The Optimus Drone and Airbase in Urban Environment (Credit: Airobotics) Israeli-based drone manufacturer Airobotics, (a subsidiary of Ondas Holdings) recently announced a $2.6 million order for additional Optimus drone systems from a local government entity in Dubai, UAE for public safety and emergency response operations.  by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb The Optimus system, which is based on a network of drones centrally operated from an urban command center and is designed to replace the role of a helicopter for law enforcement and first responders, has been active in the UAE for some time , including as a j oint venture with UAE-based SkyGo in Abu Dhabi , but this larger acquisition deal highlights the potential of fleet-based first responder UAV solutions in urban areas. The system has already completed thousands of successful missions without human intervention in the challenging environmental conditions of the Middle East.  The Optimus drone recently achieved an...

Acquiring ultra-high-resolution aerial imaging by using the capable DJI Mini 3 Pro and the publicly-released beta ‘Litchi Pilot’ app by proving again that this sub-250g UAV’s outputs can be applied towards topographic mapping, surveying, and photogrammetry. Several ‘survey accurate’ geospatial outputs were produced at an RMSE of 18.6mm which is better than the ‘20mm to 50mm’ realistic range of drone/photogrammetry-derived accuracies as detailed in the ‘RICS Professional Guidance Note – Measured Surveys of Land, Buildings and Utilities’. With a terrain-following collection flight at 60m high over the huge ‘Northumberlandia’ (the “Lady of the North”) land art sculpture, it enabled the DJI Mini 3 Pro at its ’48MP’ JPEG resolution setting applied to collate over 450 high-overlapped nadirs at a consistent spatial resolution of 1cm/px GSD. After a successful collection, onward imagery rectification with several GCPs from a survey GNSS that were recorded at an X,Y,Z accuracy of 10mm and proce...

Huntsville, AL – GeoCue, a leading provider of advanced drone surveying equipment and software solutions, is pleased to announce the addition of RDO Equipment Co. as a GeoCue Alliance Partner. RDO Equipment Co., with 55 years of industry experience, is a renowned provider of precision construction solutions serving a broad range of industries across the Western United States. As part of this new collaboration, RDO Equipment Co. brings GeoCue’s TrueView 3D Imaging Systems and LP360 software into its extensive catalog of equipment, surveying supplies, and software solutions. This strategic partnership aims to empower RDO Equipment Co.’s customers with efficient and accurate surveying tools that seamlessly integrate into their workflow, enhancing their overall productivity. Bill Edmonson, UAV Product Manager at RDO Equipment Co., shared insights into their decision to join the GeoCue Alliance Partner Program. He stated, “RDO Equipment Company offers a variety of precision construction-rel...

Ukraine has created a unique electronic warfare (EW) system, Piranha AVD 360, to protect armoured vehicles and military personnel against enemy drones. The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development – Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on  Telegram , an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “The Piranha AVD 360 is a unique electronic warfare system to strengthen the Defense Forces. This technology helps to protect armored vehicles and military personnel against enemy drones more effectively,” Fedorov wrote. In his words, the Piranha AVD 360 EW system creates a protective dome of up to 600 meters around itself. The system prevents drones from receiving commands and transmitting data. As a result, unmanned aerial vehicles hang in the air, make an emergency landing, or fall uncontrollably. According to Fedorov, the Piranha AVD 360 EW system also jams satellite navigation systems, such as Russia’...

A team of Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University students is conducting research using swarm microdrones that could change the way 3D mapping is done, especially in complex, hard-to-reach locations. “The main application is to map out GPS-denied locations and make a 3D map in a more efficient way,” said Daniel Golan,   the project’s co-principal investigator and a junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in  Mechanical Engineering . The project — titled SUAVE (Swarm Unmanned Aerial Vehicles using Emergence) —   was recently chosen for the NASA Aeronautics Research Institute’s 2023  University Student Research Challenge  (USRC). Selection to the challenge comes with a NASA grant of up to $80,000. GPS-denied areas, where a satellite signal may be blocked or unreliable, can range from inside of buildings to underground mines and sewer systems, outdoor areas with canyons or heavy tree cover, or storage ports/facilities. These locations could benefit from a better way to p...

London, UK:    Altitude Angel , a global leader in unmanned traffic management (UTM) and drone safety technologies, is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul deHaan as the new Managing Director of its Dutch subsidiary.   With a proven track record of dynamic leadership and extensive experience in the technology and aviation sectors, Paul deHaan brings a wealth of expertise to Altitude Angel’s expanding operations in the Netherlands and across mainland Europe. His strategic vision and deep understanding of the industry’s evolving landscape are expected to drive the subsidiary’s growth and further strengthen Altitude Angel’s presence in the European market.   On Paul’s appointment,  Richard Parker, Altitude Angel, CEO, said , “We are thrilled to welcome Paul deHaan to Altitude Angel. His exceptional leadership skills and in-depth knowledge of the drone and aviation markets make him a great addition to our team. Paul will play a key role in deliverin...

First-Ever UAS Type Certification Amendment is awarded to a new variant of the Matternet M2 Aircraft that will unlock Scale and Operational Efficiency for Matternet’s Customers Amendment Further Highlights Matternet’s Regulatory Expertise, a Critical Competitive Advantage in the Highly Regulated Drone Delivery Field Matternet’s M2 Drone was the First Non-Military Unmanned Aircraft to Achieve Type Certification in the United States Matternet, the developer of the world’s leading urban and suburban drone delivery system, today announced that the Matternet M2 drone has achieved approval for an amendment to its first-ever UAS Type Certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This groundbreaking development highlights the continued improvements Matternet has made to the M2 aircraft’s hardware and software, which will enable Matternet and its customers to scale operations faster and more cost-effectively. “We are thrilled with the FAA’s decision to grant this amendment, the fi...