Read or take heed to all the headlines in a single place: excerpts from the DRONELIFE drone news of the week ending August 18, 2023. Click on the titles below for the complete story.
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Pyka Inc., a UAV designer and manufacturer based in Oakland, California, announced that their Pelican Spray crop-protection aircraft has received FAA approval. With a gross weight of 1125 lbs, the highly automated UAS is the heaviest to ever receive FAA authorization for business use in the USA. Along with an agricultural aircraft operator certificate, farmers can start using the Pelican to boost operations. The Pelican is powered by 4 electric engines totaling 100kw and features swappable batteries and a carbon airframe.
Does Michigan’s Ban on Drones for Hunting Apply After the Game is Downed?
It’s clearly unsporting to make use of a drone equipped with thermal imagery to discover game: and prohibitions on drone use for hunting were a number of the earliest state drone laws enacted. In Michigan, SB 54 and 55 were initiated in 2015: and prohibit the usage of water or aerial uncrewed vehicles in hunting and fishing. That law – not particularly detailed in wording – is now being challenged. Is it only illegal to make use of a drone to seek out live game before hunting, or is it also illegal to make use of a drone to seek out downed game, after the hunters have stowed their weapons?
Business UAV Expo Adds Advanced Airspace Summit to Agenda
After already breaking summer registration records, the organizers of the Business UAV Expo, set to be held in Las Vegas from September 5-7, have announced the addition of a brand new Advanced Airspace Summit, held Sept. 6, to their already-stacked agenda. The Advanced Airspace Summit is designed to reply a very powerful questions on the long run of advanced air mobility: the best way to cultivate the general public trust, construct higher airspace awareness, and why that matters to the long run of the industry as a complete.
Archer Aviation Scores $215 Million in Recent Funding, Midnight Gets Special Airworthiness Certificate
Archer Aviation, a complicated air mobility company based out of Santa Clara, California, recently announced $215 million in recent funding from Stellantis, Boeing, United Airlines, and ARK Investment Management, accelerating their path to market. At the identical time, they announced that their Midnight eVTOL received its Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA, allowing for test flights to start. This vital step followed the December reveal of airworthiness criteria from the FAAand after a July visit from the Federal Advanced Air Mobility interagency working group, and will shore up investor confidence that their aggressive release timeline (Archer has announced they seek to have a product in the marketplace as soon as 2025) may be achieved.
Asylon Robotics Demonstrates Distant BVLOS Operations: 1 Pilot, 6 Drones
Norristown, Pennsylvania-based security drone company Asylon Robotics recently announced successful flight tests demonstrating the potential of their automated BVLOS solution and supporting regulators because the FAA designs recent standards for BVLOS flight. Partnering with Anzen Unmanned, a firm focused on advanced drone safety engineering and approvals, the FAA has sought real-world test cases to assist determine minimum requirements, which gave Asylon the chance to exhibit its unique autonomous UAV security solution to regulators. These successful showcases are a transparent signal of how far BVLOS operation has come and could possibly be key to the long run of the broader UAV space.
Shield AI, Sentient Vision Partner on Recent, Powerful Wide Area Search Tactical UAV
Shield AI, an American defense company focused on AI pilot design and development, has just announced a partnership with Australia-based Sentient Vision Systems to offer a large area motion imagery (WAMI) solution for the US Department of Defense, the Australian Armed Forces, and other international customers. Using Shield AI’s VBAT UAV as a platform, the 2 firms will jointly develop and release a ViDAR-enabled, wide area search capable unit to enable it to intelligently classify, track, and read-and-react to targets across a varied mission set.
84 12 months Old Couple Have Set the World Record for Drone Delivery [VIDEO]
That is what drone delivery is speculated to do: help people get the things they need, quickly and simply. When Google’s Wing drone delivery company arrange a trial in Christianburg, VA in 2019, it can have been a novelty for some users – and Susie Sensmeier, now 84, was certainly one of the primary customers within the U.S. to receive a drone delivery.
The London Heliport Adopts Altitude Angel UTM Technology: A part of the Recent Aviation Ecosystem
UTM (Unified Traffic Management) technology leader Altitude Angel has announced that The London Heliport will likely be deploying its Approval Services platform. This platform enables drone operators, and shortly eVTOL pilots as well, to request and pay for operations digitally through the heliport’s airspace with the touch of a button.
As A2Z Drone Delivery Releases Recent Rain-Proof Aircraft, We Ask CEO Aaron Zhang What it Will Take to See Wide Adoption within the US [DRONELIFE Exclusive]
Los Angeles-based A2Z Drone Delivery began their business with an revolutionary delivery winch – an idea first conceived at Brown University, when Founder and CEO Aaron Zhang discovered a brand new method to deliver cookies around campus. The project resulted in a commercially viable mechanism that enables firms like Walmart to softly release packages at their destination without landing, reducing much of the chance and complexity of flight in suburban areas.
AirMatrix, IN-FLIGHT Complete SAIL 4, BVLOS Drone Ops Over Urban Areas: Pushing the Boundaries of Complex Missions
In partnership with distant traffic management software leader AirMatrix, advanced drone operator IN-FLIGHT Data conducted certainly one of the world’s first urban signals mapping operations following the previous yr’s revolutionary UTM project. The successful “SAIL 4” flight was nearly 1,000 feet above ground, beyond the road of sight of the pilot, and over urban neighborhood populations. “SAIL” refers back to the regulator’s combined complexity of a drone mission, from a variety of 1 (low) to six (high). That is the primary ever project of this level and scale to be accomplished.
Google Wing, Apian Partner to Create Medical Drone Delivery Service in Ireland, UK
In a collaborative effort, Google’s Wingand medical drone logistics firm Apianare establishing a medical drone delivery service in Ireland, while concurrently exploring opportunities within the UK. Drones offer recent opportunities for delivering crucial medical and pharmaceutical items to patients and hospitals. Wing and Apian have teamed as much as introduce a medical drone delivery program in Ireland, starting with healthcare institutions and caregivers in Dublin later this yr.
India’s Minister of Civil Aviation Raises National Flag with Fleet of Drones
In a powerful show of patriotism and technology, the Bharat Drone Association and Garuda Aerospace have joined forces to honor the Honorable Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia. The virtual event, generally known as ‘Har Ghar Tiranga,’ celebrates India’s 77th yr of Independence. Throughout the event, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia raised the national flag in Gwalior using a fleet of Garuda Aerospace drones, controlled by the revolutionary “Drona Button.”
NBAA, Stakeholders Caution AAM Working Group: Competition is “Fierce and Rapidly Advancing”
In a recent statement, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has addressed two crucial initiatives geared toward facilitating the secure and seamless integration of advanced air mobility (AAM) into the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS). Drawing from insights gathered through its AAM Roundtable and Emerging Technology Committee, NBAA has provided helpful input to government agencies concerning proposals that hold implications for pilots, manufacturers, infrastructure developers, and various stakeholders.
SimActive and Phase One Cameras Collaborate for Streamlined Processing: Import Large Projects in Native Phase One IIQ Format
SimActive Inc. has announced the widespread adoption of its Correlator3D product by Phase One camera users across the globe. This collaboration simplifies data processing in aerial imaging applications, saving users time and optimizing output. Correlator3D, known for its ability to handle various imagery sources, now accommodates each small sensors just like the IXM-50 commonly utilized in drones and bigger ones just like the PAS 880i NIR with oblique and nadir systems for citywide mapping. This adaptability positions SimActive as a key player in aerial imaging software.
NC DOT to Deploy Distant Drone Operations at Construction Sites: the Path to Routine, BVLOS Inspections
NC has been a pacesetter in advancing drone operations. Now, the NC DOT proclaims an FAA waiver to remotely launch and fly drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) to examine the agency’s construction projects. The Department will use a drone dock, or drone-in-a-box, solution from US drone manufacturer Skydio. NC DOT will place weather proof drone stations on sight at construction projects across the state, using them to remotely monitor the sites and supply progress reports to stakeholders.
ANRA Technologies Suports FAA’s Urban Air Mobility Demonstrations: Live Flights of Optionally Piloted Centaur
The FAA and stakeholders are moving full speed ahead on urban air mobility (UAM). The US has committed to advanced air mobility operations by the Los Angeles Olympic games in 2028. One in every of the projects established to assist move the industry forward is the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Airspace Management Demonstration (UAMD.)
LIFT Aircraft Signs Take care of Warren Buffet Backed Marubeni Corporation
LIFT Aircraft Inc has officially entered right into a strategic partnership with Marubeni Corporation (MARUY), a outstanding Japanese general trading company, in accordance with an announcement released today. Marubeni Corporation, which boasts notable investment from renowned financier Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, holds a considerable stake nearing 8% in the corporate. This alliance marks a big development for each entities, further solidifying Marubeni’s presence in the worldwide market.