The UAS Magazine

FLIR Systems has launched the Black Hornet 3 vehicle reconnaissance system for military, government and first responder operations. The nano-drone enables users to gather information on their surroundings while remaining inside a vehicle.

The new FAA Reauthorization Act will not only open the door for more commercial opportunities within the UAS industry, but also provide a better-defined regulatory path forward. Aviation attorneys and industry insiders discussed the key takeaways.

The FAA has approved nine new partners to the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) initiative, which provides near real-time processing of airspace authorizations for Part 107 drone operators flying in controlled airspace.

Montana-based Skyfish has unveiled a new computing platform to fully automate drone infrastructure inspection and measurement tasks. The platform pre-processes infrastructure data and metadata to help create detailed 3D models.

AUVSI and the Consumer Technology Association says UAS provisions in the FAA reauthorization bill passed by the U.S. House this week will help move the industry forward and safely integrate UAS into the national airspace.

California-based Aerial Alchemy is collaborating with the U.S. Navy to study the possibility of using UAS to inspect ships, enhancing maintenance and fleet readiness. The drones will create 3D digital models to spot damage and corrosion.

The NUAIR Alliance will partner with Thales, an international air traffic management company, to help integrate unmanned aircraft into controlled airspace. The agreement will also support New York's 50-mile UAS corridor between Rome and Syracuse.

Based on experience from Hurricane Harvey, Texas researchers and engineers are developing a fleet of autonomous drones equipped to detect, track and model hazardous air pollutants released during accidents and natural disasters.