AirCar  the dual-mode car-aircraft vehicle has been issued the official  Certificate of Airworthiness  by the Slovak Transport Authority, following the successful completion of 70 hours of rigorous flight testing compatible with European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards, with over 200 takeoffs and landings. The challenging flight tests included the full range of flight and performance manoeuvres and demonstrated an astonishing static and dynamic stability in the aircraft mode. The takeoff and landing procedures were achieved even without the pilot’s need to touch the flight controls. It took a team of 8 highly skilled specialists and over 100,000 manhours to convert design drawings into mathematical models with CFD analysis calculations, wind tunnel testing, 1:1 design prototype powered by electric 15KW engine to 1000kg 2-seat dual-mode prototype powered by 1.6L BMW engine that achieved the crucial certification milestone. “AirCar certification opens the door for mass productio...

Commercial agreement provides Spright with fleets of Wingcopter’s delivery drones to meet the increasing demand for medical drone delivery solutions throughout the USA German drone delivery pioneer  Wingcopter  and  Spright , a subsidiary of leading American air medical service provider Air Methods , announced a new commercial agreement today worth more than US$ 16 million. As part of the deal Spright is acquiring a large fleet of Wingcopter’s new flagship delivery drone, the  Wingcopter 198 , to meet the increasing demand for medical drone delivery solutions throughout the United States. The contract makes Wingcopter the exclusive provider of fixed wing eVTOL delivery drone technology to Spright for use within its United States operations. Spright, in turn, becomes the exclusive provider of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) for the Wingcopter 198 to third parties in the USA, an ideal fit thanks to its available infrastructure across the country. Spright was launched in July of 20...

The Autel EVO 2 Pro drone is a very powerful drone with many features, but it does have a few drawbacks that I have found while using it. Despite the issues I have experienced, the Autel EVO 2 Pro is still a great drone that I would recommend to anyone looking for a foldable drone with a 20MP camera. While the Autel EVO 2 Pro is a strong drone model overall, there are a few areas of weakness. The controller, lack of accessories, and flight characteristics could use some work on Autel’s end to get this drone to the top of its class. Even with the problems I have experienced, there are still many ways to fly the EVO 2 Pro issue-free. Let’s take a closer look at some of the issues you might experience and ways to work around them to get the footage you’re looking for. 1. Autel EVO 2 controller issues As a professional drone operator, I have used a few different drone controllers and think the controller that comes with the EVO 2 Pro is just too small and not balanced properly. Let’s discu...

If you’re a dog owner that would like to get into drones, you may be wondering how your dog will react to the sight and sound of a drone. Here are a few things to consider. The temperament and past experiences of any given dog will determine how it reacts to the sound of a drone. Some dogs will calmly notice the drone, then pay no more attention, while others may show signs of stress and anxiety.  From personal experience as a commercial drone pilot, professional dog sitter, and a  lifetime dog owner with two beautiful Weimaraners, I can tell you that all dogs react differently to the sound and flight of drones nearby. The reactions of dogs hearing the propellers spin up and taking off into the air can run the gamut of calm to crazy!  Let’s take a look at how to help your dog get acclimated to the idea of drones. How well do you know your dog?  As a dog owner, you likely know how your furry friend reacts to sounds and noises such as thunder, fireworks, and the loud sounds of various ca...

We’ve all seen those incredible photos from seemingly impossible perspectives. And if you’ve ever wondered ‘how on earth do I do that?’, well the answer is simple – drones. Drones have been able to surpass what seemed possible in the world of photography and take the art to the next level – literally. So, what even is drone photography? Drone photography is the art of using a remotely piloted aircraft fitted with a camera to capture aerial stills and images. My first introduction to photography was through drones and, I know I may be a little biased, but I still think it’s the most rewarding way to capture images. Lots of other people think so too with drone photography quickly becoming a popular trend on Instagram and social media in general. What makes drone photography so appealing? Why do people love drone photography so much and why is it becoming so popular? Aerial photos are so resonating with people because it’s a perspective we cannot usually see and we are attracted to the ne...

Teledyne FLIR ‘s VUE TZ20-R is a game changer for commercial drones, for applications from search and rescue to solar inspection.  In a recent webinar, Teledyne FLIR’s Kelly Brodbeck gives 4 reasons drone pilots need radiometric thermal zoom capabilities. The VUE TZ20-R’s radiometric thermal zoom capabilities are the result of careful market research.  Since FLIR was acquired by Teledyne last year, “We’re a much bigger company these days,” says Brodbeck.  “Our combined companies really do address all of the measurement, imaging and data gathering you can do across the magnetic spectrum.”  Teledyne FLIR’s products are working on land, air and sea all around the world, and even on other planets – but some elements of imaging are constant. “Getting closer to your subjects is always a good thing,” Brodbeck says. “On a drone, when you can’t be very close to your subject, it’s essential.” What is Radiometric Thermal Zoom? All photographers understand what it means to zoom in on an image.  R...

Vantage Robotics, the leading dual-use unmanned aircraft system (UAS) company, today announced that it has received support from   JobsOhio, Ohio’s private nonprofit economic development corporation with a mission to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio through business attraction, retention and expansion. Under the agreement, Vantage Robotics will help stimulate Ohio’s economy through job creation and retention. “We are honored that JobsOhio is supporting Vantage and we look forward to expanding our operations into Ohio,” stated Tobin Fisher, co-founder and CEO of Vantage Robotics. “There is an enormous reserve of military and defense talent in Ohio, which will be a huge advantage for expanding our existing top-notch team. As the demand for our trusted intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drone continues to grow year after year, we must fulfill the demand while continuing to drive industry innovation. Our partnership with JobsOhio is key to making this...

Topcon’s Global Approach to Integrated GNSS and Network Corrections To trace the evolution of the global surveying and mapping industry over the last 30+ years is to map the history of Topcon Corp, and specifically, its subsidiary Topcon Positioning Systems. From the introduction of the world’s smallest electronic distance meter (EDM) to the earliest mobile survey systems, the company has historically pushed the envelope with positioning innovations, focusing on the surveying, agriculture and construction industries. Its reputation as an electronics innovator began with advancements in binocular technology, which led to the release of its first refractometer and the world’s first single-lens reflex camera with a through-the-lens (TTL) full-aperture metering system. Those innovations facilitated an early EDM solution for surveyors, the DM-C2, and more importantly, an eventual integration with the navigation and positioning power of GNSS. Those explorations, investments and advancements ...

British Start-up Secures Landmark Investment from Supernal: Urban-Air Port Funded by Supernal by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby Today, British start-up Urban-Air Port Ltd (UAP) revealed that it has acquired funding from Supernal (formerly the Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group) to carry out the companies’ shared goal of assimilating advanced air mobility (AAM) into existing transit networks. The funding will go towards UAP’s undertaking to develop 200 vertiport sites worldwide over the course of the next five years. UAP’s vertiport sites will grant the infrastructure necessary to help prepare for the mass adoption of eVTOL aircraft like cargo drones and air taxis. Air-One, the world’s first fully operational hub for eVTOLs, will open for public visitation this coming April in Coventry City Centre. The demonstration will showcase AAM’s ability to help unlock the potential of sustainable mobility, as well as how the industry will work to help reduce congestion, cu...

CANARD Drones Completes Inspection of PAPI Systems at Madrid Airport by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby Spanish company CANARD Drones , the leader in drone-based solutions for navigation aids systems and airport inspections, has completed the verification and calibration service of PAPI (Precision Approach Trajectory Indicator) systems and the inspection of runway lights and approach landing system of the 18L runway at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, in accordance with the framework laid out by the Strategic Innovation Plan and under Aena’s “Efficient Use of Resources” Program. This marks the first time that such an inspection has been carried out at this location via the use of drones (RPAs), and demonstrates another valid commercial use of drones at airports. With this undertaking, Aena intends to showcase the viability of drones in this type of use case, with the goal of improving operational efficiency by reducing inspection and calibration times and increasing reliabili...

VIRGINIA, USA- Drone Logistics Ecosystem is welcoming TruWeather Solutions, Incas its latest member to collaborate with existing DLE members to deliver benchmark global weather services for the unmanned traffic management system across the globe. TruWeather brings vast aviation, logistics and weather expertise to DLE. They have repurposed an innovative weather risk management framework that TruWeather team members established within the U.S Air Force Tanker Airlift Control Center in 2001, fielding the commercial uncrewed autonomous and eVTOL communities. The framework reduced the impact of weather by 40 percent for airlift missions worldwide, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of moving cargo and people, while recovering $200M in lost opportunity cost. TruWeather offers the same return on investment opportunity to weather sensitive businesses and industries when weather is a potential threat to business operations. TruWeather aligns novel sensor and data partners to provide a ...

TESTING, TESTING, TESTING Over the years, Topcon has maintained strict development protocols verifying, fine tuning and optimizing the algorithms, always looking for ways to enhance performance. The company also has rovers that run 24/7 to analyze the solutions and performance on a daily basis. Testing is conducted at intervals. For instance, through an automated system, engineers direct the rovers to disconnect and reconnect to the service to evaluate metrics such as time-to-fix and RMS standard deviation of coordinates. The results are analyzed daily. Engineering and R&D teams routinely monitor and validate the results. “In some sense,” Snow said, “the product is never finished because GNSS itself is evolving.” He recalled the early days when his team was writing algorithms for GPS, and shortly thereafter, needed to handle GLONASS as well. Then, along came the Chinese BeiDou system and also the European Galileo system. Snow continued, “Now we have GPS III satellites in orbit and ...