Tag Archives: Coronavirus

UAV 324 Drones and the Pandemic

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

UAV News

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

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

The new program will be housed at two locations:

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

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

Emergency responders seek the last drone standing

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

First Responder UAS Endurance Challenge YouTube Channel

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

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

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

Kuala Lumpur is testing drones to sanitize high-rise buildings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What to do at home…

Using LAANC to Fly Drones in Controlled Airspace

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

322 Drones and Coronavirus

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Unmanned aircraft and the Coronavirus (COVID-19), a new Drone Racing League Academy to teach STEM, EHang looks to Europe with their autonomous aerial vehicle, a radar cross-section database for malicious drone identification, and a flying car that looks like a car.

UAV News

Spanish police are using drones to scold citizens who go outside

Many countries are combating the coronavirus by asking (or telling) people to self-quarantine and practice social distancing. But not everyone is doing that. Police in Spain are responding using drones fitted with speakers to admonish people who aren’t doing their part.

Disinfecting Drones to Fight COVID-19? No Thanks, Says Defense Department

China has been using quadcopters to spray disinfectant and some companies in the U.S. have proposed the same. However, the U.S. Defense Department says they have no plans to do this. Same for the National Guard, the U.S. Special Operations Command, and DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). But Droneresponders is exploring “all use case options in response to COVID19.”

Drone Racing League launches DRL Academy

The Drone Racing League launched the DRL Academy, a STEM program for school kids with the main focus on drones. DRL partnered with the National Geospatial Technology Center of Excellence, West Valley College, Eduscape, and New Jersey City University. If you are interested in the DRL Academy, you can email them at STEM@DRL.io.

EHang Gets Operational Flight Permit from CAA Norway

The EHang 216 two-seat autonomous aerial vehicle has received an operational flight permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway (CAA). Flights for testing and certification are planned with a local customer.

EHang, city government of Seville partner to launch first UAM pilot program in Spain

EHang has an agreement with the city of Seville, Spain to develop passenger transportation, air logistics, and command and control platforms in the city. Seville is a member of the UAM Initiative Cities Community which was launched by the EU’s European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities project.

Team scans drones of different shapes and sizes to counter terrorist attack risk

Researchers are building a database of drone radar cross-sections (RCS) that could help identify malicious UAVs. Commercial and custom-built drones are being measured. The research was published in IEEE Access. The measurement data is available to the public.

Ascent Makes UAM Plans With eVTOL Group Urban Aeronautics

The Metro Skyways subsidiary of Urban Aeronautics is developing a six-seat hydrogen-powered eVTOL called CityHawk. Their Singapore partner is Ascent and they are seeking to develop urban air mobility services in Asia.