Weekend Roundup: April 3, 2020
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World.
News
GA-ASI’s first production-representative MQ-9B SkyGuardian completes first flight
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has announced the completion of the first production-representative MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).
NOAA establishes Unmanned Systems Operations Program to support growing use of UxS across agency
To support the growing use of unmanned systems across the agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is establishing a new Unmanned Systems Operations Program.
UAVOS, KACST successfully demonstrate flight control system capability for Saker MALE UAS family
In collaboration with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Saudi Arabia, UAVOS has developed and demonstrated a progressive flight control system capability for the Saker MALE UAS family.
Iris Automation, MVT Geo-solutions to conduct BVLOS flights using only onboard Detect-and-Avoid in Canada
Transport Canada has granted Iris Automation and MVT Geo-solutions the first beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) using only onboard Detect-and-Avoid (DAA).
Parrot, DroneLogbook partner to provide enhanced flight data tracking to Parrot’s UAS
Parrot has partnered with DroneLogbook, a flight logging service that provides secure data storage, which will result in the addition of enhanced flight data tracking to Parrot's ANAFI drone.
Drone equipped with special cameras can dodge fast-moving objects
Researchers from the University of Zurich have equipped a drone with a novel type of camera to give it the ability to detect and avoid fast-moving objects.
Stanford University researchers develop soft robot that can move and change shape
Stanford University researchers have developed a soft robot that borrows features from traditional robotics to stay safe while still retaining the ability to move and change shape.
Altitude Angel, INVOLI partner to provide ‘unrivaled picture of airspace’ for UAS operations
Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) technology provider Altitude Angel is partnering with low-altitude air traffic data provider INVOLI to provide what they’re describing as “an unrivalled picture of airspace” to ANSPs, operators, pilots and drone-centric risk management applications.
QUT researchers to use drones to identify wildlife populations in bushfire affected areas
As part of a collaborative project, researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Queensland, Australia will use drones and infrared imaging to identify wildlife populations in bushfire affected areas. Researchers currently use this combination of technology to detect koalas.