UAV

India is the world’s top drone importer

The decision by India’s National Disaster Response Force to use drones to help Nepal map the scale of devastation caused by last month’s earthquake indicates how India has enthusiastically taken to these pilot-less aircraft — the so-called eyes in the sky.

With 22.5 per cent the world’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imports, between 1985 and 2014, India ranks first among drone-importing nations, followed by United Kingdom and France.

A total of 1,574 UAV transfers have taken place across the world between 1985 and 2014. Of these, 16 are armed UAVs, according to data provided by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), an independent global conflict-research institute. http://articles. economictimes.indiatimes.com

Drones banned from Tokyo parks

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has banned people from flying drones in metropolitan parks and gardens. Officials said it was based on an existing ordinance that bans “acts that cause a hindrance to management.” The ordinance stipulates a fine of up to ¥50,000. www.japantimes.co.jp

Trimble Partners with Multirotor

Trimble has announced that it is partnering with UAS manufacturer MULTIROTOR service-drone, GmbH. The collaboration will allow Trimble to expand its existing UAS portfolio to provide its customers with additional solutions to choose from based on their aerial imaging project needs. www.service-drone.com/en/

eXom ready for take-off

senseFly has launched the eXom, quadcopter drone for mapping and inspection. Developed by experts working across numerous fields of robotics, this lightweight quadcopter offers professionals such as civil engineers and land surveyors the situational awareness, imaging flexibility and durability they need to complete challenging tasks safely, accurately and efficiently.

PrecisionHawk signs UAV research agreement with FAA

PrecisionHawk has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration to advance the research around UAVs across rural areas. PrecisionHawk will be the only UAV manufacturer, joining CNN and BNSF Railway, in the partnership forged under the Pathfinder programme, an operational concept validation set up by the FAA to help integrate commercial drones into the US national airspace, stated Michael Huerta, FAA Administrator.

Septentrio software and GNSS solution for the drone market

Septentrio has announced the launch of AsteRx-m UAS, a RTK –accurate GNSS receiver solution specially designed for the drone market. The UAS board is complemented by the release of GeoTagZ software suite; which works together with the UAS camera and image processing solution to provide cm-accurate position tagging of the images without the need for a real-time data link. www.septentrio.com