Autonomous drone fleets: Ensuring they’re safe and ‘Fit2Fly’
We are, as always, in a changing world. But few sectors are changing quite as rapidly as commercial and enterprise drones.
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Why Urban Air Mobility is more than just a buzzphrase
If you’re a regular reader of DroneDJ, you’ve likely heard the phrase “Urban Air Mobility” by now. But what exactly does it mean? And why is it important? Let’s do a check-in.
Expand Expanding CloseNASA’s Mars exploration drones are to be tested in Iceland
Scientists from the University of Arizona are set to test their Mars drones in Iceland after receiving a $3 million grant from NASA. The grant was given as a part of a project that combines rovers and drones to explore more of the red planet.
Expand Expanding CloseHere are the top 5 drones of 2020: consumer, commercial, and research
It’s the last day of 2020, so we thought we’d share the drones we think stood out from the rest, putting them at the top of the list. These drones might not be the best in every way, but we think they each have aspects that make them shine in the market. Here they are in no specific order.
Expand Expanding CloseNASA teams reach milestones in drone-related flight programs
In an overview of the year, American space agency NASA has shared a few drones and drone-related milestones its flight team has had. Along with the usual space-related work NASA is known for, it also works on many drone projects to advance future use of the technology.
Expand Expanding CloseWiBotic, NASA to develop wireless charging for lunar robots
Drone and robotic wireless charging company WiBotic is working with NASA, Astrobotic, Bosch, and the University of Washington to commercialize wireless charging systems for lunar robots. The new partnership is worth $5.8 million and is a part of NASA’s Tipping Point program.
Expand Expanding CloseFAA, NASA, and partners complete UTM pilot program
The second phase of a large-scale Unmanned Traffic Management pilot program has just completed. Tests took place at the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership and the New York UAS Test Site. The results complete another step toward an integrated, unified UTM system. And that’s big news.
Expand Expanding CloseNASA delays Dragonfly drone meant to fly on Saturn’s Titan moon
NASA has delayed the launch of its Dragonfly drone meant to fly on Saturn’s Titan moon by one year to 2027 due to external factors, including COVID-19. The Dragonfly mission aims to explore Saturn’s Titan moon to look for the building blocks of life.
Expand Expanding CloseCaltech & NASA create autonomous SQUID drone
Engineers from Caltech and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab built a three-inch drone that could be launched from a barrel. It’s called SQUID, or the Streamlined Quick Unfolding Investigation Drone. And this year, the team has debuted a larger six-inch version of the drone.
Expand Expanding CloseNASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter gets first boot in space
NASA‘s Mars helicopter Ingenuity successfully powered on and charged its batteries marking the first time the helicopter has been powered on in space. The batteries were charged to 35%, an optimal level to keep the batteries healthy during the journey to Mars.
Expand Expanding CloseNASA helicopter could be first vehicle to fly on another planet
NASA has just launched its Perseverance Mars rover that will feature a new helicopter that could be the first man-made vehicle to take flight on another planet. The helicopter has been in development for the last five years and features a dual rotor design that will hopefully be capable of flying in the thin Mars atmosphere.
Expand Expanding CloseSQUID drone is launched by a cannon from a moving truck [video]
Not only are people still coming up with new drone applications, but they are also still coming up with new drone designs. How about the SQUID drone that is launched from a cannon mounted in the bed of a moving truck. Once the SQUID reached a certain altitude, it deploys and flies away like a ‘normal’ drone.
General manager of Intel’s drone group, Anil Nanduri appointed to NASA’s Advisory Council Aeronautics Committee
Since its beginning in 2015, Anil Nanduri has led Intel’s drone group with titles of Vice President and General Manager. Through exploring different commercial applications, Intel has done things like light shows with hundreds of so-called ‘Shooting Star’ drones flying in synchronization as well as advanced aerial surveying with their drone hardware and software applications. As a part of NASA’s Advisory Council Aeronautics Committee, Nanduri will meet regularly with NASA Administrators to offer advice.
Small helicopter drone to accompany the Mars 2020 rover
If you forgot about NASA after all of the noise SpaceX has made over the past months, yes, they still do exist and yes, they still do cool stuff! In a rover that is set to depart for Mars in 2020, a small drone has been developed to help the robot on its mission on the red planet. This is the first time that a flying drone has been developed for use on another planet and just like all of the other stuff launched into space, yes it has solar panels.
NASA to study Venus’ atmosphere with drones made by Colorado based company
NASA has contracted Black Swift Technologies out of Boulder, Colorado to design and manufacture an unmanned aerial vehicle to orbit Venus and collect data about its atmosphere. The project will last six months costing the government $125,000 which will cover the full cost of developing the drone.
NASA is sending an autonomous helicopter drone to Mars as part of their next rover mission in 2020
For their 2020 Mars rover mission, NASA is adding a little autonomous helicopter drone to their arsenal of instruments. Compared to a rover, more ground can be covered faster with the use of an unmanned aerial device. However, since the atmosphere is so much thinner on Mars – ground level on the red planet compares to an altitude of 100,000 feet on earth – the light-weight helicopter drone has extraordinary large blades and will only be used for a limited number of short test flights. If proven successful it may open the door to the use of more drone helicopters on future Mars missions.
Amazon, Boeing, GE and Google to develop private Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) system
During last week’s FAA Symposium in Baltimore, Amazon, Boeing, GE, and Google announced that they are ready to start working on the development of a private Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) system for drones. Testing in conjunction with NASA is supposed to start in the next three months. The system will enable swarms of drones to fly a couple of hundred feet above the ground using cellular and web applications to avoid collisions and allow for remote tracking.
NASA selects two drone concepts for out-of-this-world study
NASA selects two drone concepts for further study, for a drone mission to launch in 2020 as the fourth part of its New Frontiers program. The first concept is a sample return spacecraft to a comet. The second one is a drone to fly across a moon of Saturn. Both concepts, that build upon previous European Space Agency mission, were chosen for further study by NASA this week.
