[Page 2] UAV roundup July 2016: The latest in unmanned aerial vehicle news
US Combatting Terrorism Technical Support Office evaluating tethered UAS for surveillance
The U.S. Combatting Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) is evaluating a new tethered unmanned aircraft system (UAS) from AeroVironment Inc.
Named "Tether Eye," the UAS is designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and security applications. It will provide 24-hour-a-day surveillance at up to 150 ft. above its launch point, and deploys automatically from a small, weather-sealed, self-contained base station and ascends to a predetermined hover altitude, from where its uses can monitor 360° field of view video.
Large UAV tested for agricultural data gathering
A test involving a large unmanned aerial system (UAS) for agricultural data gathering—which is believed to be the first test of this type—recently took place at the Hillsboro Municipal Airport in Hillsboro, ND, USA.
John Nowatzki, North Dakota State University agricultural machine specialist for the Extension Service, says a May 20 test was the first test of UAS vehicles for agricultural data gathering he has heard of.
"We’re flying over large areas," Nowatzki says, noting the footprint of the study corridor is 40 miles by 4 miles.
The project uses the Hermes 450, a plane that weighs 1,200 pounds and has a 35-ft wingspan. Owned by Elbit Systems of Haifa, Israel, it can carry up to 400 pounds of equipment and can scan at 92 mph, using an internal combustion engine
3D printed unmanned test aircraft introduced by Airbus
European airliner maker Airbus has developed and flown a UAS that was made entirely through 3D printing.
Called Thor (Test of High-tech Objectives in Reality), the UAS (pictured) can be 3D printed in about four weeks, according to Peter Sander, Airbus head of emerging technologies & concepts.
"Thor is a test platform for high risk investigations," he told Engineering News Online. These will be aerodynamic investigations. "We [will] prove the concept – [establish] if it works, or not."
Different aerodynamic concepts can be tested using a 3D printed UAV which can be designed and built in a matter of weeks (instead of months, using conventional processes) and at a much lower cost than a conventionally made UAV. A 3D printed aircraft can also be more rapidly and easily optimised than a conventionally built one.
AUVSI launches Startup Competition
On July 18 at the Hilton San Francisco, the AUVSI will host its first Startup Connection, which is focused on highlighting innovations in unmanned systems and robotics.
This 1-day event will bring together investors, channel partners, and OEMs with startups, new ideas, and new technologies in an interactive format combining demonstrations and presentations. Additionally, the event will offer “Matchmaker Speed Networking,” during which participants will be matched with vendor, investor, and partner prospects in pre-arranged, back-to-back, 10-minute meetings.
Page 1 | Page 2
