Sky-Futures reaching parts others cannot reach

The team at Sky-Futures are always exploring the edge of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology and where it can be used to enhance offshore inspection techniques. Working with forward thinking, innovative parters such as E.ON Energy – the third largest offshore windplayer in the world – Sky-Futures have been delivering cutting edge detailed inspections at the E.ON Energy Rodsand 2 offshore wind farm in Denmark Am I ageing myself with the headline  reference I wonder   Bookmark It Hide Sites

The T-C350 system by A-NSE : a permanent aerial surveillance for wide areas

The T-C350 system by A-NSE : a permanent aerial surveillance for wide areas (borders, infrastructures, urban areas, FOB etc…) A-NSE has successfully completed the T-C350 airborne surveillance system program. Thus, A-NSE is the European leader in the aerostat surveillance industry. The T-C350 is an aerial surveillance platform loaded on an aerostat. It can lift a 200 kg payload. Its integrated multi-sensors system consists of an EO/IR camera with a 27 km range and a GMTI radar with a 125 km range, covering a total area of 50,000 km². This system is thus adapted to a large variety of missions : sensitive sites, events, border areas, cities, FOB etc… Consisting of a 350 m3 balloon, moored with a cable to an adapted ground station, the T-C350 can be deployed to an altitude up to 3,000 feet. It is operational with a wind speed up to 110 km/h. Live data transmission is accomplished by a fiber-optic communication system. Power supply in ensured by a system of solar panels located on the envelope, allowing a very long endurance. The T-C350 can be deployed and operated by a two-person team. Its total endurance is up to 40 days for a very low operational cost. With [...]

Geologists in Norway are using drones with cameras to hunt for oil

BY KIM ANDREASSEN Geologists have long used seismology on the bottom of the ocean or have been throwing dynamite from snowmobiles when they look for oil. But now researchers at Centre for integrated petroleum research (CIPR), a joint venture between the University of Bergen (UiB) and Uni Research, have found a new preferred method – using drones to map new oil reserves from the air. – In reality the drones can be viewed as an advanced camera tripod, which helps geologists to map inaccessible land in an efficient manner. The use of drones facilitates our efforts to define the geology and to find oil, says researcher Aleksandra Sima at CIPR about the drone that she and her fellow researchers have just acquired to take aerial shots of rocks. Virtual fieldwork Sima is a member of CIPR’s Virtual Outcrop Geology (VOG) group. The group’s main task is to create digital maps in 3D of potential oil fields. Using laser scanners, infrared sensors and digital cameras, the researchers create realistic, virtual models. Every tiny pixel of an image can store information on minerals and rocks. These high-tech models help the geologists to criss-cross the landscape, not unlike what you will find on Google Earth. This virtual fieldwork [...]

Inyokern ‘best’ place in America to do UAS development and test work

By Dan Clark,  Ridgecrest Mayor Let’s talk economic development. What if we were to receive one of the FAA’s six test site designations? What can the Indian Wells Valley expect from such an opportunity? No one knows for sure, but I believe we can expect a large number of high-paying jobs in the fields of science and engineering, as well as support industries. Our business community can expect increased revenues in hotels, restaurants, shops, and home values. We should and must pursue the possibility of the fabrication of UAS right here in Ridgecrest, thus expanding our economic base.  We can also expect the Inyokern Airport will become more attractive with significant increases in construction projects and revenues. We can expect to see a population increase in the Indian Wells Valley. We estimate from the construction and technical job increases a multiplier of 4 to 1. The final phase of this request for proposal will encompass a site visit to the Inyokern Airport and surrounding communities. We are expecting to hear the results of the FAA decision within the next few months. I leave you with a quote from our 1st District Supervisor, Mick Gleason “I honestly believe that in the [...]

Australia considers UAS acquisition

CANBERRA, Australia is eyeing possible acquisition of the U.S. Navy’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system. A Letter of Request as to cost, capabilities and availability will be sent by Canberra to the United States and a Foreign Military Sales Technical Services Case opened with the U.S. Navy, defense officials said. The MQ-4C Triton is a developmental maritime variant of Northrop Grumman’s the Global Hawk surveillance UAS. A recent White Paper on Australia’s future defense needs said the government intends to replace its fleet of P-3 surveillance aircraft with Boeing P-8A Poseidons and unmanned systems capable of broad area maritime surveillance and fleet over watch. The acquisition of high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned surveillance is being developed under the government’s AIR 7000 Phase 1B project. Australian officials said the Letter of Request and FMS file don’t commit Australia to the MQ-4C and the Department of Defense will continue to investigate options for a mixed manned and unmanned aircraft fleet.   Bookmark It Hide Sites

Maritime Heron UAV supports European airspace trial

Europe has advanced a project to prove the feasibility of using satellite communications to enable UAS operations in non-segregated airspace ...

Brazilian navy begins UAS evaluation

The Brazilian navy has begun to evaluate two Israeli-made unmanned air systems for maritime surveillance missions ...

Indian air force to launch micro UAS evaluation

The Indian air force is to evaluate several micro unmanned air systems from around 10 companies in early May ...

VIDEO: Eurocopter demonstrates unmanned EC145

Eurocopter has unveiled an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV), based on its EC145 light twin, which has been in development since September 2011.

Israeli F-16 downs another Hezbollah UAV

An Israeli air force Lockheed Martin F-16 has shot down an unmanned air vehicle launched from Lebanon by Hezbollah militants ...