UAV

senseFly brings nextgeneration rotary UAVs

senseFly has introduced eXom, the rotary drone that offers professional users unprecedented situational awareness. In addition to seeing what its TripleView camera head sees, its five vision sensors also enable you to see in the direction the drone is moving for enhanced awareness and safe operation. These sensors work in harmony with five ultrasonic sensors to ensure you always know the drone’s distance from nearby objects. It includes the extra security of automated proximity warnings, and shock-absorbent carbon fibre shrouding protects eXom’s rotors in case of surface contact.

Aibot X6 uses Leica Nova MultiStation

Leica Geosystems and its sister company, Aibotix, have introduced a solution for accurate positioning of the Aibot X6 without GNSS. The UAV can be tracked accurately with the Leica Nova MultiStation to define the exact position. Using both together can inspect top surfaces of aircrafts in hangars, enabling users to rely on its proven functionality without the support of GNSS. The UAV flies over the aircraft and takes high-resolution images of its surface. This solution helps, for example, to ascertain lightning strikes and effectively document them. www.leica-geosystems.com

FAA gives drone exemption to Hollywood production firms

The Federal Aviation Administration has approved exemptions that would for the first time allow six aerial photo and video production companies to use “unmanned aircraft systems”. The decision is the first step in allowing the film and television industry to use drones. Drones used for such operations do not need an FAAissued certificate of airworthiness based on a finding they do not pose a threat to national airspace users or national security.

The agency already allows law enforcement agencies, fire departments and other public agencies to use drones but has, in effect, banned their use for commercial purposes since 2007. www.latimes.com

Applanix APX-15 UAV Singleboard GNSS-Inertial System

Applanix has introduced a new solution that enables major improvements in unmanned airborne mapping: the Applanix® APX-15 UAV GNSS-Inertial System. It is designed to maximize the efficiency of mapping from small UAVs by reducing – or even eliminating – Ground Control Points (GCPs). Sidelap is also significantly reduced, increasing the area flown per mission. It provides unparalleled performance in an extremely small package and, with the included POSPac UAV post-mission software, produces a highly accurate position and orientation solution for direct georeferencing of cameras, LIDARs and other UAS sensors. www.applanix.com

USAA seeks FAA approval to test UAS

USAA has asked the Federal Aviation Administration for permission to research how unmanned aircraft systems could be used to help improve how quickly it settles insurance claims for its members during natural disasters. Specifically, USAA is seeking FAA exemption from Section 333 of the FAA Moderation and Reform Act of 2012 to immediately begin testing small unmanned aircraft systems, using industryaccepted best practices and guidelines compiled during research conducted over the past four years. usaa.com.

RIEGL enters UAV market with RiCOPTER

RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems has stepped into the UAV market with the launch of RiCOPTER — a highperformance UAV equipped with the RIEGL VUX-1 survey-grade LiDAR sensor. RIEGL, which is one of the leading companies in research, development and production of terrestrial, industrial, mobile, bathymetric, airborne and UAS-based laser scanning systems, also launched a new airborne LiDAR system, VQ-880-G, for topo-bathymetric surveying applications.

DGCA issues notice against civil use of UAVs over Indian airspace

The Office of the Director General of Civil Aviation has posted a notice on its website regarding the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)/ Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for civil applications.

While the notice acknowledges the drone fancy that has caught on in the market, it cautions that in the absence of a clear policy and regulation on the usage of UAS, it is mandatory to acquire approval from the Air Navigation Services (AAIANS), defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, and other concerned security agencies, besides the DGCA.

“UAS has potential for large number of civil applications. However, its use besides being a safety issue, also poses security threat. Of late, lots of interest is being shown for civil use (both commercial and recreational) of UAS in the country. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is yet to publish Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), as far as certification and operation of civil use of UAS is concerned. The airspace over cities in India has high density of manned aircraft traffic. Due to lack of regulation, operating procedures/ standards and uncertainty of the technology, UAS poses threat for air collisions and accidents,” the notice stated.

“DGCA is in the process of formulating the regulations (and globally harmonise those) for certification and operation for the use of UAS in the Indian civil airspace. Till such regulations are issued, no non government agency, organisation, or an individual will launch a UAS in Indian civil airspace for any purpose whatsoever,” warns the notice issued to the public. DGCA

First company to apply for European civil certification of UAV

Airbus Defence and Space has formally submitted its Atlante unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for civil type certification – the first ever such application in Europe. The application was made to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the body responsible for certifying all aircraft designed or operated in Europe

The Atlante is a 570 kg, single-engined, propeller-powered UAV with a wingspan of eight metres of which the second example recently made its first flight. It is intended to fulfil a wide variety of commercial roles such as: surveillance of oil pipes, powerlines, railways, natural disasters, forest fires or sporting events.

Delhi Police use drones to keep eye on riot-hit Trilokpuri, Delhi

Drones were deployed to scan rooftops in Trilokpuri. Drone-mounted cameras were used in riot-affected Trilokpuri, Delhi by the police for monitoring the fragile situation and identifying potential trouble zones in the east Delhi locality. The gadgets were deployed to monitor rooftops for bricks and empty bottles in the troubled area, the police said, adding that the measure would bring down chances of stone pelting. The drones also helped the police to seize weapons after identifying potential trouble in the area. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story