Tag Archives: Virginia Tech

391 Kinetic Energy and Flight Over People

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Measuring kinetic energy to certify drone flights over people, additional funding for Dedrone, documenting endangered heritage sites, Italian heavy-lift multirotors, testing the MQ-25 refueling drone on an aircraft carrier, defining the “next” Reaper, an FAA grant for UAS training, and Navy harassment by drone swarms.

Drone kinetic energy testing at Virginia Tech.
Kinetic energy measurement at Virginia Tech

UAV News

Test methods for drones help put a crucial rule for safe flights over people into practice

To certify drones for flight over people, the FAA links injury severity to kinetic energy. But the classic calculation of kinetic energy using mass and velocity makes some assumptions that aren’t applicable to a drone hitting a human head. So the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) along with the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics developed a testing methodology for the actual kinetic energy from a drone impact.

Dedrone Secures $30.5 Million Series C to Protect Airspace Against Unauthorized Drones

Axon Invests in Dedrone: Partnership Between Public Safety and Counter Drone Technologies

Airspace security company Dedrone closed a $30.5 million Series C financing round led by Axon and including previous investors. Dedrone sold over 1,000 sensors in the past year that detect, identify, and locate over 200 different types of drones. Customers include more than 65 critical infrastructures, 50 correctional facilities, 20 airports, 10 Fortune 500 companies, and four of the seven G-7 nations.

Using drones to capture coastal heritage before it’s lost

The Seaford Head Project wants to assess and record the archeology of Seaford Head before it is lost to coastal erosion. They are developing ways to quickly assess the situation and record the data, including using drones to survey the site and create 3D models. The project intends to create a template that can be replicated for other heritage agencies, landowners, and community groups.

Two Italian heavy-lift drones deliver 52 kg of cargo in Turin

Italian company FlyingBasket flew two FB3 drones, each carrying 26 kg (57 lb) of cargo, from a  postal center to a destination 3.9 km (2.4 miles) away, then returned to the postal center. For the demonstration, FlyingBasket partnered with Leonardo and the Italian postal service. The FB3 drones were flown mainly over the Stura di Lanzo river. One FB3 carried its load in an internal compartment, while the other in a sling hung on a hook.

MQ-25 winds up deck handling tests on US aircraft carrier

The MQ-25 Stingray UAV has been tested by Boeing and the US Navy on an aircraft carrier to assess deck handling characteristics. The MQ-25 is intended for air-to-air refueling missions. The MQ-25 taxied, connected to catapults, cleared the landing area, and practiced parking. The USN has plans for initial operational capability by 2024 and to purchase as many as 76 aircraft.

Promotional video from Boeing: MQ-25 Completes First U.S. Navy Carrier Tests

“MQ-Next”: The U.S. Air Force’s Plan for an Unmanned Aircraft

The Air Force is developing a plan for the MQ-9 Reaper replacement aircraft, called “MQ-Next.” It might not look like the MQ-9 – perhaps smaller, stealthier, and more lethal. The MQ-Next might operate in swarms and will likely be networked with manned-unmanned teaming. It’s not expected to be operational until 2031 so there is plenty of time to define the requirements.

Flying high: FAA funds NMC’s high school drone education program

Northwestern Michigan College received a $90,000 grant from the FAA. Forty high school teachers will be trained on the fundamentals of Unmanned Aerial Systems. Each teacher will receive a multi-rotor drone to use with their own students. Congress appropriated $5 million to the FAA to grant projects like this. The grant builds on NMC’s selection in 2020 under the UAS Collegiate Training Program.

Harassment Of Navy Destroyers By Mysterious Drone Swarms Off California Went On For Weeks

This occurred in 2019, but new details are emerging after examining documents released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The sightings occurred throughout July 2019. Drone countermeasure teams were activated and in one event, at least three ships observed multiple drones. The destroyer USS Paul Hamilton made abrupt changes in direction, and the drone followed it. Counter UAS exercises were executed

UAV Video of the Week

Jaybyrdfilms’ insane drone video inside live baseball workout

320 Holographic Radar for C-UAS

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Holographic radar for drone detection, inspecting the Tokyo underground, good uses for drones at airports, delivery drones in China, Elon Musk has another prediction, a drone delivery proposal for Long Island Sound, an eVTOL prototype goes up in flames, and NASA’s Autonomous Navigation Demonstration Challenge.

UAV News

Aveillant’s Holographic Radar and Fortem Technologies’ Complete End-to-End Counter UAV Solution

The UK National Beyond Visual Line of Sight Experimentation Corridor (NBEC) was created to test new technologies that integrate unmanned aircraft into the airspace. A counter-UAS holographic radar from Aveillant was used to detect and track several different drones. Counter drone systems developer Operational Solutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airways New Zealand for a drone detection system based on Aveillant’s radar technology. This is being trialed at Auckland Airport. Fortem Technologies has also developed an autonomous Counter UAV solution using TrueView R30, a holographic radar similar to Aveillant’s Gamekeeper.

Drones used to inspect Tokyo’s subway tunnels

Tokyo Metro is using drones to inspect almost 200 km of tunnels. The drones reduce the need for scaffolding and heavy equipment. The drone has a 22 cm diameter, weighs 1.15 kg, and can fly for up to five minutes. It’s surrounded by a spherical cage with LED lights and sends video to a monitor where workers look for any defects in the tunnel. The drone also takes photos for later inspection.

Good drones: the UAVs changing airport operations for the better

Three ways drones can work positively with airport operations: maintenance and inspection activities at airports, drone delivery systems based at the airport, and bird control. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) lists six major technology trends that will impact how future air cargo facilities evolve: augmented reality and wearables, robotics and automated systems, IoT and connected cargo, big data and AI, green buildings, and drones and autonomous vehicles.

Drones & Robots: Deploying New Technology to Handle Crisis

China’s eCommerce powerhouse JD.com has been using drone technology for deliveries since at least 2016. Under the JD Drone program, items are carried from regional delivery stations to village entrances, then local partners deliver orders to the customers. The JD drones are also being used for disaster relief and disinfectant spraying for Coronavirus.

Elon Musk says military drones will outlive fighter jets

Elon Musk had a fireside chat with Gen. Jay Raymond, chief of space operations for the Space Force, about the future of air defense. Musk expects unmanned drones will outlive fighter jets in the U.S. Air Force. “It’s not [that] I want the future to be this. The fighter jet era has passed.”

Wave Aerospace proposes commercial drone delivery between Stamford and Long Island

Wave Aerospace wants to establish a corridor across the Long Island Sound for commercial drone delivery from Stamford, Connecticut to Huntington, Long Island – about 10 miles. The corridor would be 1,000 feet wide, outside New York’s Class B Controlled Airspace.

First electric VTOL Lilium Jet prototype goes up in flames

Lilium had two prototype jet eVTOL prototypes in their flight-test program. Now they have one. The first prototype was destroyed in a fire on February 27, 2020, while in maintenance in Germany. The investigation to determine the cause is underway.

NASA Langley Opens Applications for $20,000 UAV Competition

Applications for NASA Langley’s Safeguard with Autonomous Navigation Demonstration (SAND) Challenge are now being accepted. Small businesses will compete in an autonomous UAV for a grand prize of $20,000 under the America Competes Act. They will complete a set of complex mission profiles using NASA’s “Safeguard” technology. The SAND Challenge will be held in August of 2020 in Hampton, Virginia. To apply for the SAND challenge and to view more information including drone eligibility, participant eligibility, operational requirements and more visit: sand2020.nianet.org.

Max’s Zip News One-Liners

Quaternium drone HYBRiX sets a new World Record of Endurance with a flight of 8 hours and 10 minutes

Quaternium accomplished the feat with its HYBRiX hybrid fuel-electric drone.

Protesters tell FAA “If we build it, let it fly”

A protest was held in front of FAA headquarters by modelers who don’t like the proposed remote ID rules. The Help Save Our Hobby webpage was created for the event.

New Tech Could Finally Change Drone Regulations for the Better

Detect-and-avoid technology is being tested at Virginia Tech’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) where drones are being flown head-on.

With a speaker and four microphones, drones can echolocate like bats

The headline says it all. From Purdue University.

UAV Video of the Week

These insanely fast racing drones capture golf shots as you’ve never seen them

Seattle drone pilot Ross Beck released a video of golf shots captured from tee to green via a drone that can fly 85 mph.

Mentioned

Drones deployed in bid to tackle Queensland’s rogue crocodiles

UAV211 Matternet Autonomous Drone Network

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The Matternet autonomous drone package delivery network, reasons the drone industry job market is hot, studying the risk of injury when drones strike people, drones and transmission line cable construction, actuator servos and the Aerosonde Mk4.7 sUAS, and a webinar for planning your drone program.

The Matternet Station for deliveries by autonomous drone.

The Matternet Station for deliveries by autonomous drone. Courtesy Matternet.

UAV News

The first autonomous drone delivery network will fly above Switzerland starting next month

Matternet announced an autonomous drone network in Switzerland that will fly lab samples between hospitals, clinics, and labs. The permanent network seeks to make deliveries within 30 minutes. Matternet was granted authorization to operate drones over densely populated areas in Switzerland in March 2017. The company unveiled its “Matternet Station” that can be installed on rooftops or on the ground to send and receive packages by drone. Regular service is expected to start in early 2018. Matternet press release. [PDF]

The Matternet Station

3 Reasons Why the Drone Industry Is Hiring Thousands of New Workers

In 2016, about $600 million in venture capital was invested in unmanned aerial tech. So far in 2017, $1.2 billion has been invested. Cited as reasons for a hot job market are: ease of obtaining an operator’s license, the ability of drones to fly in difficult environments, and corporate acquisitions of drone startups.

Risks vary widely in drone-human impacts

The Virginia Tech injury biomechanics group and its UAS test site (operated by the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership) has released an academic study that quantifies the risk of injury associated with drones colliding with humans. The report, Ranges of Injury Risk Associated with Impact from Unmanned Aircraft Systems, was published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering and looks at head and neck injury risk in different impact scenarios.

Virginia Tech dummy

Virginia Tech dummy hits

Images courtesy Virginia Tech.

Sharper Shape and SkySkopes Successfully Execute First Transmission Line Cable Construction Mission using Drones

Sharper Shape and SkySkopes have successfully conducted a demonstration of transmission line cable construction using drones. A Sharper Shape A6 UAS was used to string sock lines for a 675 kV line construction project. This would typically be performed with helicopters or workers climbing the towers.

Sock Pulling Sharper Shape

Volz Servos’ DA 15-N Actuators have been Successfully Flying in Aerosonde Mk4.7 SUAS since 2010 Achieving Over 200,000 Flight Hours

Textron Systems Unmanned Systems division has been flying the Aerosonde Mk4.7 Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) since 2010 in support of U.S. DoD ISR services contracts. Powered by a Lycoming EL-005 engine, the Mk4.7 is designed for expeditionary land- and sea-based operations. Volz Servos’ DA 15-N actuators have performed for over 200,000 flight hours.

The Littlest Lycoming, EL-005

Skyward Webinar: How to Plan and Budget for Your Drone Program

This webinar is designed to get your drone strategy ready for 2018. Skyward and DARTdrones will walk through best practices for building and budgeting for a drone program. Thursday, October 12, 2017, 10 am – 11 am PST.