Virtual Surveyor introduces Curb & Gutter Mapping

Virtual Surveyor has introduced Curb & Gutter mapping functionality in Version 7.6 of its popular drone surveying software. The new capability enables surveyors to create a lightweight CAD model of curbs and gutters along the edges of streets and parking lots from standard orthophotos and elevation models captured by UAVs or drones.

The challenge of mapping curbs in 3D from drone data is that the sharp curb edges are not captured well with drone photogrammetry. Virtual Surveyor now allows the surveyor to input curb height measurements taken in the field as offsets starting from the back of the curb. www.virtual-surveyor.com

Kongsberg Geospatial and Unifly partnership

Kongsberg Geospatial has announced partnership with Unifly to enable realtime e-Identification and tracking of drones using Unifly BLIP (Broadcast Location & Identity Platform).

The system fuses data from a wide range of real-time sensors, such as the Unifly BLIP technology, to provide drone pilots with a precise real-time picture of their operational airspace when piloting one or more unmanned vehicles beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS). kongsberggeospatial.com

Sony launches drone project

Sony Corporation has launched a new project for drones in the field of AI robotics. The recent proliferation of drones has contributed greatly to the delivery of previously unseen images, as well as to workflow efficiency and energy savings in the industrial sector. Sony has assigned the “Airpeak” brand to reflect its aspiration to contribute to the further evolvement and the creation of the unprecedented value through its imaging and sensing technology as well as 3R technologies (Reality, Real-time and Remote) in the drone area.

Airpeak will support the creativity of video creators to the fullest extent possible, aiming to contribute to the further development of the entertainment industry as well as to improved efficiency and savings in various industries. It will also promote this project to enable droneuse with the highest level of safety and reliability in the environments where this has been difficult in the past. www.sony.net

FAA moving forward to enable safe integration of drones

The FAA published airworthiness criteria for the proposed certification of 10 different Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or drones as special class aircraft. This is a crucial step to enabling more complex drone operations beyond what is allowed under the small unmanned aircraft rule (Part 107), including package delivery.

The airworthiness criteria provide a level of safety equivalent to that provided by existing airworthiness standards applicable to other categories of aircraft, and establish a defined path to type certification for specific drones. Each applicant seeking a type certificate must follow FAA’s requirements and safety objectives. The applicants’ drones range from five to 89 pounds and include several types of vehicle designs, including both fixed wing and rotorcraft, and are all electric powered. Each notice outlines the applicant’s proposed UAS for certification and the airworthiness criteria proposed by the FAA.

This is a step in the certification process and does not imply these applicants have earned type certificates. Final determination of whether a specific drone meets FAA safety requirements will occur after the applicant demonstrates they have complied with these requirements. www.faa.gov