Industry News

18Aug

Pentagon provides guidelines to create the ultimate no drone fly zone

Call it the ultimate No Drone Fly Zone. On Aug. 4 the Department of Defense (DoD) released classified guidelines for military personnel. The guidelines focused on available actions in the event of unauthorized drone intrusion over or around a military installation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), along with other inter-agency partners, helped develop the guidelines. It follows classified guidance that was previously provided to the services and installations in early July. “Protecting our force remains a top priority and that’s why DoD issued the specific, but classified policy that details how DoD personnel may counter the unmanned aircraft threat,” said United States, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis.  

A growing concern?

According to a Pentagon spokesman, the guidance is to help address growing concerns around safety and security of military installations, aviation and people. And, certainly, drone use continues to explode across both recreational and commercial sectors. The FAA predicts the number of hobbyists will increase to 355 million by 2021. Commercial drone users are expected to increase to 442,000 during that same time period. Of course, all drone operators must adhere to FAA regulations and guidelines. Any flight operated beyond these regulations is considered unauthorized activity. In April, the Pentagon and FCC announced a new rule which prohibited any drone flights within 400 feet of 133 domestic installations. Pilots caught violating the restriction were subject to arrest. However, that announcement did not mention any direct action the military could take to destroy or intercept the drones.  

Tracking, disabling, destroying

If an unauthorized drone flight intrudes into military airspace, DoD personnel now have guidelines in place to respond to the threat. Authorized actions include: tracking, disabling and destroying drones. Of course, the authorized action depends on the circumstance and the type of installation where the drone activity is detected. “We support civilian law enforcement investigations in the prosecution of unauthorized UAS operations over military installations,” Davis said. “And though we do not discuss specific force-protection measures, we of course retain the right of self-defense. When it comes to UAS or drones operating over military installations, this new guidance does afford us the ability to take action to stop those threats.” Drone operators can find additional flight regulation information at the Know Before You Fly website. Before these guidelines, the military could take action to intercept a wayward drone. Those options included use of traditional ammunition to destroy the craft all the way to commandeering them via radio waves. In addition, intercepted crafts were subject to seizure “as part of investigations,” said Davis. So, wayward flyers beware, intruding over or around any of these 133 installations could result in the loss of your craft.
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14Aug

The EMILY USV from Hydronalix continues to gain traction

EMILY USVThe Duluth Fire Department in Duluth, Minnesota is considering purchasing the Emergency Integrated Lifesaving LanYard (EMILY) drone. Hydronalix, located near Tucson, Arizona, created and manufactures the 24-pound unmanned water rescue vehicle.  

EMILY functionality

The EMILY is a life-saving, unmanned surface vehicle (USV) that first responders can deploy and operate remotely to help reach distressed individuals. Equipped with a two-way radio, the EMILY allows first responders to communicate with the person in need of assistance. The USV carries a detachable life-jacket and helmet and can assist up to eight people in distress.  

Real-world application

Duluth Fire Capt. Brent Consie decided to test out the EMILY because of the city's amount of shoreline. It is also one of the worst spots in the Great Lakes for rip currents. “One of our biggest concerns with rescue is with rip currents,” Consie said in an article from the Grand Forks Herald. “When we've got an east wind or a wind that's about 10 to 15 miles an hour, we have currents that actually flute water back off shore. So, people who find themselves caught in rip currents are often taken by surprise. People who are not familiar with our waters get into a situation where there's potentially a drowning. We want to be able to get to them as fast as we possibly can.”  

Testing the EMILY

At the end of July, the Duluth Fire Department, along with other area agencies, tested the USV during a mock rescue scenario. The scenario included two Duluth firefighters floated in the chilled waters of Lake Superior. Response time is even more vital because of the waters cold temperatures. A firefighter on shore used a remote control to direct the movements of the USV, leading it to the firefighters in the water. Once the vehicle reached the firefighters, they latched onto a set of handles and were pulled to shore. On average, the department has six water emergencies per year. Boats are currently the only vehicles available to rescue distressed swimmer. The EMILY may be a better alternative.  

Technology advancements for the good

“Technology is always changing. This USV is a different approach because the drownings happen so fast and our conditions change so fast,” Consie says. “We're looking at ways we can improve. How can we use technology to keep improving our delivery of services?” In addition, Consie said that the USV allows first responders to reach someone in need of help faster than the department’s current capabilities. In scenarios where first responders need to rescue someone in the water, they can still deploy the USV so that the person can have something to hang on to while waiting for help.
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10Aug

U.S. Army to discontinue use of DJI for operations

US Army DJICyber vulnerabilities. This is the reason given in a U.S. Army memo that orders troops to end all use of DJI drones for operations. This a huge announcement, and was quite surprising, given that DJI drones are currently the Army’s top choice for an off-the-shelf UAS solution. The memo released August 2, came from Lt. Gen. Joseph H. Anderson who serves as the Army’s deputy chief of staff for plans and operations. It states, “cease all use, uninstall all DJI applications, remove all batteries/storage media from devices, and secure equipment for follow on direction.” The memo cited “increased awareness of cyber vulnerabilities associated with DJI products.” No other additional information was provided.  

Off-the-shelf solution, no more?

Just as consumers have flocked to DJI drones, so too, the Army. Though not a battlefield drone, DJI drones are used in support of a variety of Army operations. In fact, the Army’s Aviation Engineering Directorate has issued over 300 separate Airworthiness Releases for DJI products in support of various missions. This memo amends the existing Pentagon guidance for the domestic use of unmanned systems that was finalized in Feb. 2015. So, what does this memo mean for Army units currently using DJI products? For many, it’s a minor inconvenience. For others, a huge headache, in terms of identifying, securing, inventorying, and storing the drones. After all, the memo covers “any system that employs DJI electrical components or software including, but not limited to, flight computers, cameras, radios, batteries, speed controllers, GPS units, handheld control stations, or devices with DJI software applications installed.” The Army indicated that they’ve received this guidance memo and are reviewing it.  

Impact on DJI

Clearly, the memo caught DJI unaware. The company said in a statement, “they were surprised and disappointed to read reports of the U.S. Army’s unprompted restriction on DJI drones.” It also said the company was not consulted during the decision-making process. DJI plans to reach out to the U.S. Army to gain better understanding of the cyber security concerns. Given the sensitive nature of Army operations, the memo is a step in the right direction as far as some cyber security experts are concerned. Hackers exposed the vulnerabilities of the Phantom series – breaking in and manipulating the GPS software and disrupting “geofences” designed to keep the drone out of no-fly zones. Certainly, this raised alarm bells. However, it was a request in May from DJI that appeared to really raise concerns. The request? Users need to register DJI products with the company. If not registered, the DJI product would suffer a decrease in speed and range…even the ability to stream video. Industry insiders started to ask questions. If DJI corporation could manipulate that, what else could it do? Was the company sharing videos captured by these drones? DJI denied any such activity. “When you fly a DJI drone,” DJI said in a statement in April 2016, “nobody but you can see the live video feed or the recorded video it generates – unless you decide otherwise.”  

Uncertain future

DJI appears anxious to discuss and resolve any concerns the U.S. Army has about DJI products. Whether that conversation occurs, remains to be seen. And amid the lingering questions, one thing remains true: the Army's go-to, off-the-shelf solution seems no more.  
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27Jul

Automated FAA Authorizations for Drone Operators Coming Soon?

Automated FAA AuthorizationsBy the end of the year, several airports are expected to offer automated authorization for drone operators in controlled airspace. The rest of the nation’s airports will follow suit in 2018. If successful, these automated authorizations will remove a significant barrier to the rapid expansion of commercial UAS operations. Today, flights in controlled airspace, at certain times of day, or near sensitive locations require authorization from the FAA. Authorization requests can take up to 90 days and require labor-intensive manual approvals. Today in Class G airspace, drone operations for real estate photography, building inspections, and agricultural monitoring are fairly commonplace. But if a commercial drone flight needs to occur in controlled airspace, drone pilots must wait up to 90 days to receive permission to fly from the FAA. To address this challenge, the FAA reached out to a handful of companies. The goal? Help the FAA provide automated authorizations for safer and more efficient drone operations at scale.  

Automated FAA Authorizations via LAANC

Called the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC), the initiative allows drone operators to apply for digital authorization using applications already used for flight planning and in-flight situational awareness. With automated authorization, drone operators will receive instant, digital approval to fly in much of our nation’s controlled airspace. The start of LAANC began earlier this summer with the FAA’s release of UAS facility maps. These maps depicted specific areas and altitudes near 300+ airports where drone operators could request airspace authorization more effectively and efficiently. AirMap, and the other LAANC partners, received this raw data and in turn translated it into a dynamic, digital map. Using tools like AirMap’s mobile app, drone operators can enter the details of their flight with just a few taps. In pre-approved flight areas, operators receive instant flight authorization.  

Next Phase of LAANC

Now, 50 of the nation’s airports are prepared to provide LAANC authorization by the end of the year. This trial expansion offers a sneak peek at how Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) will work in the U.S. It also shows how companies, like AirMap, are helping make UTM possible for the commercial drone industry at scale. The introduction of LAANC is a significant step. LAANC represents the first step in the implementation of UTM, the federated technological infrastructure that will facilitate data exchange and air traffic control for drones. LAANC also demonstrates that the FAA can successfully embrace innovation and work with private sector providers to open more airspace to commercial drone operations. When human approval is still required for flight, LAANC may cut wait times to as short as two weeks. If the flight needs review, the controller can assess and approve the flight via an easy-to-use dashboard provided by the LAANC provider. Review the full list of airports to offer LAANC.
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10Jul

Drones as Entertainment: what’s ahead for this emerging application?

From surveying and mapping to search and rescue efforts, drone technology is disrupting a host of industries. It begs the question: Is the entertainment industry next? Large companies, such as Intel and Disney, have moved beyond drone entertainment as possibility...to reality. Drone racing and aerial acrobatic displays may be some of the earliest forms of drone entertainment. However, with Intel and Disney entering the fray, the entertainment bar may be rising -- literally. In 2016, the companies revealed plans for a unique collaboration of a drone-based light show.  

A flying light show...the beginnings

As one of the biggest tech companies in the world, it may come as no surprise that Intel developed its own UAV several years ago, dubbed the "Shooting Star". The frame of the Shooting Star is very lightweight due to its Styrofoam and plastic construction. And, most significantly, each drone is outfitted with LED lights which can produce billions of color combinations. This light versatility means the drones can create any number of images and displays; it makes them far more versatile than traditional fireworks. Prior to the collaboration with Disney Resorts, Intel showcased its drones in a private light in Krailling, Germany. The show featured over 500 drones in the air at the same time. It was Intel Corp’s proof of concept and its entrance into the burgeoning drone entertainment market. Then came its collaboration with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. The two companies worked together to create a spectacular light-show for the 2016 holidays. Entitled “Starbright Holidays – An Intel Collaboration”, the show took place at the Florida Resort location and was the public debut of Intel's Shoot Star Drones. The display featured everything from simulations of fireworks to the creation of holiday themed images like Christmas trees and snowflakes. Both companies claimed it was the biggest such display of its kind in the United States.  

Drones: a cheaper way to entertain?

Drone-based entertainment may prove a cheaper and more exciting option once the initial outlay of required hardware and software is invested. Traditional firework displays cost about $10,000 for a small town show. And for larger events, such as Macy's Fourth of July show, the costs can soar to the millions of dollars. Drone-based light displays provide a range of practical use cases including control by a single computer which cuts down on the manpower required to put on such a show. Another advantage is that, unlike firework displays, drones can be re-used over and over again.  

Successful innovations multiply

As with any burgeoning innovation, drones as entertainment may also help research and development in other areas. Though there are numerous companies working to develop new technologies, it helps when such a large company like Intel puts their resources behind funding such ground-breaking features. Eventually, such innovative advances also make their way to consumer grade drones once the technology becomes more affordable. For example, in the past Intel manually pre-programmed each individual drone before it took to the skies. And when pre-programming involves hundreds of drones for just one show, it is simply not practical. In order to address this inefficiency, Intel developed a software program and an algorithm that automatically determines each drones’ planned flight path. The potential for this innovative software program and algorithm to benefit other drone applications, such as aerial photography, mapping or survey projects, is obvious.  

Just the beginning?

Currently, Intel’s Shooting Star drone is not available for sale to the public. Intel does manufacture a commercial drone, the Falcon 8+, but the company may be keeping its shooting star drones to itself for now. Only time will tell if shows like Intel and Disney’s UAV light show will gain momentum. However, it’s clear that particular event caused quite a stir. It is evident that unmanned aerial systems are becoming ever more versatile and for drones as entertainment this is just the beginning.
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27Jun

Researchers consider the possibilities of swarms of drones for mapping oil spills

Drones have transformed a number of industries and services in addition to creating many new ones. The growth of drones is proof of how advancements in technology help perform certain tasks better and more efficiently. Today, engineers are developing software that allows a swarm of drones to map areas affected by oil spills. Their work is inspired by the swarm and communication behavior of insects and birds. However, given the very location of these disasters, surveying and mapping oil spills at sea or along coastlines is a difficult task. Accurately assessing the level of damage can be a tricky proposition. Researchers believe drones could provide a solution. Just as ants converge in the thousands to find and carry food to their colony, engineers believe a swarm of low-cost drones could aid in the mapping of oil spills.  

Swarms of Drones

Souma Chowdhury, an assistant professor of mechanical and Aerospace engineering at the University of Buffalo’s School of Engineering and Applied sciences, believes a swarm of drones for mapping applications is a possibility. Chowdhury and his team are pioneering a program that directs a swarm of drones to map an oil spill quickly. Although, the engineer argues, nature may seem random, mathematical principles can help explain swarm behaviors. The key is identifying the right principles so humans can tap into swarm behavior to help solve a range of complex issues, including oil spills. His team recently presented their vision in a paper at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Technology. The study simulated the use of a swarm of five drones that mapped a kilometer long spill area. The drones completed this task in less than ten minutes -- which is significantly faster than traditional oil spill-mapping methods currently in use. Plus, swarm mapping drones could provide other benefits.  

More efficient means

Mapping oil spills via drone swarms creates efficiency in a number of way. First, a drone swarm's programmed flight pattern avoids areas previously mapped. In addition, drones are programmed to record whether they are over water or oil as well as assume that any space around the spill is also oil. All the while, information is shared among the swarm, in contrast to sharing images or video, thereby using less bandwidth and improving efficiency. Drones also have the ability to take off and land from a boat and return autonomously when their batteries are low. The UAVs deploying to replace returning drones have the data they need to continue the mapping mission. This shared information is another trait borrowed from the animal kingdom, with the engineers stating that communication is the basis of any swarm. Remarkably, if drone mapping proves feasible, it requires no human intervention throughout the whole process. Thus, oil spill mapping can take place quickly, even in treacherous conditions.  

Low-cost, hi-tech solutions

Chowdhury’s approach tackles a complex problem using simple UAV technology. The engineers used low cost drones outfitted with $35 Raspberry Pi computers, oil spill-mapping software, and affordable cameras. As far avoiding collisions in flight, Chowdhury looked to nature for inspiration. Researchers at the University of Queensland observed that parrots avoided collisions simply by veering to the right when flying. The engineers seek to implement this principle. The plan is to program drones to turn at a right angle if they sense another is too close. This developing technology has wider applications for a variety of tasks. In the future, swarms of drones will quickly map forested areas or natural disasters unreachable by humans. Chowdhury’s swarms of smart drones could prove one of the most innovative and important uses of drone technology to date.
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