GPS World

Tag: UAS

  • Topcon announces enhancements to UAS packages

    topcon_sirius-packages-o

    Topcon Positioning Group announces the release of two new mapping kits for its Sirius Pro fixed-wing unmanned aerial system (UAS). The kits are designed to produce the most accurate solutions for automated mapping of construction sites, building facades, mines, quarries, disaster areas — and more without regard to terrain.

    Both systems include an enhanced MAVinci Desktop Flight Planning software upgrade.

    The first new package — Sirius UAS City Mapping Kit — includes a Fuji X-M1 8 mm lens designed to better capture urban surroundings.

    “It allows the image capture of vertical facades such as buildings, infrastructure and construction sites,” said Charles Rihner, vice president of the Topcon GeoPositioning Solutions Group. “The upgraded flight planning software optimizes the planning, preparation and processing to automatically produce a textured 3D model. Additionally, the kit allows the acquisition of 3D models and orthophotos when flying below 50 m altitude,” he said.

    The second new package — the Sirius UAS High Resolution Mapping Kit — comes with a Fuji X-M1 27-millimeter lens. “This package allows the collection of images at the highest possible resolution for applications such as construction site monitoring, survey and mapping topography,” Rihner said. “It allows operators to obtain higher resolution images at the same altitude as compared with a standard lens.”

  • AUVSI hosts workshop on drones at CTIA Super Mobility 2016

    AUVSI will review new FAA regulations for operating commercial drones

    drone-in-flight-free-to-useBrian Wynne, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), will lead a workshop on unmanned aircraft systems from 2-3:45 p.m. PDT on Sept. 8 at CTIA Super Mobility 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    The workshop, “Drones and the Wireless Industry: Information, Insights and Actionable Tools to Utilize UAS in Your Business,” will take place in the Sands Expo exhibit hall’s Enterprise and Industrial IoT Zone in booth No. 6037.

    The wireless industry has adopted UAS technology for a number of applications, including tower inspections and optimizing networks for special events, AUVSI says. With the recent implementation of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) Part 107 small unmanned aerial systems (UAWS) rule, more commercial operators than ever are expected to explore the benefits of UAS. Wynne’s workshop will review how these new regulations will impact the wireless industry, as well as the vast potential that UAS have for wireless companies.

    Workshop participants include Marke “Hoot” Gibson, senior advisor for UAS Integration at the FAA; Sean Cushing, president, COO and co-founder of HAZON Solutions; Thomas Haun, vice president of Strategy and Globalization for PrecisionHawk; Christopher Moccia, executive vice president of Infrastructure for Measure; Anil Nanduri, vice President of the New Technology Group at Intel; and Art Pregler, director of National Mobility Systems for AT&T.

    Wynne also will participate in a panel discussion on UAS and 4G wireless networks, which will take place following the workshop from 4-5 p.m. PDT in room Veronese 2401.

    An economic impact study by AUVSI found the UAS industry is projected to create more than 100,000 jobs and provide more than $82 billion in economic impact in the first decade following UAS integration into the national airspace, according to AUVSI.

  • New FAA rules for small unmanned aircraft now in effect

    The first operational rules for routine commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems, announced June 21, officially take effect today.

    “People are captivated by the limitless possibilities unmanned aircraft offer, and they are already creating business opportunities in this exciting new field,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “These new rules are our latest step toward transforming aviation and society with this technology in very profound ways.”

    “The FAA’s role is to set a flexible framework of safety without impeding innovation,” said Administrator Huerta, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). “With these rules, we have created an environment in which emerging technology can be rapidly introduced while protecting the safety of the world’s busiest, most complex airspace.”

    The provisions of the new rule — formally known as Part 107 — are designed to minimize risks to other aircraft and people and property on the ground. A summary is available.

    Effective today, the FAA has several processes in place to help users take advantage of the rule:

    Waivers. The agency is offering a process to waive some of the rule’s restrictions if an operator demonstrates the proposed flight will be conducted safely under a waiver. Users must apply for these waivers at the online portal.

    The FAA is issuing more than 70 waivers today, based on petitions for Section 333 exemptions. These waivers will be posted on September1. The majority of the approved waivers were for night operations under Part 107.

    Airspace Authorization. Users can operate their unmanned aircraft in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace without air traffic control permission. Operations in Class B, C, D and E airspace need air traffic approval. Users must request access to controlled airspace via the electronic portal at www.faa.gov/UAS.

    The FAA will evaluate airspace authorization requests using a phased approach. Operators can submit their requests starting today, but air traffic facilities will receive approved authorizations, if granted, according to the following tentative schedule:

    • Class D & E Surface Area: Oct. 3, 2016
    • Class C: Oct. 31, 2016
    • Class B: Dec. 5, 2016

    The FAA will make every effort to approve requests as soon as possible, according to the agency, but the actual processing time will vary, depending on the complexity of an individual request and the volume of applications the FAA receives. The agency is urging users to submit requests at least 90 days before they intend to fly in controlled airspace.

    The FAA will use safety data from each phase to ensure appropriate mitigations are in place as small UAS operations are integrated into controlled airspace.

    Aeronautical Knowledge Test. Testing centers nationwide can now administer the Aeronautical Knowledge Test required under Part 107. After an operator passes the test, he or she must complete an FAA Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application to receive a remote pilot certificate.

    It may take up to 48 hours for the website to record that the applicant has passed the knowledge test. The FAA expects to validate applications within 10 days. Applicants will then receive instructions for printing a temporary airman certificate, which is good for 120 days. The FAA will mail a permanent Remote Pilot Certificate within 120 days.

    In the future, the FAA also will address operations not covered by Part 107 without a waiver, including operations over people, beyond line of sight operations, extended operations, flight in urban areas, and flight at night.

    Part 107 does not apply to model aircraft. Model aircraft operators must continue to satisfy all the criteria specified in Section 336 of Public Law 112-95 (which is now codified in part 101), including the stipulation they be operated only for hobby or recreational purposes. Click here for more information on hobby or recreation uses.

  • FAA just gave US commercial drone industry major shot in the arm

    Mark June 21, 2016, on your calendar.

    This will be known as the day in geospatial history that the floodgates were opened for small drones to be used for business. On that day, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officially introduced new rules (so-called Part 107) that allow businesses to fly small (under 55 pounds) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the U.S. airspace for business purposes.

    There are still a few rules that need to be adhered to, but no longer do “wannabe” UAV pilots need to go through the painful FAA 333 Exemption process to begin flying UAVs for business purposes. The FAA has created a pilot certificate specifically for UAV pilots called the “Remote Pilot Certificate” that does not require any manned aircraft training.

    Previously, UAV pilots authorized by the FAA were required to at least have an FAA Sport Pilot Certificate, which required at least 20 hours of manned flight training, among other things. Deployment of the new Remote Pilot Certificate will begin just two months from now, in August 2016, according to this announcement by the FAA.

    In a nutshell, following is the operating environment under the new Remote Pilot (Part 107) rules:

    • Remote Pilot Certificate.
    • Be at least 16 years old. Pass a three-hour aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA Knowledge Test Center, requiring about 20 hours of study. Pay a $150 fee. The certificate is valid for two years.
    • Complete FAA Form 8710-13.
    • Maximum operating altitude is 400 feet AGL, or 400 feet AGL (above ground level) from a structure (e.g. building, roof).
    • Visual observer (VO) is now optional (was required under 333 Exemption) except if the pilot uses First Person View technology, then a VO is required.
    • UAV must weigh less than 55 pounds.
    • UAV must fly less than 100 miles per hour.
    • You can’t fly over anyone who is not directly participating in the operation, and not under a covered structure.
    • You can pilot a UAV from a moving vehicle in “sparsely populated” areas, but otherwise must be stationary (e.g. no piloting from other aircraft).
    • Daylight-only operations.
    • Pilot can only operate one UAV at a time.
    • Operations in Class G airspace are allowed without air traffic control (ATC) permission. Operations in Class B, C, D and E airspace need ATC approval. See description of US airspace here.
    • Operator does not have to be a certificated pilot if a certificated pilot is along side the operator.
    • Pilot must maintain VLOS (visual line of sight) of the UAS at all times.

    If you have a requirement that exceeds one of more of the above restrictions, the FAA says that as long as you can show that your operation can be carried out in a safe manner, you can request a waiver (Certificate of Waiver and Authorization – CoA) via an FAA portal.

    Links to key FAA documents on the new ruling:

    The remaining major hurdle for commercial operations is the requirement to maintain VLOS, which still is required under the new rules. With a rotary UAV (e.g. quad-copter) like what I fly, this requirement is easy to adhere to since the UAV isn’t traveling very fast and if you simply let go of the control sticks, it will hover. With a fixed-wing (conventional airplane airframe) UAV, this is not so easy. A fixed-wing can travel 30 to 40 mph, and can be out of VLOS within one minute, and it’s always moving. Nonetheless, even with the VLOS rule still in place, the new Part 107 rules grant a new, easily accessible and powerful tool to collect high-precision geospatial data.

    The good news for geospatial professionals is that more UAV companies are focusing on the professional marketplace.

    In 2009, 3D Robotics started targeting the DIY (do-it-yourself) UAV market, then the consumer market, and now are focusing on the professional markets like GIS, construction, etc.

    [Related: 3DR demos Site Scan at Esri UC]

    Because the rules have opened up to a much broader audience, expect more vendors to offer more products and services for professional UAV operators. For example, at the Esri International User Conference this week in San Diego, Esri showcased its Drone2Map software product that allows Esri software users to process and consume UAV data into the ArcGIS ecosystem.

    It’s no longer hype, folks. UAVs are here to stay, and they are becoming an increasingly powerful tool in the geospatial toolbox. The great news is that will all the UAV hype over the last few years, there’s many different vendors offering UAV hardware and softwares for you to choose from. All that competition will be reflected in the quality and price of UAVs on the market, benefitting the consumer.

    Thanks, and see you next month.

    Follow me on Twitter at @GPSGIS_Eric.

  • FAA just gave US commercial drone industry major shot in the arm

    Mark June 21, 2016, on your calendar.

    This will be known as the day in geospatial history that the floodgates were opened for small drones to be used for business. On that day, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officially introduced new rules (so-called Part 107) that allow businesses to fly small (under 55 pounds) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the U.S. airspace for business purposes.

    There are still a few rules that need to be adhered to, but no longer do “wannabe” UAV pilots need to go through the painful FAA 333 Exemption process to begin flying UAVs for business purposes. The FAA has created a pilot certificate specifically for UAV pilots called the “Remote Pilot Certificate” that does not require any manned aircraft training.

    Previously, UAV pilots authorized by the FAA were required to at least have an FAA Sport Pilot Certificate, which required at least 20 hours of manned flight training, among other things. Deployment of the new Remote Pilot Certificate will begin just two months from now, in August 2016, according to this announcement by the FAA.

    In a nutshell, following is the operating environment under the new Remote Pilot (Part 107) rules:

    • Remote Pilot Certificate.
    • Be at least 16 years old. Pass a three-hour aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA Knowledge Test Center, requiring about 20 hours of study. Pay a $150 fee. The certificate is valid for two years.
    • Complete FAA Form 8710-13.
    • Maximum operating altitude is 400 feet AGL, or 400 feet AGL (above ground level) from a structure (e.g. building, roof).
    • Visual observer (VO) is now optional (was required under 333 Exemption) except if the pilot uses First Person View technology, then a VO is required.
    • UAV must weigh less than 55 pounds.
    • UAV must fly less than 100 miles per hour.
    • You can’t fly over anyone who is not directly participating in the operation, and not under a covered structure.
    • You can pilot a UAV from a moving vehicle in “sparsely populated” areas, but otherwise must be stationary (e.g. no piloting from other aircraft).
    • Daylight-only operations.
    • Pilot can only operate one UAV at a time.
    • Operations in Class G airspace are allowed without air traffic control (ATC) permission. Operations in Class B, C, D and E airspace need ATC approval. See description of US airspace here.
    • Operator does not have to be a certificated pilot if a certificated pilot is along side the operator.
    • Pilot must maintain VLOS (visual line of sight) of the UAS at all times.

    If you have a requirement that exceeds one of more of the above restrictions, the FAA says that as long as you can show that your operation can be carried out in a safe manner, you can request a waiver (Certificate of Waiver and Authorization – CoA) via an FAA portal.

    Links to key FAA documents on the new ruling:

    The remaining major hurdle for commercial operations is the requirement to maintain VLOS, which still is required under the new rules. With a rotary UAV (e.g. quad-copter) like what I fly, this requirement is easy to adhere to since the UAV isn’t traveling very fast and if you simply let go of the control sticks, it will hover. With a fixed-wing (conventional airplane airframe) UAV, this is not so easy. A fixed-wing can travel 30 to 40 mph, and can be out of VLOS within one minute, and it’s always moving. Nonetheless, even with the VLOS rule still in place, the new Part 107 rules grant a new, easily accessible and powerful tool to collect high-precision geospatial data.

    The good news for geospatial professionals is that more UAV companies are focusing on the professional marketplace.

    In 2009, 3D Robotics started targeting the DIY (do-it-yourself) UAV market, then the consumer market, and now are focusing on the professional markets like GIS, construction, etc.

    [Related: 3DR demos Site Scan at Esri UC]

    Because the rules have opened up to a much broader audience, expect more vendors to offer more products and services for professional UAV operators. For example, at the Esri International User Conference this week in San Diego, Esri showcased its Drone2Map software product that allows Esri software users to process and consume UAV data into the ArcGIS ecosystem.

    It’s no longer hype, folks. UAVs are here to stay, and they are becoming an increasingly powerful tool in the geospatial toolbox. The great news is that will all the UAV hype over the last few years, there’s many different vendors offering UAV hardware and softwares for you to choose from. All that competition will be reflected in the quality and price of UAVs on the market, benefitting the consumer.

    Thanks, and see you next month.

    Follow me on Twitter at @GPSGIS_Eric.

  • Insitu awarded $71 million Blackjack UAS contract by NAVAIR

    Insitu awarded $71 million Blackjack UAS contract by NAVAIR

    Insitu has been awarded a US$71 million follow-on contract to produce six RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aerial systems (UAS), with options for two more, from U.S. Navy Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).

    The RQ-21A is recovered with the flight recovery apparatus cable aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde after its first flight at sea. The tests were held in the Gulf of Mexico on Feb. 10, 2013.
    The RQ-21A is recovered with the flight recovery apparatus cable aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde after its first flight at sea. The tests were held in the Gulf of Mexico on Feb. 10, 2013.

    The RQ-21A Blackjack has significantly larger payload mass, volume and power than other small UAS currently being used in theater, according to Insitu, a subsidiary of The Boeing Company. The system includes electro-optic and mid-wave infrared sensors with a laser rangefinder and infrared marker.

    The Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot V contract also includes an option year for nine Full Rate Production (FRP) systems. The FRP decision review is expected this fall.

    “This contract award paves the road for Blackjack’s continued and future fleet integration,” said Col. Eldon Metzger, program manager for the Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office. “It is at the tactical edge for Marine and Navy units and the foundation to support future system enhancements.”

    “Blackjack delivers an organic intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance UAS that is runway-independent and founded on an open architecture that allows for implementation of innovative payloads to meet critical operational demands,” said Ryan M. Hartman, Insitu’s president and CEO. “We are proud to provide the sailors and marines with reliable, capable systems that support their warfighting needs.”

    NAVAIR awarded the STUAS Engineering Manufacturing Development contract to Insitu in 2010 to begin the development of RQ-21A Blackjack, a variant of the company’s Integrator unmanned system. The program achieved Milestone C in 2013, delivered the first LRIP system in 2014, and achieved initial operational capability in January.

  • FAA: Commercial drone use to take flight

    FAA: Commercial drone use to take flight

    Today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has finalized the first operational rules for routine commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), opening pathways towards fully integrating UAS into the nation’s airspace.

    These new regulations work to harness new innovations safely, to spur job growth, advance critical scientific research and save lives, the FAA said in a press release.

    “We are part of a new era in aviation, and the potential for unmanned aircraft will make it safer and easier to do certain jobs, gather information, and deploy disaster relief,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “We look forward to working with the aviation community to support innovation, while maintaining our standards as the safest and most complex airspace in the world.”

    According to industry estimates, the rule could generate more than $82 billion for the U.S. economy and create more than 100,000 new jobs over the next 10 years.

    The new rule, which takes effect in late August, offers safety regulations for unmanned aircraft drones weighing less than 55 pounds that are conducting non-hobbyist operations.

    The rule’s provisions are designed to minimize risks to other aircraft and people and property on the ground. The regulations require pilots to keep an unmanned aircraft within visual line of sight. Operations are allowed during daylight and during twilight if the drone has anti-collision lights. The new regulations also address height and speed restrictions and other operational limits, such as prohibiting flights over unprotected people on the ground who aren’t directly participating in the UAS operation.

    The FAA is offering a process to waive some restrictions if an operator proves the proposed flight will be conducted safely under a waiver. The FAA will make an online portal available to apply for these waivers in the months ahead.

    “With this new rule, we are taking a careful and deliberate approach that balances the need to deploy this new technology with the FAA’s mission to protect public safety,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “But this is just our first step. We’re already working on additional rules that will expand the range of operations.”

    Under the final rule, the person actually flying a drone must be at least 16 years old and have a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating, or be directly supervised by someone with such a certificate. To qualify for a remote pilot certificate, an individual must either pass an initial aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved knowledge testing center or have an existing non-student Part 61 pilot certificate. If qualifying under the latter provision, a pilot must have completed a flight review in the previous 24 months and must take a UAS online training course provided by the FAA. The TSA will conduct a security background check of all remote pilot applications prior to issuance of a certificate.

    Operators are responsible for ensuring a drone is safe before flying, but the FAA is not requiring small UAS to comply with current agency airworthiness standards or aircraft certification. Instead, the remote pilot will simply have to perform a preflight visual and operational check of the small UAS to ensure that safety-pertinent systems are functioning property.  This includes checking the communications link between the control station and the UAS.

    Although the new rule does not specifically deal with privacy issues in the use of drones, and the FAA does not regulate how UAS gather data on people or property, the FAA is acting to address privacy considerations in this area. The FAA strongly encourages all UAS pilots to check local and state laws before gathering information through remote sensing technology or photography.

    As part of a privacy education campaign, the agency will provide all drone users with recommended privacy guidelines as part of the UAS registration process and through the FAA’s B4UFly mobile app. The FAA also will educate all commercial drone pilots on privacy during their pilot certification process; and will issue new guidance to local and state governments on drone privacy issues. The FAA’s effort builds on the privacy “best practices” the National Telecommunications and Information Administration published last month as the result of a year-long outreach initiative with privacy advocates and industry.

    Part 107 will not apply to model aircraft.  Model aircraft operators must continue to satisfy all the criteria specified in Section 336 of Public Law 112-95 (which will now be codified in Part 101), including the stipulation they be operated only for hobby or recreational purposes.

    Visit the FAA website for more information on the FAA and UAS.

    Reaction

    Brian Wynne, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), issued the following statement:

    “Today’s release of the final small UAS rule by the FAA is a critical milestone in the integration process, and a long-awaited victory for American businesses and innovators. It establishes a clear regulatory framework and helps to reduce many barriers to civil and commercial operations, allowing anyone who follows the rules to fly in the national airspace.

    “Accelerating civil and commercial UAS operations will not only help businesses harness tremendous potential of UAS, it will also help unlock the economic impact and job creation potential of the technology. Once UAS are fully integrated into the national airspace and become more widely used, the industry will continue to grow as a job creator and generate significant economic impact.

    “Our economic report projects that the expansion of UAS technology will create more than 100,000 jobs and generate more than $82 billion to the economy in the first decade following integration. Whether it’s aiding search and rescue missions, advancing scientific research, responding to natural disasters, or helping farmers care for their crops, UAS are capable of saving time, saving money and most importantly, saving lives.

    “The final rule allows for many uses of small UAS and a streamlined waiver process to expand applications. We are looking forward to additional rulemaking which has already begun with AUVSI’s support, to enable more complex operations. We need to make sure we are doing all we can to support the UAS industry’s growth and development; otherwise we risk stunting a still-nascent industry and restricting the many beneficial uses of this technology.”

    National Association of Realtors (NAR) President Tom Salomone called the rules a win for the industry.

    “We’ve worked hard to strike a responsible balance that protects the safety and privacy of individuals, while also ensuring Realtors can put drones to good use,” said Salomone, broker-owner of Real Estate II Inc. in Coral Springs, Florida. “That effort just took another big step forward. The rules unveiled today will help more real estate professionals take flight, making the efficiency and innovation that drones have to offer available to a much broader base of operators.”

    The FAA’s announcement marks a long-fought victory for Realtors. Since early 2014, NAR has worked with the FAA and industry partners to integrate drones into the national airspace for commercial use. NAR wrote to the FAA on numerous occasions to weigh in on the final Small UAS Rule, and testified before Congress to support the use of drones in real estate.

    Despite eliminating the requirement that operators hold a pilot’s license, anyone looking to fly drones commercially will still have to comply with strict requirements designed to protect people on the ground.

    Drones are useful in a number of real estate-related applications, including marketing properties, assisting with appraisals, facilitating insurance claims and overseeing utility work. While many real estate professionals with pilot’s licenses have already put drones to use in these arenas, the new rules are expected to open the door for additional operators to do the same.

    Despite the significant progress made in the FAA’s final rule, NAR’s work on this issue will continue. NAR is calling for eased restrictions on a “micro” category of drones; drones in this category weigh less than four pounds and present a much smaller safety risk than certain drones in the under-55 pound category covered by the rule released today.

    NAR also believes there is an ongoing need for a drone strategy that allows for “beyond visual line-of-sight” flights, or those where the operator cannot physically see the drone throughout the entire operation. These flights are particularly important for aerial photography across large buildings or tracts of land.

    Salomone praised the FAA for their efforts in crafting the rule.

    “Getting here wasn’t easy, and the FAA is to be commended for listening to the concerns of real estate professionals throughout the rulemaking process,” he said. “We’re entering a new stage of drone use in real estate, and no doubt there will be additional questions and challenges ahead. NAR will continue educating its members on issues important to the safe, responsible use of drones so they can grow their business and better serve their clients.”

    The National Association of Realtors, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

  • Expert Opinions: UAV PNT commercial requirements

    Q: What different requirements for UAV PNT performance will be seen as the market shifts from a military focus to commercial uses and users?

    Neil Gerein Portfolio Manager, NovAtel
    Neil Gerein, Portfolio Manager, NovAtel

    A: PNT accuracy, availability and assurance will increase in importance. UAV payloads for military applications routinely require precise PNT information to geolocate sensor data for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. High-end commercial applications for survey and mapping will require similarly high levels of accuracy and availability. As commercial UAV operations enter the national airspace, PNT assurance levels will increase with the need for GNSS receivers designed for safety critical applications.
     
     

    Jay Napoli, Vice President, KVH Industries
    Jay Napoli, Vice President, KVH Industries

    A: Whether for military or commercial use, the accuracy requirements of a UAV’s positioning, navigation and timing system depend on the UAV’s size/weight, the mission duration and complexity, and the information being gathered. Commercial UAV applications such as mobile survey, mapping, surveillance and virtual imagery real-time overlays require higher levels of accuracy, particularly for UAVs in urban or heavily populated areas with tight restrictions. Many higher-end UAV accuracy requirements dictate the use of FOG-based inertial systems.
     
     

    Christian Ramsey, UAS Program Manager, Harris Critical Networks
    Christian Ramsey, UAS Program Manager, Harris Critical Networks

    A: As the growth of small UAS operations increase in the National Airspace System, it will be interesting to track how PNT standards and certifications evolve in order to adapt to a more versatile UAV aircraft certification system. Likely a tiered system will be required to map PNT requirements for lower risk, lower accuracy and lower cost applications to higher risk systems or those which require higher precision due to their mission profiles.

  • Septentrio expands in Europe by signing new partnership with Innovelec

    Septentrio expands in Europe by signing new partnership with Innovelec

    The AsteRx-m UAS by Septentrio.
    The AsteRx-m UAS by Septentrio.

    Septentrio, a designer and manufacturer of GNSS solutions, has selected Innovelec as an authorized partner for GNSS positioning solutions in the United Kingdom and Europe. The new partnership will enable Septentrio’s products such as AsteRx-m UAS to meet the needs of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) customers in the European market, the company said.

    Based in Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, Innovelec will work directly with Septentrio to offer high-quality strategic services and technical expertise necessary to meet the current and future requirements of GNSS customers in the United Kingdom and UAS customers across Europe to develop new business opportunities in the market.

    Since last year, Septentrio has introduced a new set of products that achieve a new benchmark for accuracy and reliably in GNSS solutions. Innovelec will supply the AsteRx product line — renowned for providing consistent and robust centimeter-level positioning under challenging interference and multipath environments.

    The AsteRx-m UAS OEM is compact and lightweight module which offers the lowest power consumption on the market at 600 mW. Another product, the AsteRx4, is a robust dual-antenna receiver ready for rapid and straightforward integration into existing workflows or hardware.

    “Septentrio’s AsteRx product line offer unbeatable performance, accuracy and reliability in the most challenging conditions,” said Koen Gutscoven, director of Sales at Septentrio. “Innovelec complement Septentrio’s skills to aid further growth in the UK and European market.”

    “Septentrio presents an exciting opportunity for Innovelec to further develop its significant business within the GNSS market. Flexibility and support in conjunction with our partners have helped Innovelec to grow and it remains a benchmark of our operations,” said Martin Newman, sales director of Innovelec. “Septentrio bring a lot of expertise of the GNSS market to help us develop new sales opportunities and loyal clients for accurate and reliable positioning across the European market. “

  • European migrant crisis spurs UAS maritime surveillance testing

    European migrant crisis spurs UAS maritime surveillance testing

    Maritime operations have been brought into focus in Europe by the unprecedented migrant crisis. As part of the response to this crisis, the EU border patrol agency Frontex is in the planning phase of adding remotely piloted aircraft to its existing portfolio of satellite and sensor technologies for monitoring vessel traffic and migrant flows.

    The AR5 Life Ray UAS, developed by Tekever, has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to demonstrate the first European maritime surveillance system where drones are integral to operations.

    The first demonstration will be performed this summer over the Maltese waters of the Mediterranean sea, said Pedro Sinogas, Tekever CEO.

    “During the demonstration in Malta, Tekever’s systems will be deployed from land and will perform operations across a range of maritime scenarios during the 4-6 weeks of testing,” Sinogas said.

    This project is demonstrating the benefits of deploying unmanned aircraft in the dual roles of pollution monitoring and search and rescue.  The project has developed the business case to deploy unmanned aircraft to augment, or even replace, existing assets such as satellites, manned aircraft and ships.

    Tekever is working with maritime authorities from across the EU, coordinated with EMSA and will demonstrate operations in the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea across a wide range of environmental conditions.

    AR5-Light-Ray-W

    The AR5 Life Ray UAS platform is a mature system, in the market since being presented at Farnborough in 2014. AR5 was conceived to be a system capable of delivering the endurance and payload of a larger system in a compact and flexible package. The Rapsody programme has seen this system be prepared for maritime missions, while maintaining a small logistics footprint.

    With a wingspan of 4.3 meters and a payload of 50 kg, AR5 delivers performance of 8 to 12 hours missions. Typically systems in this class don’t offer Satellite Communications or on-board SAR. By delivering these capabilities the AR5 Life Ray UAS delivers unprecedented flexibility for maritime missions.

    “Tekever is now working with specialist sensor manufacturers to increase the capability of the system as new technologies mature, offering increased capability for our customers. We are working to allow AR5 to operate from onboard a ship in the future, delivering a capability organic to the vessels existing tasks. There is also a planned increased wingspan AR5 variant, with increased endurance and payload to match, while remaining within the existing logistics footprint,” Sinogas said.

    Tekever owns the entire technology stack within the AR5 Life Ray platform, allowing combined sensor modalities, data fusion and intelligent on board algorithms. This automates functionality and creates an excellent tool to support maritime missions.

  • Harris to offer Icaros OneButton for advanced UAS image processing

    Icaros Inc., a provider of aerial remote sensing services and software, has announced that Harris Geospatial Solutions, a division of Harris Corporation, will offer the Icaros OneButton family of image processing software as a front-end complement to its ENVI geospatial analytics solution for users extracting information from manned and unmanned aerial sensor data.

    “Together, OneButton and ENVI create a complete image processing and analytics workflow for aerial image data,” said Tom Bosanko, Icaros CEO. “Both packages are highly customizable to meet the needs of specific vertical market applications.”

    Icaros developed the OneButton family for geospatial end users to easily and automatically generate precise, fully orthorectified 2D maps and 3D models from frame-based aerial imaging systems. Originally engineered for manned aircraft sensors, the OneButton software has been modified to accommodate the collection conditions of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

    “The combination of OneButton and ENVI provide best-of-breed, application-specific image processing and analytics, that enable customers to solve challenging problems related to everything from agriculture and forestry to utilities and city planning,” said Beau Legeer of Harris Geospatial Solutions.

    OneButton automatically processes raw raster imagery with onboard GPS/IMU data to stitch the individual scenes together into a seamless, color-balanced orthomosaic meeting photogrammetric standards.

    Outputs include digital elevation models (DEMs), true color 3D point clouds, multispectral mosaics and controlled oblique imagery — all ready for ingest directly into the ENVI software environment.

    OneButton comes in both Standard and Professional versions. The Standard package asks the end user to specify the application and terrain type for the project at hand. The software then intuitively sets parameters of the photogrammetric engine to perform the mosaicking to the level of precision required. For example, the processing algorithms would handle flat agricultural fields different from a rolling urban landscape.

    “The Professional version is more customizable, allowing end users to adjust the processing parameters themselves based on the precision they need, and then edit the resulting mosaic to remove anomalies, like an airplane moving down a runway. OneButton Professional was specifically designed to generate results with the efficiency and accuracy necessary for large scale projects and survey-quality results,” Bosanko said.

    OneButton is platform and sensor agnostic, and processes raster image data from small-, medium-, and large-format frame sensors capable of capturing visible RBG, multispectral, near-infrared and thermal infrared data.

    The OneButton solution for ENVI is available now to existing and new customers, and both companies expect further technology integration in the near future around cloud enablement of the UAS data processing and analytics workflow.

  • Simulyze joins global group for UAS air traffic standards

    Simulyze joins global group for UAS air traffic standards

    Range and bearing reading using Mission Insight.
    Range and bearing reading using Mission Insight.

    Simulyze Inc., a provider of operational intelligence technology and applications that empower both federal and commercial organizations, today announced its participation as a founding member of the newly launched Global UTM (Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management) Standardization Group, based in Geneva, Switzerland.

    The group’s founding members include regulators, air navigation service providers, drone manufacturers, drone operators, infrastructure service providers and academic experts from 10 nations.

    A not-for-profit stakeholder organization, the Global UTM Standardization Group will work on drafting and distributing an interoperability blueprint for traffic management of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The global initiative is intended to provide input on a harmonized, scalable and future-proof system that can be quickly defined and implemented by regulators worldwide.

    “For unmanned aircraft to be truly commercially viable, a common global architecture and set of operational standards and practices need to be developed to ensure the safe integration of drones into international airspace,” said Kevin Gallagher, CEO and president of Simulyze. “By fostering international cooperation and sharing expertise amongst UAS stakeholders, the Global UTM Standardization Group will play a key role in defining the best way forward for UAS. We are honored to be a part of this prestigious group of thought leaders around the world and look forward to collaborating closely to harmonize air traffic management systems.”

    The Global UTM Standardization Group was launched on April 27 at the first European UTM Day held in Geneva, Switzerland. More than 60 organizations from the U.S., Europe and China participated in the day’s activities, which included discussions about what actions need to be taken to safely and efficiently integrate remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft into national airspace systems.

    Simulyze’s proprietary operational intelligence platform powers Mission Insight, the company’s packaged, commercial off-the-shelf application that processes and analyzes large streams of data from disparate sources in real-time. It provides UAS operators with a common operating picture in a customized graphical interface.

    On April 19, Mission Insight was successfully deployed in support of the National Aeronautical and Space Administration’s (NASA) Technical Capability Level 1 UAS testing. In the first and largest demonstration of its kind, NASA and operators from six UAS test sites across the country flew 22 drones simultaneously during a three-hour test to assess line-of-sight, rural operations of NASA’s UTM research platform.

    Simulyze directly supported operations at two UAS test sites and provided simulated flights. Mission Insight was the only enterprise-level solution used that integrated all aspects of multiple flight operations into a single interface.