UAV

First counter drone technology by IXI EW

IXI EW, LLC has announced that they have entered into a Product Development and a Licensing Agreement with T-Worx Holdings, LLC based in Ashburn, Virginia. The Agreement provide for the integration of the IXI DRONEKILLER handheld counter UAS technology onto the T-Worx Intelligent Rail® (“I-Rail®”) system with its Rifle Operating System™. Developed under the US Army Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program, the I-Rail provides both power and intelligent control of electronic devices when attached to an I-Rail integrated Picatinny Rail. Following an extensive competition, the I-Rail also became the NATO Powered Rail standard in 2015.

The current IXI DRONEKILLER is the only standalone handheld counter UAS device that employs softwaredefined radio technology to detect and affect class 1 and class 2 UAS (sUAS) devices without the use of broadband jamming. www.ixitech.com

Foremost UAS test range acquires integrated drone airspace management system

Kongsberg Geospatial, an Ottawabased geospatial visualisation software company, and the Foremost UAS Test Range, who operate one of only two Transport Canada certified UAS test ranges in Canada, have announced that they have integrated the Kongsberg Geospatial IRIS UAS situational awareness application combined with uAvionix ADS-B receivers into the CCUVS Range Operations infrastructure.

The integration of the Kongsberg IRIS Airspace Awareness application and uAvionix ADS-B system will provide situational awareness safety for Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) flight operations at the Transport Canada certified UAS Test Range in Foremost Alberta. www.kongsberggeospatial.com

First UAS and Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) certified by UL

Unmanned or automated electric vehicles and systems are now available with UL electrical system safety certification, as UL issues the first UL 3030 certification for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to the Intel® Falcon 8+ drone, a professional, unmanned aerial vehicle ideal for inspection and close mapping. Additionally, UL has issued the first UL 3100 certification for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to Dematic, a leader in integrated automated supply chain technology. UL recently developed these two safety standards that focus on the electrical system safety of the end product with critical safety system components such as the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and charging systems on- or off-board the product. www.ul.com

Large area mapping UAV by Delair

Delair has announced the global availability of its breakthrough Delair UX11 fixed-wing UAV, an innovative hardware-software platform that provides highly accurate images for survey-grade mapping, with onboard processing capabilities and real-time, long-range control. The platform’s enhanced centimeter-level precision along with its efficient operational characteristics make it the most cost-effective solution for large area surveying and mapping.

The UX11 is an ideal solution for highly precise and safe mapping in a number of industries such as surveying, construction, oil & gas, utilities, mining, agriculture and transportation.

IAI developing autonomous vehicles

Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. is unveiling new products that could potentially revolutionize mining and quarrying. IAI’s robotics factory has developed technology for utilizing autonomous vehicles in heavy mechanical equipment used in mining and development work. One of the main developments recently reported by IAI is aimed at the global mining industry through a system named Euphemus based on advanced algorithms that makes it possible to convert huge trucks used to transport dirt in open mines into completely autonomously driven trucks. These converted trucks can be operated independently according to definitions made in advance through commands given to them remotely. www.globes-online.com

Singapore plans to beef up laws governing drone use

As more drones and unmanned aircraft take to the skies here, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is proposing enhancements to the laws governing their use in a bid to ensure public safety.

Five changes are being proposed to the existing unmanned aircraft regulatory framework, which was established in 2015.

These include the enhancements of operating guidelines for unmanned aircraft; an online training programme which will be compulsory for those flying unmanned aircraft weighing 1.5kg or more; as well as a pilot licensing scheme to ensure that users have a minimum competency level.

There are also plans for the introduction of training organisation framework to support the proposed pilot licensing. Another proposed change is the implementation of additional requirements for those flying unmanned aircraft weighing more than 25kg.

Heavier unmanned aircraft pose a greater safety risk. These requirements could include the partial or full certification of the device, as well as the certification of the operator and maintenance organisation. www.reach.gov.sg

India’s Mahindra teams with Aeronautics on naval UAVs

India’s Mahindra Defense and Israeli drone developer Aeronautics Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to partner for naval shipborne unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Aeronautics and Mahindra announced that they will offer a UAV system that can be launched and recovered from Indian warships.

Based in Yavne, south of Tel Aviv, Aeronautics provides integrated turnkey solutions based on unmanned systems platforms, payloads and communications for defense and civil applications. Aeronautics is the OEM of the Orbiter series of UAVs which has been sold in many countries globally. www.globes-online.com

MRO Drone and Ubisense join forces

MRO Drone and Ubisense are pairing up through the launch of a new Smart Hangar solution, which combines drone aircraft inspection with automated tool and asset management technology. The partnership aims to improve the efficiency and productivity of MROs through reliable staging of work packages, sensor-driven feedback and real-time visibility of tools and equipment.

The Smart Hangar concept starts with Ubisense’s Dimension4 tracking system, which uses sensors placed around an aircraft hangar to track assets- including drones- providing realtime location information to control and monitor asset movements.

New drone-based inspection capabilities by Kespry

Kespry has announced new capabilities for significantly accelerating the assessment of roof hail and wind damage for residential, multi-family and commercial buildings. New capabilities include onsite processing of drone-captured roof inspection data, a Virtual Test Square (VTS) to support claims decision-making in minutes, and enhanced automated hail detection, driven by machine learning. Equipped with the updated Kespry solution, insurance adjusters can now make claims settlement decisions in as little as an hour. www.kespry.com

New joint effort boosts drone standards for public safety officials

Two of the world’s leading safetystandards developers are joining forces to help the growing number of public safety professionals who want to use drones – also known as

The National Fire Protection Association and ASTM International signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support a joint working group (JWG) of about two dozen top experts in public safety and drone technology.

This group, which first met Feb. 23, is working to create “use-case scenarios” to help meet needs of law enforcement, search-and-rescue teams, emergency medical services personnel, and firefighters who want to use drones in various operations. www.astm.org

Cyient and BlueBird Aero Systems

sign JV to offer UAV systems Cyient and Israel-based BlueBird Aero Systems, a leader in design, development, and production of micro, mini, and small tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) have have entered into a joint venture to offer field-proven UAV systems to Indian defence, paramilitary, security, and police forces. The joint venture, named Cyient Solutions & Systems Private Limited, has 51% and 49% shareholding by Cyient and BlueBird respectively.

DroneDeploy launches drone on demand

DroneDeploy has announced their Drone on Demand solution to unlock actionable drone insights for everyone. The solution lets customers plan a flight mission using DroneDeploy’s cloud platform-and then request a certified professional pilot from DroneBase, the largest global drone operations company, who will go to the site, perform the flight, and collect aerial data. It streamlines a complicated drone data collection process-putting instant, high-resolution aerial data into the hands of all.

13 member Task Force in India for fast-tracking UAV technology

The Indian Government has decided to constitute a Task Force under the chairmanship of Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation for fasttracking the roll-out of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology.

The Task Force will develop a roadmap with implementable recommendations for Central as well as State Governments, Industry and Research Institutions.

The Task Force will consist of representatives from the Government, PSUs, industry and sectoral experts and submit report within 6 months of its constitution.

The Terms of Reference of the Task Force are as follows:-

▪ The Task Force will focus, interalia, on research & development, acquisition & commercialisation, application & adoption in specific sectors, regulatory framework, preference for Make in India.

▪ A roadmap with implementable recommendations for the Central Government, State Governments, Industry and Research Institutions including outcomes, timelines, implementation & review mechanism and measurable metrics will be prepared by the Task Force. The role of the industry will also be clearly delineated.

▪ The Task Force may study global practices and interact with relevant stakeholders, as required, for preparation of their report.

The Task Force will have necessary consultations and interactions with Industry, Research Institutions and Government Organizations.