Ellman, co-executive director of the Commercial Drone Alliance says the alliance “understand[s] why model aircraft proponents want to remain exempt, as they have been flying safely for decades. However, times have changed, and hobbyists are no longer flying alone.” Gretchen West, co-executive director of the Alliance, says, “Technology has improved. To promote innovation and the budding commercial drone industry, we need to enable the FAA to craft some common-sense rules around remote identification and more.”

FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Sec. 336 (in part):

(a) the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may not promulgate any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft, or an aircraft being developed as a model aircraft, if–

(1) the aircraft is flown strictly for hobby or recreational use;

(2) the aircraft is operated in accordance with a community-based set of safety guidelines and within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization;

(3) the aircraft is limited to not more than 55 pounds unless otherwise certified through a design, construction, inspection, flight test, and operational safety program administered by a community-based organization;

(4) the aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft; and

(5) when flown within 5 miles of an airport, the operator of the aircraft provides the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower with prior notice of the operation…

(b) Statutory Construction.–Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Administrator to pursue enforcement action against persons operating model aircraft who endanger the safety of the national airspace system.

(c) Model Aircraft Defined.–In this section, the term “model
aircraft” means an unmanned aircraft that is–

(1) capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere;

(2) flown within visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft; and

(3) flown for hobby or recreational purposes.

Brief Summary of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018

Rupprecht Law provides a good summary of the drone-related items in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 introduced on April 13, 2018, by Representative Shuster. The Act addresses the roles different government levels, user fees, unmanned air traffic management, recreational and commercial drones, registration, and other topics.

Petesch: Drone regulations make investments difficult

Missouri State prohibits the use of UAS systems on campus without specific permission from the university.

Drone Videographer Duncan Sinfield: ‘Only a Matter of Time’ Until Apple Park Shuts Down Drone Flights

Duncan Sinfield uses a drone to creates videos of Apple Park. He thinks “it’s only a matter of time until the campus becomes shut-off to drones completely… with a geo-fence, or something similar.”

APPLE PARK: A Very Private Corporate Campus | mid-April 2018

Students make drone for campus tours

A group of senior electrical engineering majors from Temple University are building an autonomous drone for their senior design project. The drone would give self-guided tours of the campus to prospective students. The team is utilizing two types of machine learning: a convolutional neural network and imitation learning.

DARPA Will Reel-In Its Gremlins Drones and Pluck Them Out Of The Sky Like Flying Fish

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is proceeding to the third phase of its Gremlins drone swarm program. Dynetics has been awarded a contract for the system which envisions a C-130 Hercules aircraft towing a docking system behind it that the unmanned Gremlins can latch onto for retrieval. Ground and limited flight tests will begin in 2018, and flight tests of the system should be completed by January 2020.

UAV Video of the Week

Top 5 Drone Fails

 

UAV232 Should FAA Regulate Recreational Drones?

A call for regulation of recreational drones, the accuracy of wildlife counts, a flying display device, the MQ-1 Predator retirement, using drones for automated inspection, and a Phantom may have caused a helicopter to go down.

ALPA, A4A, and NATCA call for regulation of recreational drones.

Should recreational drones be regulated the same as commercial drones?

UAV News

Airline Groups Call on US Congress to Regulate Drones

Three groups want Congress to modify Section 336 of the 2012 FAA Modernization and Reform Act that restricts the FAA from applying any rules or regulations to the operation of recreational drones or unmanned aircraft systems used as a hobby. The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), Airlines for America (A4A), and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) sent a letter [PDF] to Congress stating, in part:

“We strongly urge you to remove legislative restrictions that have been placed on the FAA that limit its safety oversight of UAS. The likelihood that a drone will collide with an airline aircraft is increasing. By providing the FAA with the full authority to regulate all UAS operations, the safety of passenger and cargo flights will be protected.”

Should recreational drones be regulated as commercial drones are? Send your thoughts to us at feedback@theUAVdigest.com.

Why Drones Are Counting Thousands of Decoy Ducks

How accurate are counts of wildlife, and can drones do a better job than people? Researchers at the University of Adelaide’s Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences wanted to find out. They conducted an experiment and found “Overall, the drone’s counts were much more precise than the ground counts.”

Samsung Just Patented Display Drones Controlled by Your Eyes, Face and Hand Gestures

The United States Patent and Trademark Office granted Flying Display Device, U.S. Patent 9,891,885 to Samsung. It would consist of a quadcopter with a camera, a display, GPS, a “WiFi-based positioning system,” and voice-recognition. It’s a flying screen that reacts to you and presents information on the screen.

Air Force announces official retirement date for iconic MQ-1 Predator drone

On March 9, 2018, the Air Force will retire the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator and instead use MQ-9 Reapers for combat missions.

V-Cube Robotics Begins Offering SOLAR CHECK, a Solar Power Plant Inspection Package Service

V-cube Robotics will begin offering a solar power plant inspection package called Solar Check. Drones fly autonomously over a predetermined flight path and inspect the solar panels with infrared thermography cameras. The images are uploaded to the cloud and analyzed for discrepancies. Inspection time is drastically reduced and inspection accuracy is higher.

Report: Helicopter crash on Daniel Island may have been caused by drone

A Robinson R22 helicopter on a training flight in South Carolina, encountered a DJI Phantom, and crashed after attempting to take evasive action. The FAA is investigating.

UAV Video of the Week

Watch a Drone Crash Into Apple’s New Headquarters

A drone crashed into Apple Park. The pilot got in touch with another drone operator for help in finding it. The crash and the subsequent search were recorded.

Drone Crash at Apple Park Caught on Camera

Mentioned

A Message From APSA Regarding The New CAPS/COA Process

 

UAV204 Drone Registration Planned for the UK

The UK plans to require registration for drones over 250 grams, a study looks at drone strikes on aircraft windscreens, a transformable UAV is under development, Airbus tested their Sagitta demonstrator, some DJI Sparks are experiencing a problem, and draft Technical Standard Orders win AOPA approval.

The Transformable HOvering Rotorcraft (THOR)

The Transformable HOvering Rotorcraft (THOR)

UAV News

Drones to be registered and users to sit safety tests under new government rules

Drone registration is coming to the UK, along with drone safety awareness tests. This will apply to drones over 250 grams. Operators may be able to register online or with an app. The government also plans for expanded use of geofencing in the UK.

Drones and manned aircraft collisions: test results

The summary report from the Department for Transport, British Airline Pilots’ Association, and the Military Aviation Authority says drones weighing 400 grams could damage windscreens. Airliner windscreens were found to be more resistant than helicopter windscreens.

The Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (drones): Mid-Air Collision Study [PDF] was conducted by QinetiQ and Natural Impacts using laboratory collision testing and computer modelling. The study aimed to find the lowest speed at collision where critical damage could occur to aircraft components. Critical damage was defined in this study to mean major structural damage of the aircraft component or penetration of drone through the windscreen into the cockpit. The study indicated that:

  • Non-birdstrike certified helicopter windscreens have very limited resilience to the impact of a drone, well below normal cruise speeds.
  • The non-birdstrike certified helicopter windscreen results can also be applied to general aviation aeroplanes which also do not have a birdstrike certification requirement.
  • Although the birdstrike certified windscreens tested had greater resistance than non-birdstrike certified, they could still be critically damaged at normal cruise speeds.
  • Helicopter tail rotors are also very vulnerable to the impact of a drone, with modelling showing blade failures from impacts with the smaller drone components tested.
  • Airliner windscreens are much more resistant, however, the study showed that there is a risk of critical windscreen damage under certain impact conditions: It was found that critical damage did not occur at high, but realistic impact speeds, with the 1.2 kg class drone components. However, critical damage did occur to the airliner windscreens at high, but realistic, impact speeds, with the 4 kg class drone components used in this study.
  • The construction of the drone plays a significant role in the impact of a collision. Notably, the 400 g class drone components, which included exposed metal motors, caused critical failure of the helicopter windscreens at lower speeds than the 1.2 kg class drone components, which had plastic covering over their motors. This is believed to have absorbed some of the shock of the collision, reducing the impact.
  • The testing and modelling showed that the drone components used can cause significantly more damage than birds of equivalent masses at speeds lower than required to meet birdstrike certification standards.

The THOR Hybrid UAV

A team of students at the Singapore University of Technology and Design is developing the Transformable HOvering Rotorcraft (THOR). The prototype is based on the single-blade monocopter concept from 1913, although THOR actually has two opposing wings, mounted at right angles to each other. The wings rotate into alignment when transitioning from hover to cruise. See episode #48 Evan Ulrich and his RoboSeed for our previous conversation about a monocopter UAV.

Video: SUTD Transformable HOvering Rotorcraft (THOR)

Successful first flight for UAV demonstrator SAGITTA

Airbus Defence and Space has flown their demonstrator Sagitta UAV. The 25 percent scale fixed-wing aircraft is powered by two turbine engines. It was developed in cooperation with a number of industry and academic partners.

Some DJI Spark drones are falling from the sky, and that’s to be expected

Complaints have appeared in DJI forums that some of the new Spark drones are shutting down and falling from the sky. DJI has issued a statement:

“DJI is aware of a small number of reports involving Spark drones that have lost power mid-flight. Flight safety and product reliability are top priorities. Our engineers are thoroughly reviewing each customer case and working to address this matter urgently. DJI products are tested for thousands of hours, and the overwhelming number of customers enjoy using our products with minimal disruption.”

AOPA Backs Unmanned System Standards

Two draft TSOs (Technical Standard Orders) have been issued that would apply to unmanned aircraft transitioning to and from Class A and special-use airspace, and traversing other types of airspace. The TSOs are meant to determine minimum standards that allow manned and unmanned aircraft to remain safely separated. The draft standards would not apply to small UAS – those under 55 pounds and governed by Part 107.

TSO-C211, Detect and Avoid (DAA) Systems [PDF]

TSO-C212, Air-to-Air Radar (ATAR) for Traffic Surveillance [PDF]

UAV Video of the Week

Soccer fans use toilet roll to take down drone in Argentina

 

 

 

UAV200 Looking Back and Looking Ahead

A look back at the first 200 episodes and a peek into topics that might get our attention in the future, including regulatory actions that result from FAA reauthorization.

Max and David recording at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum

Max and David at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum

To celebrate the 200th episode, David and Max take a step back from the usual format and reminisce about the issues that were important when the podcast started in 2013. The main topic then was whether or not to call them “drones.” We look at how the unmanned aircraft landscape has changed since the first episode, and speculate about the topics we’ll be talking about in the future. One of those is the unmanned aircraft regulations we’ll face, which leads us to our single news story this week:

UAV News

What’s Proposed for Drones in This Year’s FAA Reauthorization Bills?

The United States Senate and House both introduced bills that reauthorize the FAA and contain provisions for unmanned aircraft.

The Senate “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2017” (S.1405) would:

  • Direct the FAA to create rule for micro drones under 4.4 pounds
  • Require DOT to establish a “delivery air carrier certificate that would allow package deliveries by drones”
  • Authorize the FAA to issue more exemptions for BVLOS
  • Require all operators of drones over 0.55 pounds to pass an approved aeronautical safety test
  • Address safety and privacy issues
  • Criminalize reckless drone behavior around manned airports
  • Grant FAA drone registration authority
  • Boost enforcement
  • Create new opportunities for testing and promoting innovative uses.

The House “21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act” (H.R.2997, PDF summary) would:

  • Privatize ATC
  • Direct the DOT to assess the registration system and require the FAA to “develop and track metrics to assess compliance with and effectiveness of the system”
  • Propose a “streamlined process for the FAA to permit the operation of small UAS for certain uses,” as well as a “risk-based permitting process” for operations
  • Establish an air carrier certificate for UAS delivery
  • Mandate rulemaking for a UAS traffic management system
  • Allow the FAA to grant waivers for low-risk UTM operations

Thanks

Special thanks to @dronemama for creating the intro for this episode. What an unexpected surprise! Love ya!

 

 

UAV181 Vanishing Drones

DARPA calls for drones that vanish, the U.S. Coast Guard tests the ScanEagle, more Amazon drone patents, a shortage of military drone pilots, Microsoft drones for good, the Trump administration’s regulatory policy throws confusion at the UAS industry, 3DR operates drones at the Atlanta airport, and a biometric drone based on the bat.

Otherlab is developing APSARA drones

APSARA drone, courtesy Otherlab.

UAV News

These mushroom-based drones eat themselves at mission’s end

Inbound, Controlled, Air-Releasable, Unrecoverable Systems (ICARUS), is a DARPA program “driven by a vision of vanishing air vehicles that can make precise deliveries of critical supplies and then vaporize into thin air.” Small items could be supplied/resupplied to military or humanitarian assistance teams operating in difficult-to-access areas, and then the drones would dispose of themselves.

San Francisco-based R&D firm Otherlab is responding with Aerial Platform Supporting Autonomous Resupply Actions (APSARA) drones which will ultimately be made from mycelium, a mushroom-based material. See their press release, Industrial Paper Airplanes for Autonomous Aerial Delivery.

Coast Guard Conducts small Unmanned Aircraft System Testing On Cutter Stratton

USCG NSC flying ScanEagle drones

NSC and ScanEagle drone

The U.S. Coast Guard tested a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) on the national security cutter (NSC) Stratton. Deployment on Stratton planned is for this winter, initially using the ScanEagle sUAS.

USCG resources:

Amazon’s latest drone patent features foldable wings for flippable flight

Amazon has another patent for a delivery drone concept, this a foldable-wing design. With wings folded, the drone is stable on the ground for a vertical takeoff. Then the wings unfold for horizontal flight and fold again for the landing.

Amazon patent for folding wing drones

Amazon Illustration via USPTO

Another Amazon patent was recently published for a system for determining the center of gravity for a delivery drone payload. The drone can then adjust the payload position to balance itself in flight.

Air Force and Army Should Improve Strategic Human Capital Planning for Pilot Workforces

This U.S. Government Accountability Office press release states, “The Air Force and the Army have not fully applied four of the five key principles for effective strategic human capital planning for managing pilots of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) that are important for resolving the Air Force’s pilot shortages and the Army’s training shortfalls.”

Microsoft’s Mosquito-Tracking Drones Could Save Lives

In 2015, Microsoft announced Project Premonitions, which envisions using drones to detect mosquito breeding areas. In June 2016, Microsoft formed the Aerial Informatics and Robotics (AIR) group. Their goal is to develop autonomous drones that use machine intelligence, robotics, and human-centered computation.

Drone Industry Fears Trump Turbulence in Rule Expanding Flights

The Trump administration first froze new regulations, then issued an executive order requiring that for every new regulation, two old ones must be identified for elimination. The impact on the drone industry is uncertain since new regulations are needed for flight over people, enabling package delivery, etc.

The FAA gave the first ever go-ahead for a drone to fly at a major airport

The FAA granted the waiver for flight in Class B airspace. 3D Robotics conducted seven flights on January 10, 2017, at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The mission was data collection for a demolition project.

Video of the Week

Bat Bot Wins Flexible Flier Miles

An extremely flexible flying robot called the “Bat Bot” is made from a carbon fiber skeleton and a silicon membrane wing. This was reported in the Science Robotics article, A biomimetic robotic platform to study flight specializations of bats.

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