The UAS Magazine

Operating a drone in the wake of a disaster is not business as usual. UAS operators need to be forming and strengthening relationships with key government entities that manage disaster areas and airspace. The onus is on them to be clear.

Although New York's proposal wasn't among the 10 selected for the U.S. Department of Transportation's UAS Integration Pilot Program, the state is pressing ahead with plans to use its done corridor to test a variety of commercial applications.

A report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office recommends that the FAA do a better job of collecting data on the safe operation of small UAS in the national airspace. GAO said the FAA's data is often not accurate or complete.

Intel Shooting Star drones helped create their first magazine cover as part of the upcoming TIME drone special issue. The issue is the first TIME cover photo shot by a drone.

The U.S. Navy is looking for fuel cell propulsion systems to power unmanned aerial vehicles. Protonex, a subsidiary of Ballard Power Systems, recently received an order from the Navy for 13 fuel cell systems.

Verity Studios AG will use $18 million in Series A funding to expand its indoor drone service into the U.S. The Zurich-based company that spun-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in 2014 has performed for Metallica, Cirque du Soliel.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln computer scientist Brittany Duncan wants to ease people's discomfort by enabling drones to communicate with the humans around them. Communication could also make drones valuable coworkers in numerous settings.

The contract consists of one base year with four option years. The total potential contract value is $17 million. Aircraft selected under the contract will be able to operate day or night, without a runway in sustained winds up to 25 knots.

Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao not only announced the 10 projects selected for the UAS Pilot Integration Program, but also said new drone rulemaking and potentially dozens of other projects to assist with UAS integration are in the works.

PrecisionHawk has raised $75 million from a group of venture and strategic investors, bringing its total funding to more than $100 million since its founding in 2010. PrecisionHawk plans to use the investment to focus on innovation and acquisitions.