BY Patrick C. MillerBoeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences has unveiled Odysseus, a solar-powered, autonomous UAS capable of flying in the stratosphere for indefinite periods of time. The aircraft is designed to assist weather and climate researchers. READ MORE
BY Patrick C. MillerCombining cameras with machine learning technology, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Sandia National Labs are developing ways to make the visual identification of drones as precise and reliable as thermal, radio or acoustic signatures. READ MORE
BY Patrick C. MillerCustomWeather Inc. and TruWeather Solutions have formed a partnership aimed at developing micro-weather forecasts for BVLOS UAS operations. The technology will be tested in the NUAIR Alliance UAS traffic management corridor. READ MORE
BY NextNav LLC NASA has selected NextNav's Metropolitan Beacon System (MBS) as part of its City Environment for Range Testing of Autonomous Integrated Navigation (CERTAIN) program. MBS enables urban drone operations in areas where GPS signals may not reach. READ MORE
BY Patrick C. MillerPrecisionHawk made its fifth acquisition of the year by purchasing Chicago-based Uplift Data Partners, which specializes in commercial drone services for the construction industry. PrecisionHawk CEO Michael Chasen says more acquisitions are planned. READ MORE
BY Patrick C. MillerA drone that looks and flies like a peregrine falcon is convincing flocks of birds to move away from busy airports where they're a threat to manned aviation. The Robird has proved its worth at the Grand Forks International Airport in North Dakota. READ MORE
BY Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International AUVSI is launching a new Trusted Operators Program for UAS pilots and training organizations to improve safety through a higher standard of professionalism. TOP certification provides an AUVSI seal of approval above and beyond FAA requirements. READ MORE
BY Patrick C. MillerFrench drone solutions supplier Delair is expanding its commercial drone operations with the acquisition of California-based Airware's key assets. The deal is expected to strengthen the company's expertise and technology across a range of industries. READ MORE
BY Patrick C. MillerDrones could play a role in making better wine, thanks to the "Digital Vineyard of the Future" project. A recent demonstration in Nova Scotia, Canada, showed how a drone can gather scientific data in real-time and transfer it via a cell network. READ MORE
