Tag Archives: Skyways

418 Weather Prediction with Drones

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Using drones for weather prediction, tracking warehouse inventory with an autonomous drone, an FCC NPRM for the UAS communications spectrum, Walmart delivery drone statistics, underwater drones to detect ocean carbon, hardening the electric grid from aerial attacks, and cargo delivery to moving ships.

UAV News

Drones Make Weather Prediction Easier at the Poles

Researchers are using DJI Mavic 2 drones to measure Arctic wind speeds. The only modification required was the addition of an inexpensive, lightweight thermal anemometer. The Japanese National Institute of Polar Research is flying drones from a research vessel.

Video: Using small drones to measure wind speeds in the polar regions

Drones take the night shift for improved inventory tracking

The Vimaan StorTRACK Air autonomous warehouse drone can automate inventory control functions. It scans warehouse racks, delivers accurate inventory status to the warehouse management system, and doesn’t just read barcode labels – it includes optical character recognition and captures the entire contents of warehouse racks.

Video: Cycle Counting Autonomous Warehouse Drones track inventory accuracy and warehouse utilization

https://youtu.be/_7k8pAcfYZ0

U.S. FCC proposes additional spectrum for drone communications

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed new spectrum rules for unmanned aircraft systems. This is necessary to accommodate the increasing number of drones, which require wireless communication. The NPRM addresses the 5030-5091 MHz band, which was previously allocated to support terrestrial control links for UAS without adopting service rules. This proposal is the first step to developing those service rules for UAS operations.

Ref: FCC Starts Rulemaking on Licensed Spectrum for Unmanned Aircraft Use

Walmart Drone Delivery by the Numbers

Thirty-six Walmart stores in the U.S. have drone delivery hubs operated by DroneUp, Flytrex, and Zipline. 6,000+ drone deliveries were completed in 2022. The top five customer favorites delivered by drone were cookies, ice cream, lemons, rotisserie chicken, energy drinks, and paper towels. Drone delivery is operating in seven states: VA, NC, FL, AR, TX, UT, AZ.

Meet the scientists and their underwater drones tackling the ‘weirdly complicated’ world of ocean carbon

The underwater drone, or “glider,” nicknamed Migaloo is 1.5 meters long and measures CO2 and pH ocean parameters to understand global carbon sink. The Atlantic Carbon Observatory Pilot Program (ACOP) utilizes moored bottom observatories and gliders that provide mobile pH and CO2 sensors. Real-time data collected is collected via Iridium and Fiberoptic links. The Slocum Underwater Glider is designed and manufactured by Teledyne Webb Research.

We must act now to protect the electric grid from drones

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation is set to review the physical security standards of the electric grid, but that doesn’t address airborne threats. Defensive options need to be investigated, leveraging the progress that National Laboratories and the Department of Defense (DOD) are making in counter-UAS (C-UAS) technologies and systems. Current statutory restraints limit the ability of utilities to defend their facilities from drone attacks.

U.S. Navy Drones Pass Long-Range Test of Unmanned Cargo Delivery to Moving Ships

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) “recently demonstrated multiple unmanned systems in a first-of-its-kind mission to move supplies to ships at sea.” Two VTOLs were involved in the testing: the Martin V-BAT 128 and the Skyways V2.6 Cargo Aircraft. The Navy is looking for UAVs that have the ability to transport cargo under 50 lbs and fly to and from moving ships.

364 The Recreational Drone Test

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How to become a drone test administrator, Ingenuity phones home from Mars, lessons of the dot-com crash and the eVTOL market, a Skunk Works “Speed Racer,” Naval resupply with an autonomous UAS, and a new animated drone show record.

UAV News

The FAA wants you… to be a drone test administrator

The FAA developed a 3-step process to implement a nation-wide system to train and test all recreational drone pilots. Test content development and test administration is complete, now the FAA needs volunteers to become an FAA Approved Test Administrator of The Recreational UAS Safety Test (FAA Approved TA TRUST). The FAA is inviting interested parties to submit applications to become testers and will announce selected test administrators in June 2021.

See: FAA Seeks TRUST Administrators for Drone Pilot Test and Aeronautical Knowledge and Safety Test Updates.

The first helicopter on Mars phones home after Perseverance rover landing

The Ingenuity helicopter that was carried to Mars by the Perseverance rover is successfully communicating with controllers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. A series of battery charging cycles will take place, then the helicopter will be released by the rover. A 30-day experimental flight test window will follow. The JPL said, “If Ingenuity succeeds in taking off and hovering during its first flight, over 90 percent of the project’s goals will have been achieved. If the rotorcraft lands successfully and remains operable, up to four more flights could be attempted, each one building on the success of the last.”

Entering the era of peak uncertainty for eVTOLs

Is the emerging air mobility market repeating the scenario that took place before the dot-com crash? Valuations are not connected to market fundamentals, we see significant technology trends, and an there is an inability to distinguish fact from hype. Also, power sources and capacities are not established, and viable eVTOL applications are not uncertain. Will people embrace UAM and who will be the corporate winners and losers? The crystal ball is cloudy.

Secretive New Skunk Works UAS Set For Ground Testing Soon

The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is about to start ground testing the “Speed Racer.” The name is an acronym, but its meaning is unknown. The vehicle is part of the StarDrive initiative where the U.S. Air Force wants to unite digital engineering tools for the design, manufacturing, and sustainment phases of new weapon systems. Lockheed intends that StarDrive will reduce the time and cost of producing and operating new flight vehicles for the military. 

Navy Tests Autonomous Aerial Supply Drone From Its Newest Supercarrier

On Feb. 21, 2021, the U.S. Navy demonstrated a small, autonomous VTOL unmanned aircraft that delivered “light-weight logistical equipment” to the USS Gerald R. Ford. The payload was transported from the Mid Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia to the Ford. The Blue Water UAS was commercially procured in October 2020. It’s a version of the Skyways V2.5 Hybrid-Electric that features an AI-driven flight system, maximum range of 500 miles, and maximum payload of 30 pounds.

Courtesy U.S. Navy.

UAV Video of the Week

Hundreds of drones took Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ to the skies — and set a Guinness World Record

Six hundred drones told the story of Van Gogh’s life in the night sky over China’s Tianjin Municipality, setting a Guinness World Record for the longest animation performed by unmanned aerial vehicles – 26 minutes and 19 seconds. The display was created by drone production company EFYI Group, along with Tianjin University.

Video: Unbelievable DRONE display – Guinness World Records