UAV

Drones for aerial photography open market, tests law in Taiwan

The Environmental Protection Bureau of Taichung in central Taiwan has decided to deploy cameras attached to drones in its efforts to catch those damaging air quality and jeopardizing road traffic safety by burning dry straw on open ground. It will be the first time the city has used this form of technology to catch polluters after patrol vehicles on the ground often fail to accomplish the task, bureau officials said. www.wantchinatimes.com

AUVSI lauds two new UAS legislation

The Protecting Firefighters and Promoting Innovation Act, introduced by Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and the Future Transportation Research and Innovation for Prosperity (TRIP) Act, introduced by Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) are good things according to Brian Wynne, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI).

Wynne says the two pieces of legislation underscore the many societal benefits of robotic technologies, from helping fight wildfires to improving transportation systems. He also commends the act introduced by Lipinski, saying it establishes a foundation for the widespread use of connected, intelligent vehicle technologies. “A new generation of intelligent machines, including automated vehicles, will improve the safety of our transportation system, provide mobility to the elderly and disabled, and reduce cost and waste.”

Rustom-1 drone to monitor maritime boundary with Lanka

The international maritime boundary line (IMLB) between India and Sri Lanka, frequently violated by fisherfolk and smugglers from both sides, could soon be kept under surveillance by the Rustom-1 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – a drone developed by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).lok The DRDO is working with the navy to fit the Rustom-1 with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) that will identify Indian fishing vessels along the maritime boundary. The AIS on the Rustom-1 will transmit an “interrogator” signal that reflects back from a transponder that will be fitted on every Indian fishing boat. If an Indian vessel strays into Sri Lankan waters, or an unidentified boat enters Indian waters, a digital data link between the UAV and a ground control station (GCS) on the Indian coast will alert the navy and coast guard in real time. www.business-standard.com

Anti-UAV system to be developed

A consortium of British and French companies has signed an agreement to develop a counter-unmanned air vehicle system. The UAV Watch and Catch System (UWAS) radar-based system will be developed by JCPX Development, DSNA Services, Aveillant, Skysoft and ENAC, and will detect and track UAVs that weigh less than 25kg (55lb).

The system will be offered in both mobile and fixed configurations, while the consortium claims that the technology that will be incorporated is already compliant and certificated by civil aviation authorities, and will be a turnkey system based on Aveillant’s H24 radar system. www.fiightglobal.com

FAA Grants Section 333 Exemption to Property Drone Consortium

The Property Drone Consortium (PDC), announced the grant of a Section 333 exemption and a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the PDC. Working in conjunction with EagleView Technologies, the exemption authorizes the PDC to legally fl y and conduct restricted research and development on the use of UAS for aerial data collection, in the U.S. National Airspace System. www.eagleview.com