In the coming months, small UAS will be used to assist Daytona Beach police officers and firefighters during a variety of tasks, including evaluating hazardous areas following hurricanes or other disasters, and finding lost nursing-home residents.
This will be possible thanks to a new aviation program, called the DBPD aviation program, that the Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD) is launching in collaboration with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Worldwide and Daytona Beach campuses.
Embry-Riddle is known for launching the nation’s first Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Operations program back in 2011.
Business Solutions
Business Solutions
ALEA to become APSA at the beginning of 2018
On January 1, 2018, the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA) will change its name to the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA).
The Association says that the new moniker, which was announced at ALEA EXPO 2017, is the result of various changes that have occurred over the last seven years, and will be “more reflective of the entirety of those involved in public safety aviation,” as well as more appealing to potential members the Association hopes to attract.
While the Association’s name will change, its mission will remain the same, as it seeks to “support, promote and advance the safe and effective utilization of aircraft by governmental agencies in support of public safety missions through training, networking, advocacy and educational programs.”
Intel’s Mobileye to build a fleet of autonomous vehicles for testing
After completing its tender offer for Mobileye, Intel says that it is “poised to accelerate its autonomous driving business from car-to-cloud,” with the announcement that Mobileye will start building a fleet of fully autonomous (level 4 SAE) vehicles.
The initial vehicles will be deployed later on this year, and eventually, the fleet will expand to more than 100 automobiles.
The vehicles will be tested in the United States, Israel and Europe.
AUVSI’s Brian Wynne on UAS panel at the Organization of Black Aeronautics Professionals Convention
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2017
Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786
Endeavor Robotics to deliver 32 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicles to United States Armed Forces
Endeavor Robotics will deliver 32 of its Small Unmanned Ground Vehicles (SUGV), equipped with the Endeavor Robotics uPoint Multi-Robot Control System, to the United States Armed Forces.
The SUGV meets IP67 ratings, can operate in all environmental conditions, and has increased capabilities thanks to its ability to integrate various sensors and hardware.
The SUGV can also climb and descend stairs, and it provides “dexterous and robust manipulation and lift/inspection capabilities,” while also having the ability to extend “operational range through mesh networking” with other Endeavor systems that are deployed.
Drone Delivery Canada partners with TECSYS to develop UAS delivery system
After signing a commercial agreement, Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) and TECSYS Inc. will work on designing, developing and implementing a UAS delivery system, in an effort to “expand the logistics capabilities of TECSYS specifically in the healthcare vertical.” TECSYS Inc. provides supply chain systems for health systems and hospitals.
“Working with TECSYS, we see great opportunities to serve the healthcare sector across North America,” says Tony Di Benedetto, CEO of Drone Delivery Canada.
Kansas Department of Transportation deploys first statewide UTM initiative in the United States
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is partnering with AirMap, Inc. to deploy the first statewide Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) initiative in the United States.
Kansas will implement an “airport notification and awareness system for drones,” using AirMap’s UTM technology, providing airports across the state with access to the airspace management system.
Airports that participate in the initiative will be able to accept digital flight notices, communicate with UAS operators, and prepare for UTM milestones that are coming down the pipeline, such as authorization for commercial UAS flights and automating airspace notification.
For Lieutenant Governor Jeff Colyer, this initiative shows how committed the state of Kansas is to the UAS industry.
Overwatch Imaging upgrades autonomous image processing capabilities of airborne multi-camera payloads
In collaboration with SOAR Oregon, Hood River, Oregon-based Overwatch Imaging, which specializes in customized large-scale aerial imagery intelligence systems, has successfully completed a year-long program to upgrade the TK-X family of airborne multi-camera payloads’ autonomous image processing capabilities.
The TK-X family of Overwatch payloads include multiple cameras in “an actively stabilized, nadir-oriented mount with automated step-stare camera pointing controls,” which allows for the quick collection of high-resolution multi-spectral imagery.
Also included in the payloads are “embedded GPU-based onboard image processing, with customized software performing real-time multi-image registration, image-based object detection, and image mapping.”
Measure acquires Pilatus Unmanned
Measure, which is a U.S. provider of UAS technologies for enterprise customers, has announced that it has acquired Pilatus Unmanned, a company that specialized in UAS customization for commercial customers, and was one of the first Enterprise value-added resellers for DJI.
The acquisition of Pilatus Unmanned is another indication of the rapid growth taking place at Measure, which recently introduced new technologies and toolkits for the solar and broadcast news industries.
Defense. Protection. Security: Opportunities with AUVSI
Join AUVSI as we host unmanned systems thought leaders for a discussion of their visions for the community and outline how the technology will be integrated into the operations of an increasing number of government agencies. As the capabilities and application of unmanned technology changes, AUVSI’s programming changes with it, which is why we’re pleased to announce the new AUVSI Unmanned Systems—Defense. Protection. Security. (USDPS)! This webinar is your opportunity to preview the types of speakers and innovative ideas you can expect to hear at the event to be held February 6-8, 2018 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor.