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Drones assist with solar energy production, the satellite industry sees UAS opportunities, a quadcopter approaches a commercial flight, NYPD is developing a plan to counter weaponized drones, and more from the NBAA panel discussion on UAS.
News
These Drones With Little Brooms Keep Solar Panels Clean
Large solar panel farms are increasingly being used to generate electricity. You can capture a lot of solar power in the desert, but the panels need to be cleaned to remove the dust that accumulates. Startup Aerial Power Limited is testing brush-carrying UAVs that gently keep the solar panels clean.
Different Industries Debate the Potential of UAVs and the Need for Satellite
UAVs often depend on satellite-based technology, and the satellite industry sees business opportunity in that. By their nature, satellite data transmissions are global, and that means international standards are needed.
Quadcopter drone ‘deliberately flown at passenger airliner’ over Essex
The UK Airprox Board has released its report on the May 2014 incident where a quadcopter came close to an ATR72 on approach to runway 06 at Southend Airport. The report (No. 2014073) states:
“As the aircraft was about to intercept the ILS Glide-Slope, the pilot saw a remote-controlled quadcopter very close to the right wing-tip. The aircraft captain did not see the quadcopter but the sighting was reported to Southend ATC. The co-pilot formed the impression that the quadcopter had been flown deliberately close to the AT72 because he had seen it around 100m away as it approached from the right-hand side and made a turn to fly in the opposite direction to his aircraft, around 25m away and at the same level.”
The quadcopter operator could not be traced. Beyond that… nothing to be done.
NYPD: Threat Of Terrorists With Drones Is A Growing Concern
New York police have been concerned about the possibility of an attack by drone. While they don’t have any intelligence about a specific threat, they want to be prepared. The NYPD is consulting with the military and they are working on a plan to counter weaponized drones.
NBAA2014 – BUSINESS AVIATION CONVENTION & EXHIBITION
We continue with more from the October 21, 2014 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition panel discussion titled: Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Regulatory and Legal Developments.
The Panel was moderated by: Marc Warren , Crowell & Moring LLP with panel members: Dean Griffith , FAA; Mario Mairena , AUVSI; Govt Relations; Dave Hamrick, MITRE Corporation; and Ted Wierzbanowiski , ASTM standards for sUAS.
Topics:
- Do you have to be a licensed pilot to fly sUAS?
- What standards did the ASTM recommend?
- Why does the Section 333 exemption require a private pilot’s certificate?
See Episode 65 for more clips from the panel discussion.
Videos of the Week
Drone Loses Contact With Operator, Activates Return To Home, Crashes GoPro4 Into Rock
Every Angle Films was shooting video of a beautiful sunrise at Pinnacle Peak, Utah with a new GoPro4 mounted on a DJI F550 with an H3-3D gimbal. When the F550 lost contact, it initiated a “return to home.” The only problem was that Pinnacle Peak was in the way.
OK Go – I Won’t Let You Down – Official Video
Shot by the OK Go band in Japan with 2,400 people and a drone. CNN (Music video shot with drone goes viral) tells the story.
Mentioned
‘Ambulance drone’ prototype unveiled in Holland
This prototype of a flying defibrillator can reach heart attack victims quickly.