According to Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, who kicked off Alaska’s inaugural Global Autonomous Systems Conference here last week, the state has three key ingredients to skyrocket it to drone domination: its people, the place and the policy.
Dawn M.K. Zoldi (Colonel, USAF, Retired)
Another Look at the FAA’s Drone Symposium and AAM Summit
This article provides another breakdown of the hottest updates, reveals and trends from the conference using the FAA’s crawl-walk-run metaphor to characterize current progress.
Navy Hopes to Make Big Waves with Unmanned Vehicles
As the U.S. seeks to contain China, the U.S. Navy is betting big on unmanned systems with some significant budget requests.
Expanding Corridors, New Waivers: Is BVLOS Within Sight?
Having the technology needed to safely fly BVLOS is one thing; having the place to actually fly BVLOS is another.
Drones Mapping the Faces of America’s Buildings
Structural facades help buildings resist weather, fire, thermal and acoustic threats, but require regular inspections as they age—and drones can make that process safer and less expensive.
Sensing Climate, Reducing the Weather Tax
Better weather sensing could reduce ‘weather tax’ in the form of delays and cancellations.
2022 Top Drone Industry Developments
Looking back on 2022, the drone industry had a banner year. Some of the big developments include positive movement on the regulatory front, COTS drones prevailed on the battlefield and some of the first drone certifications. Will we see more of this in the year to come?
High and Deep: Drones Impact Offshore Energy
Offshore wind, petroleum and the power of the ocean itself all fuel the global energy market. Increasingly, companies use drones to inspect, protect and help secure the pipelines, turbines and other equipment that generate these critical marine-based energy sources.
FAA Just Won the Remote ID Case…Thank You, Next?
On July 29, more than a year after RaceDayQuads’ co-founder and CEO Tyler Brennan filed RaceDayQuads (RDQ) v. FAA to…
A Good Day for the Blues?
UAS Cybersecurity is Critical to the Modern Battlefield. Uncrewed aircraft systems have helped stave off Russia’s invasion of Ukraine despite…
A Risk-Based Approach: The UAS BLVOS Arc Final Report
The flight path toward normalizing and integrating UAS into the National Airspace System begins to clear. The long-awaited Unmanned Aircraft…
Drones and Autonomous Systems Take Cannabis Industry Profits Higher
In states that allow cannabis cultivation, companies have turned to advanced technology to increase efficiencies in crop management, production and…
A Risk-Based Approach – The UAS BVLOS ARC Final Report
The long-awaited Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) final report dropped on…
Women to Watch
CES Highlights: Trailblazing Women and Companies in Tech Sponsored by Women And Drones 2021 marked a milestone—the fifth Anniversary of…
Percepto: Aiming for Sustainable Infrastructure
An updated system increases inspection capabilities. Nine thousand independent companies produce oil and natural gas across 33 states and offshore….
Clearing the Air: The Role of Drones in Methane Emission Detection and Mitigation
Methane, as a greenhouse gas (GHG), traps heat in the atmosphere and warms the planet. Capable of staying airborne for…
Sky Range: Faster, Cheaper, Better
Hypersonic missile testing is going airborne. North Dakota has launched a new program called Sky Range that will accelerate the…
AUVSI Announces Green UAS Certification for Skyfront Perimeter 8+ Drone
AUVSI today announced it has awarded Green UAS certification to the Skyfront Perimeter 8 and 8+ long-endurance, hybrid-electric unmanned aircraft ...
Army Selects Four Companies for Robotic Combat Vehicle Prototypes
The U.S. Army has awarded agreements to four companies to design and build Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) platform prototypes in ...
Skydio Launches New X10 Drone
Skydio has announced its latest enterprise drone, the Skydio X10 ...
Red Cat Signs Contract with U.S. Customs and Border Protection for 106 Teal 2 Drone Systems
Red Cat Holdings Inc. announced that subsidiary Teal Drones has signed $1.8 million in contracts with U.S. Customs and Border ...
FAA Authorizes Zipline for BVLOS Flights
The FAA has authorized Zipline International Inc. to deliver commercial packages around Salt Lake City, Utah, and Bentonville, Arkansas, using ...
Estonia U-space Sandbox Successfully Concludes First Test Flights Enabled by ANRA Technologies
On Sept. 12 and 13, different scenarios were tested at the Estonian Aviation Academy to validate the uncrewed aircraft systems ...
AUVSI Launches Partnership for Drone Competitiveness
AUVSI announced the launch of the Partnership for Drone Competitiveness, a coalition it said is built to support a stronger ...
Flytrex Launches New Autonomous Order Pickup Capability
Flytrex today unveiled Autonomous Pickup, a capability allowing for a fully autonomous delivery process from order placement, to pick-up, through ...
FAA Delays Remote ID Rule Deadline by Six Months
As it had recently forecast, the FAA has delayed the deadline for drone operators to include Remote ID systems on ...
Gotonomi Offers Small-Sized GEO Satellite Connectivity
Gotonomi is a new geostationary satellite communication system for unmanned aircraft and other vehicles, small enough to hold in the ...
Draganfly’s Commander Expands Flexibility with Hybrid Fuel Variant, Promo Drone System
Canada’s Draganfly drone maker is highlighting the truck-like utility of its Commander 3 XL drone, showcased at the Commercial UAV ...
SEA-KIT Funded for Hydrogen-Powered USV, Refilling Station
SEA-KIT International has won funding from the Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition to design and manufacture a hydrogen ...
Pending BVLOS Waiver Could be Basis for First Summary Grant, FAA Official Says
The pending beyond visual line of sight waiver for drone delivery company Zipline is expected to be the first example ...
FAA Grants Approval Allowing BVLOS Drone Flights in North Dakota
FAA approves uAvionix BVLOS exemption with Vantis network. Photo courtesy uAvionix. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an approval to ...
Anduril Acquires UAS Developer Blue Force Technologies
Defense technology company Anduril Industries today announced its acquisition of Blue Force Technologies, a developer of autonomous aircraft with an ...
Red Cat Signs Contract with U.S. Customs and Border Protection for 106 Teal 2 Drone Systems
Red Cat Holdings Inc. announced that subsidiary Teal Drones has signed $1.8 million in contracts with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide Teal 2 systems to U.S. Border Patrol.
Estonia U-space Sandbox Successfully Concludes First Test Flights Enabled by ANRA Technologies
On Sept. 12 and 13, different scenarios were tested at the Estonian Aviation Academy to validate the uncrewed aircraft systems test facility built by ANRA Technologies as commissioned by the Estonian Transport Administration.
AUVSI Launches Partnership for Drone Competitiveness
AUVSI announced the launch of the Partnership for Drone Competitiveness, a coalition it said is built to support a stronger U.S. drone industry
Flytrex Launches New Autonomous Order Pickup Capability
Flytrex today unveiled Autonomous Pickup, a capability allowing for a fully autonomous delivery process from order placement, to pick-up, through delivery to customers’ yards.
FAA Grants Approval Allowing BVLOS Drone Flights in North Dakota
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an approval to uAvionix, an avionics company specializing in drones, that enables them to…
Anduril Acquires UAS Developer Blue Force Technologies
Defense technology company Anduril Industries today announced its acquisition of Blue Force Technologies, a developer of autonomous aircraft with an integrated aerostructures division that serves a wide range of defense and commercial customers.
Autonomy for First-Mile, Middle-Mile and Last-Mile Delivery
Companies are seeking to lower delivery costs and emissions at every stage of package delivery, using everything from autonomous trucks…
Drone-Based Delivery Readies for Launch in Europe and Beyond
Companies on both sides of the Atlantic are gearing up for full-scale exploitation of drone technologies for goods delivery. If…
AeroVironment to Acquire Control Systems Company Tomahawk Robotics
AeroVironment has announced its anticipated acquisition of Tomahawk Robotics, a leader in AI-enabled robotic control systems.
U-blox, ORBCOMM Partner on Terrestrial, Satellite IoT Communications
U-blox, which provides positioning and wireless communication technology and services, and internet of things (IoT) pioneer ORBCOMM have announced a partnership to develop solutions for the convergence of terrestrial and satellite IoT communications markets.
Skydio Pulls Out of Consumer Market to Focus on Business, Public Sector Users
Autonomous drone maker Skydio announced Aug. 10 it’s leaving the consumer market to focus full time on its enterprise and public sector customers.
Teal Drones to Supply Teal 2 sUAS for USAF Base Security
Red Cat Holdings Inc. announced its subsidiary Teal Drones has received a $2.6 million purchase order to supply its Teal 2 small UAS to the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency.
Shield AI, Sentient Vision Systems Offer AI-Enabled Wide Area Motion Imagery Capability
Shield AI, an American defense technology company, and Sentient Vision Systems, an Australia-based provider of AI-enabled passive wide area search, announced a strategic collaboration to deliver wide area motion imagery for defense users and other customers.
Birdstop Raises Funding to Expand Network of BVLOS Drones Across America
Remote sensing company Birdstop Inc. raised $2.3 million in funding to expand its constellation of BVLOS drones across the nation’s critical infrastructure, grow its AI capabilities, and deliver more data-driven value to customers.
Pierce Aerospace, Droneresponders Announce Public Safety Remote ID Working Group
Pierce Aerospace announced it has partnered with Droneresponders, the world’s largest and leading non-profit program dedicated to advancing and educating public safety’s use of drones.
AUVSI Announces Green UAS Certification for Skyfront Perimeter 8+ Drone
AUVSI today announced it has awarded Green UAS certification to the Skyfront Perimeter 8 and 8+ long-endurance, hybrid-electric unmanned aircraft systems.
Gotonomi Offers Small-Sized GEO Satellite Connectivity
Gotonomi is a new geostationary satellite communication system for unmanned aircraft and other vehicles, small enough to hold in the palm of a hand, that launched at the Commercial UAV Expo here last week.
Draganfly’s Commander Expands Flexibility with Hybrid Fuel Variant, Promo Drone System
Canada’s Draganfly drone maker is highlighting the truck-like utility of its Commander 3 XL drone, showcased at the Commercial UAV Expo here last week with the Promo Drone, an LED digital display that could be used for advertising or emergency notifications.
SEA-KIT Funded for Hydrogen-Powered USV, Refilling Station
SEA-KIT International has won funding from the Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition to design and manufacture a hydrogen fueled unmanned surface vessel and refueling station.
Growing Drone Industry Lifting Component Makers such as Hitec
A growing drone market means a growing components market, and a representative from servo maker HITEC Commercial Solutions said the company is moving rapidly to meet market needs even as it plans new products for the future.
u-blox Introduces its First Multi-mode Cellular and Satellite IoT Module with Embedded Positioning
The u-blox SARA-S520M10L is designed to ensure seamless connectivity even when no terrestrial cellular network is available. u-blox, a global…
D-Fend Solutions Launches EnforceAir2 Next Generation Counter-UAS System
Counter-drone company D-Fend Solutions announced the launch of its new product, EnforceAir2, which features the best offerings of the original with enhanced and extended C-UAS capabilities.
Atmos UAV Introduces Sony a6100 Oblique to Provide Accurate, Affordable 3D Mapping
Atmos UAV announced the integration of the new Sony a6100 Oblique camera into its flagship surveying drone, the Marlyn Cobalt.
A2Z Drone Delivery Launches Upgraded RDST Longtail Delivery Drone
A2Z Drone Delivery Inc., a developer of commercial drone delivery systems, has launched its second-generation RDST integrated cargo drone.
LiquidPiston Engine Tapped for Generator Demonstration
LiquidPiston Inc. today announced it has been awarded an $8.3 million contract by Parsons Corp. to revolutionize battlefield power generation for the U.S. Army based on its recently launched XTS-210 rotary engine.
XAG P100 Pro Agricultural Drone Launches in Vietnam
P100 Pro, the latest generation of the XAG Agricultural Drone, has been released in Dong Thap province of Vietnam, taking efficiency and agility on farms to higher levels, the company said.
u-blox Introduces the Smallest LTE-M / NB-IoT Module with 23 dBm RF Output Power and 2G Fallback
The u-blox LEXI-R4 is the newest compact 16 x 16 mm module with 2G fallback capability. Thalwil, Switzerland – July…
Advanced Navigation Expands World’s Only DFOG Range With New A Series
Advanced Navigation, the world’s most determined innovator in artificial intelligence for robotic and navigation technologies has announced the expansion of…
USAF Taps WingXpand to Ruggedize Aircraft, Develop Fire-Spotting Software
The U.S. Air Force has awarded WingXpand a seven-figure contract to customize and ruggedize its unique, seven-foot backpackable aircraft.
Five Good Questions: John Peterson, Executive Director of Aviation, Iridium
John Peterson is the executive director of aviation at Iridium Communications Inc., the only satellite communications company that offers truly…
Five Good Questions: Aaron Pierce, Pierce Aerospace
Aaron Pierce is a cofounder and CEO of Pierce Aerospace, which has been developing Remote ID systems since 2017, funded…
D-Fend Solutions Expands U.S. Presence with Multiple Leadership Hires
RA’ANANA, Israel and MCLEAN, Virginia—D-Fend Solutions, which provides radio frequency, cyber-based, non-kinetic, non-jamming, counter-drone takeover technology, has announced multiple additions…
Five Good Questions: Jim Williams, AURA
As AURA’s aviation regulatory affairs director, Jim Williams leads the company’s efforts to secure approval to use its network to…
Five Good Questions: Gordon Heidinger, Hexagon
Gordon Heidinger has spent 25 years in the automotive and transportation industry in a combination of roles as an electrical…
Five Good Questions: Lori Scott, NatureServe
Lori Scott is chief information officer and vice president for technology and partnerships at NatureServe, which, for nearly 50 years,…
Bentley Systems Announces Promotion of Brock Ballard to Chief Revenue Officer and Eric Boyer Joining as Investor Relations Officer
EXTON, Pa. – Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the infrastructure engineering software company, today announced that Brock Ballard, previously vice president and…
In Memoriam: Dee Ann Divis
Dee Ann Divis, the founding editor of Inside Unmanned Systems and contributing editor for Inside GNSS, died Nov. 22 at the age of 62.
Five Good Questions: Peter Liu, Deloitte Federal Consulting
Peter Liu is a managing director leading programs in UAS and C-UAS at Deloitte Federal Consulting.
Dedrone Appoints Former FBI Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Drone Expert to Advisory Board
Dedrone, the market leader in smart airspace security, announced the appointment of Rob D’Amico to its board of advisors. An…
Five Good Questions: Nikhil Vadhavkar, Raptor Maps
Nikhil Vadhavkar is co-founder and CEO of Raptor Maps, which, covering six continents and 40 countries, provides “advanced analytics, insights…
Women to Watch
CES Highlights: Trailblazing Women and Companies in Tech Sponsored by Women And Drones 2021 marked a milestone—the fifth Anniversary of…
Former NASA Administrator Joins D-Fend Solutions Advisory Board
D-Fend Solutions, a leader in radio frequency (RF), cyber-based, counter-drone takeover technology, is announcing the addition of former NASA Administrator…
Errol Farr Appointed as President of Auterion Government Solutions
MOORPARK, Calif., and ZURICH – November 4, 2021 – Auterion, the company building the connected drone operating system, today announced the…
Amazon Prime Air Co-Founder Gur Kimchi Joins Near Earth Autonomy
Gur Kimchi, Co-Founder of Amazon’s drone delivery service Amazon Prime Air, has joined the Board of Directors at Near Earth…
