The UK’s first to supply survey-grade data with zero track access Plowman Craven , one of the UK’s largest surveying companies, has launched Vogel Freedom, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based survey system that brings a host of game-changing benefits for rail infrastructure surveying, including efficiency, safety and sustainability whilst maintaining Vogel’s class-leading Band 1 survey accuracy. An industry milestone, the launch marks the first survey-grade solution that can survey tracks without physical access. Based on Plowman Craven’s unique IP, this accelerates the process of capturing data and converting it into client deliverables such as topographical surveys and, with 100% removal of ‘boots on ballast’, offers superior flexibility for when surveying can be undertaken. Compared with traditional methods, Vogel Freedom is: - 20% faster , dramatically cutting the typical labour and time-intensive track-based tasks such as the installation of ground control points. This means th...

3DroneMapping has been working hard to provide its clients, particularly in the mining sector, with a solution for rapid, high-frequency LiDAR surveys at remote sites. It was noticed particularly during COVID-19, that travel to and from difficult-to-reach sites for skilled personnel like surveyors and pilots became a challenge. As periodical surveys like stockpile report timelines are fixed, there became a great danger of delaying the data capture and end reporting due to travel restrictions or issues of cargo clearance complications. For this reason, 3DroneMapping decided to work on a remote survey solution for repeated fixed locations. For the past 2 years, 3DroneMapping ‘s R&D division has been working with its partners in East Africa to demonstrate the financial feasibility of medical cargo deliveries via a drone platform. The study was based on a “hub and spoke” design where a central base coordinated the routings, monitored flights and liaised with ground staff at remote si...

News and Commentary .  Today, Wing CEO Adam Woodworth testified before Congress on the need for drone regulations that support commercial operations – and American leadership in the industry. In his testimony, Woodworth laid out 9 points for Congress to consider in the FAA Reauthorization Bill, a vehicle that allows Congress to influence the activities and goals of the agency. In an Op-Ed previewing his testimony, published in Aviation Week , Woodworth said that in order to maintain U.S. leadership in the drone industry, the FAA must develop a regulatory framework that is “predictable and pragmatic.”  From the Op-Ed: Above all, we’d like to see Congress assist the FAA in adopting an approach to the safe integration of drones into our national airspace that is two things: predictable and pragmatic. The FAA is the right regulator for uncrewed aircraft systems, but the agency currently regulates Wing’s 11 lb. foam drones using the same framework that was designed for 400,000 lb...

Patented Radio Frequency Spectrum Sensing and Radar Combine for Fast and Accurate Drone and Pilot Tracking AeroDefense , provider of fixed and mobile Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum sensing drone and pilot detection solutions, today announced its integration of  Observation Without Limits  (O.W.L.) radar ground and air detection capability with their AirWarden™ system. Some critical infrastructure entities require a multi-layer technology approach to combat the threat of unauthorized drones and people. An AeroDefense AirWarden RF spectrum sensing system integrated with O.W.L.’s leading radar technology offers a solution that detects both RF-based and radio-silent, small to large, low speed to high speed drones and their operators as soon as the drone is turned on. To meet sophisticated drone detection users’ requests for as much data as possible to help guide their security teams’ responses, the integrated system presents each detection type and method in an easily identifiable manner on...

If you own either the DJI Mini 3 or Mini 3 Pro, no doubt you are among the thousands of owners that enjoy flying DJIs most recent Mini line of drones. After recent firmware updates, the zippy handling can be tuned almost perfectly to anyone’s liking, making the Mini 3 line fun to fly. Another thing that makes the Mini 3 line so enjoyable to fly is the option to use various DJI remote controllers with the Mini 3. This article and the included YouTube video will serve as a step-by-step guide showing how to pair the Mini 3 and Mini 3 Pro with either the DJI RC or the DJI RC-N1 remote controllers. The DJI RC and RC-N1 Controllers DJI RC Although many new Mini 3 owners might have opted to initially purchase the DJI RC-N1 controller bundle, quite a few are upgrading to the all-in-one DJI RC. Most importantly to many, the DJI RC allows Mavic 3, Air 2S, and Mini 3/Pro owners to fly with fewer devices. Since the DJI RC has an integrated 5.5″ screen, it is not necessary to attach a phone to the...

Ford Publishes Patent for Multiple Drones That Could Jump Start Vehicles by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby A patent originally filed on April 12th, 2017 by Ford Motor Company for multiple drones which could be used to jump start future Ford vehicles has been published and assigned serial number 11614063, as reported by Ford Authority . Continue reading below, or listen: Ford has filed several recent drone-related patents, including a jump start system using drones to charge Ford vehicles, as well as external jump start battery terminal hookups . Building upon these prior filings, the new patent details multiple drones for use in jump starting future Ford vehicles with dead batteries. This new patent seeks to deploy the unmanned aircraft to assist motorists who are stranded with a dead battery, and who may lack access to a jump cable or another vehicle. Ford vehicles would have the ability to transmit a jump start request along with the vehicle’s current location, which would be ...

FAA and Warren County Community College Hosting Drone Safety and Awareness Event by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is partnering with Warren County Community College’s unmanned systems program, Warren UAS, for a three-day program to introduce the public to the drone field. Continue reading below, or listen: The free event, held April 27th-29th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Warren Washington campus, will highlight Drone Safety Day, which the FAA marks each year in April to encourage proper operation of drones. “This is a great opportunity for the public and people in the industry to come together and exchange fundamental information and new thinking about drones. Both experts and people hoping to gain familiarity with drones will be able to learn from the experts at the FAA and our staff about the latest technology and training available,” said WCCC President Will Austin, who is on sabbatical to advance the UAS program and pursue private f...

Airspeeder Announces Intel as Official Intelligence Partner by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby Airspeeder has announced a new collaboration with Intel that will leverage the tech leader’s computing technologies for flying car racing. The company joins Airspeeder as its Official Intelligence Partner, with its Intel® Core® processor and Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors to help chart the future of the sport and increase its appeal to both racers and fans alike. The new strategic sponsorship deal was announced during a joint presentation held at the Adelaide Motorsport Show on March 25th, which also saw Adelaide-based Alauda showcase its new Mk4 Airspeeder – the first piloted aircraft to participate in the Airspeeder race series. “We’re incredibly excited to have Intel on board. The technology, insight and innovation it’s bringing to Airspeeder will transform our racing series, making it even more immersive and dynamic for pilots and spectacular for our audiences,” said Alauda Aeron...

United States AI drone technology company PrecisionHawk and European geospatial technology company Field have merged, bringing world-leading geospatial data analysis solutions to the US infrastructure and energy sectors and beyond. PrecisionHawk is an artificial intelligence and drone technology company for infrastructure management with a client list of Fortune 500 companies. Field is a European leader in digital reality services working with premium clients across the infrastructure, construction, environment, and public sectors. The partnership complements the two companies’ international growth strategy and aspiration to shape the future of infrastructure management. “We’re on a mission to build and maintain a better tomorrow with smarter and more sustainable insights from geospatial data. We’re excited to be merging our companies, products and technology to deliver world-class infrastructure management solutions to customers across the US, Europe and beyond,” said Field CEO Cato V...

- AutoFlight is a global eVTOL pioneer with R&D HQ in Augsburg, Germany, and a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in China - It is the third eVTOL project Frank Stephenson has created, making him a leader in eVTOL design - Frank brings over three decades of design experience from world-leading mobility companies including Ferrari, MINI, BMW, Maserati and McLaren - The final design of Prosperity I is to be unveiled later this year Future mobility design house Frank Stephenson Design is today named the Director of Design of AutoFlight’s latest eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) Prosperity I. It is the third eVTOL project overseen by Frank Stephenson Design, putting it at the forefront of the future mobility design industry. With over thirty years of expertise from world-leading companies including Ferrari, Maserati and McLaren, BMW and MINI, Frank is known for a design philosophy that blends art with science, whilst using the latest eco-friendly technology to shape t...

The Longbow Group, operator of the Unmanned Systems Research and Technology Center(USRTC) in Hampton and FORT MONROE, Virginia has implemented the IRIS Terminal from Kongsberg Geospatial as part of its PEGASUS UTM Program, which offers multi-domain awareness for UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) operations. Kongsberg Geospatial, developer of IRIS Terminal airspace deconfliction platform, and The Longbow Group (LONGBOW), which operates the Unmanned Systems Research and Technology Center (USRTC) with facilities in downtown Hampton and at Fort Monroe, offering a local, centralized location in Hampton Roads Virginia to conduct research and testing of Unmanned Ground, Airborne or Maritime Fleet, and Traffic Management Systems, announced that they are implementing the IRIS Terminal to provide multi-domain situational awareness. LONGBOW evaluates and implements Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) and Drone Detection Technology to develop the initial concept for a locally integrated UTM solution for...

DJI Releases New Goggles Integra and RC Motion 2 for DJI Avata by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby Today, civilian drones and creative camera technology leader DJI is releasing the DJI Avata compatible DJI Goggles Integra and DJI RC Motion 2 . Continue reading below, or listen: DJI Goggles Integra features advanced micro-OLED screen displays, ultra-low-latency DJI O3+ video transmission, and integrated design to provide an integrated and immersive flying experience. The DJI RC Motion 2 boasts ergonomic construction and new features for greater flight control. Both tools serve to further enhance DJI Avata. “Get ready to experience a whole new level of flying with our latest products,” said DJI Creative Director Ferdinand Wolf. “DJI Goggles Integra and DJI RC Motion 2 offer unparalleled control and comfort for an immersive first-person flight experience, making it easier and more fun to fly DJI Avata.” DJI Goggles Integra features an integrated design combining the headband and bat...

Airbus Defence and Space and the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Airbus UpNext, have achieved in-flight autonomous guidance and control of a drone using an A310 MRTT. In a first step towards Autonomous Formation Flight and Autonomous Air-to-Air refuelling (A4R), the technologies demonstrate a significant breakthrough for future aerial operations involving manned and unmanned assets.  These cutting-edge, ‘Made in Europe’ solutions could reduce crew fatigue and the potential for human error, as well as minimise crew-training costs and provide more effective operations. “The success of this first flight-test campaign paves the way for developing autonomous and unmanned air-to-air refuelling technologies,” said Jean Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus Defence and Space. “Even though we are at an early stage, we have achieved this within just one year and are on the right track for manned-unmanned teaming and future air force operations where fighters and mission aircraf...

In the next upcoming months, we’re going to be seeing many new things in relation to Remote ID. One of those is going to be RID modules. There are only a few now, but that will soon change. Recently we looked at a Commercial Module . That module was brought to us by a company called Dronetag. That was a commercial RID module, offering features that most users just don’t need and wouldn’t be able to justify the cost. That leaves us asking, what about more economical hobbyist types of units? Today, we’re going to look at a Hobbyist RID module. It lacks the bells and whistles that the commercial module offers, of course, as this is the type of module most will be looking for – a lower-cost variant that brings them into compliance. This led me to a company called Bluemark Innovations and their Drone Beacon db120. Now, I didn’t really know what to expect as I found this unit by its listing at the Find your aircraft Declaration of Compliance (faa.gov) Currently, there are a total of five com...