UAV & IMAGING

White-label CAD solution in Japan

Pythagoras BV and Terra Drone have formed a strategic partnership to introduce a customized white-label software solution for the Japanese market. It combines Terra Drone’s SLAM and UAV technologies with Pythagoras’ CAD and point cloud processing software, creating an integrated platform tailored to Japanese surveying, engineering and construction workflows. www.pythagoras.net

UWB-based local positioning for UAVs

Belgium company Agilica is offering a GNSS-independent onboard positioning system using ultra wideband (UWB) technology. The system enables precise, autonomous drone navigation and landing, even in dynamic, GNSS-denied environments or on moving targets. www.agilica.be

UAV Navigation and Ekolot collaboration

UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía will collaborate with Ekolot Aerospace and Defense (EAD) to integrate its advanced flight control system into Zeus, Ekolot’s new fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platform.

The collaboration brings together UAV Navigation’s guidance, navigation and control solutions with Ekolot’s vision to create a new generation of VTOL aircraft. www.uavnavigation.com

UAE extends Emirates Mars Mission until 2028

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Space Agency has announced the extension of the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) until 2028. The mission, carried out by the Hope Probe, was originally launched as a two-year project and entered Mars’ orbit in 2021. The extension seeks to maximize the scientific return on the UAE’s space investments and gain valuable operational experience for future deep-space missions. Since its arrival at Mars, the Hope Probe has gathered around 10 terabytes of data, shared in 16 datasets with over 200 global research institutions. The mission has also supported pioneering discoveries, including new observations of Mars’ auroral activity and close fly bys of Deimos, the smaller outer moon of Mars. https://english.news.cn

South Korean technology boosts 4iG’s landmark satellite program

South Korean company TelePIX will equip future Hungarian satellites with state-of-the-art camera and sensor systems. Following a multi-stage selection process, Remred, a subsidiary of 4iG Space and Defense Technologies Ltd. (4iG SDT), has selected the South Korean company as the supplier for the camera systems for the HULEO satellites. Under the contract, TelePIX will manufacture camera and sensor sets for HULEO electro-optical satellites that are capable of producing VHR (very high resolution) images for Earth observation tasks and data collection. https://hungarytoday.hu

First in-orbit Test of ATLAS-1 laser terminals

Astrolight is set to demonstrate its low-SWaP ATLAS-1 laser communication terminals in space for the first time. The terminals will enable secure, high-bandwidth space to-ground communication on two satellites, each carrying ATLAS-1, scheduled for launch this March aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-16. The satellites support two separate missions coordinated by Astrolight’s clients: the National Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece.

As laser communication uses narrow, focused beams of infrared light, it can transmit data at up to 100 times faster rates than traditional radio frequency (RF) and is immune to electronic interference.