UAV roundup March 2016: The latest in unmanned aerial vehicle news
In this edition of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) roundup, we touch on a number of topics, including DJI’s Phantom 4 vision-guided drone, FAA rules for micro UAVs flying over people, a new LIDAR sensor for UAVs, AUVSI’s UAV tradeshow XPONENTIAL, a "Robot Wars" event coming this fall, and more.
Computer vision takes to the skies with Phantom 4 drone from DJI
DJI’s latest drone, the Phantom 4, features 4K cameras and on-board vision processing to provide sense and avoid capabilities, along with automated subject tracking.
The Phantom 4 camera features 4K video capture at 30 fps and full HD 1080p at 120 fps. A forward obstacle sensing system allows the Phantom 4 to see in 3D and to react. In normal mode, the drone will stop and hover if it sees an obstacle coming close. In TapFly, ActiveTrack, and Smart Return Home modes, it will avoid an obstacle or hover to avoid collision.
FAA establishing committee to determine rules for micro UAVs flying over people
The FAA announced that it is establishing an aviation rulemaking committee of industry stakeholders—including the AUVSI—that will work on constructing a framework that details how certain UAVs can be flown over people not involved with the operation.
The committee, according to AUVSI, will focus on micro UAVs, but instead of focusing on weight, the committee will determine which drones are safe over crowds through a performance-based standard.
View the AUVSI article.
View the FAA charter.
Velodyne LiDAR develops LIDAR sensor for UAVs
Velodyne LiDAR's Puck LITE LIDAR sensor is a lighter weight version of its VLP-16 PUCK designed for applications that require a lower weight to meet their requirements, such as UAV deployment. The Time of Flight distance measurement sensor features a 100 m range, and generates 300,000 points/second from a 360° horizontal field of view and a 30° vertical field of view with ±15° from the horizon.
AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2016
From May 2-5 in New Orleans, the AUVSI will hold XPONENTIAL 2016, the largest tradeshow for the unmanned systems market, drawing more than 8,000 industry leaders and professionals from more than 55 countries.
XPONENTIAL 2016’s exhibit hall will showcase more than 600 companies from around the world, representing more than 20 industries. Additionally, the show will offer more than 300 educational sessions, including topics on unmanned systems policy, regulations, and technology.
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James Carroll
Former VSD Editor James Carroll joined the team 2013. Carroll covered machine vision and imaging from numerous angles, including application stories, industry news, market updates, and new products. In addition to writing and editing articles, Carroll managed the Innovators Awards program and webcasts.