A new project in Denmark is developing a concept for wind turbine inspection and repair that employs fully autonomous drones operating from service operation vessels (SOVs), which are outfitted with charging stations for drones. The solution is said to significantly reduce downtime, CO2 emissions and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs if deployed at scale. Continue reading
Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS
New York Power Authority Receives FAA Waiver Allowing Automated Drone Operations
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has received its first federal approval to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of the pilot in command. In a significant step forward, this Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waiver enables NYPA to conduct fully remote drone operations such as asset and vegetative management inspections at its Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project in Schoharie County. Continue reading
Ameriflight to Purchase 35 VTOL Sabrewing Aircraft Air Cargo Drones
Ameriflight, the nation’s largest Part 135 Cargo airline, announces signed letter of intent to purchase 35 VTOL air cargo drones from Sabrewing Aircraft Company, Inc., a U.S. corporation designing and producing a new generation of regional cargo UAV that offers high-efficiency, all-weather operation with vertical landing and takeoff (VTOL) capabilities. Continue reading
10,000 Cartel Drones Detected Crossing US Border Last Year
One single sector of the southern border saw more than 10,000 illegal drone incursions from Mexico last year, a senior Border Patrol agent told Congress. Continue reading
Airobotics Gets $3.5m Order and Joint Venture with SkyGo to Deploy Autonomous Drones in Abu Dhabi
Ondas Holdings Inc., a provider of private industrial wireless networks and commercial drone and automated data solutions, announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Airobotics, Ltd., and Sky Go Transport of Goods L.L.C , a UAE-based company with commercial license to provide unmanned aerial transport of goods and services across the city of Abu Dhabi, have signed a Term Sheet for Joint Venture (the “SkyGo JV”) to provide aerial drone services to the city of Abu Dhabi. Continue reading
UK Health Service to Test Drone Flights for Medical Supplies between Northumberland Hospitals
Drones carrying key medical supplies will be taking to the skies of Northumberland from next week as the trial phase of an innovative NHS project gets underway. Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is partnering with Apian, a company which has come through the NHS Clinical Entrepreneurs Programme, to explore the use of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to carry chemotherapy drugs, blood samples and other items between sites. Continue reading
Teledyne FLIR Defense Gets $13M Pentagon Contract for Remote CBRN Drone Detection
Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, announced that it has been awarded a $13.3 million contract by the U.S. Department of Defense to further expand the capabilities of its R80D SkyRaider unmanned aerial system to autonomously perform chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance missions. Continue reading
Drone Use in Construction Can Increase Fall Risk
With the increased use of drones in construction, safety concerns have arisen related to worker distraction and potential collisions while operating at heights. The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), recently analyzed the behaviors of 153 participants “with varying construction experience” in a virtual construction site. Continue reading