viernes, 27 de junio de 2014

Russia: Pizza delivered by UAV



While America and Europe administrations are still squabbling over domestic drone regulations — which won’t take effect until at least 2015, and probably later — Russia's DoDo Pizza is using UAVs to deliver pizza in a matter of minutes: DoDo Pizza, from the Komi republic's capital city of Syktyvkar, launched its first unmanned delivery this past Saturday (June 21st), delivering the pizza in 30 minutes.


Of course, the UAVs are provided with anti-theft devices like cameras monitored by the restaurant’s manager, who calls the patron upon delivery to protect against theft. Once the patron’s identity is confirmed, a cable lowers the pizza. Also, if someone tugs on the cable too hard, an emergency mechanism releases the cable. We are now talking about delivering a pizza, but, ¿Why not beer, flowers, letters, or anything else? ¿Why not? The answer is very simple: The restriction laws. For example: Earlier this year, Lakemaid, a local brewery in Minnesota made plans to deliver beer by drone. But the FAA told Lakemaid to cease UAV operations. ¿Why? Because domestic drones are currently banned for commercial purposes or flying above 400 feet. ¿Reason? Privacy protection. 


No one would ever mistake Russia for a shining beacon of liberty, but they have embraced free-market innovation while politicians in America and Europe still see the UAVs with some kind of fear, forgetting -as CNN mentions- that “the next generation of friendly drones aren't all packing weapons or collecting data for the NSA. Some just want to bring you a nice cold one and maybe a slice without getting stuck in traffic.” Of course, privacy advocates are right to question law enforcement’s penchant for unmanned aerial vehicles and the infinite potential for abuse, but while administrations, politicians, and privacy advocates continue to squabble over domestic drone regulations, Russia — not exactly a pillar of individual liberty — allowed a local pizza joint to deliver a hot pie from the air.


jueves, 26 de junio de 2014

Skylark for tracking supects


In this video we can see how IDF forces use the Skylark UAV to track a suspect as a part of Operation Brother's Keeper.



IDF troops continue to search relentlessly for the three kidnapped teens.

Granada (Spain): UAV Scales New Heights as 3D Architecture Tool


Engineers from Spain's University of Granada are developing a remotely-operated Unmanned Aerial Vehicle capable of maneuvering in and around buildings to construct 3D models in unprecedented detail.

lunes, 23 de junio de 2014

USA: UAVs banned in 84 million acres of public lands


A memorandum signed by Mr. Jonathan Jarvis (Director of the National Park Service) will require 401 parks to write rules prohibiting unmanned aerial vehicles on the 84 million acres of public lands and waterways in the United States: "We embrace many activities in national parks because they enhance visitor experiences with the iconic natural, historic and cultural landscapes in our care. However, we have serious concerns about the negative impact that flying unmanned aircraft is having in parks, so we are prohibiting their use until we can determine the most appropriate policy that will protect park resources and provide all visitors with a rich experience.”


He alluded some implications of allowing UAVs, such as flying around the faces on Mount Rushmore, harm nesting birds, or flying around climbers: “Imagine you’re a big wall climber in Yosemite working on a four-day climb up El Capitan, and you’re hanging off a bolt ready to make a move, and an unmanned aircraft flies up beside you and is hovering a few feet from your head with its GoPro camera running. Think about what that does to your experience and your safety."



domingo, 22 de junio de 2014

Blik van Boven: A good role model


Blik van Boven is a Dutch CAA approved UAV/UAS company, specialized in 4K HD aerial cinematography. This compilation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilgy8rbpNZUgives us a glim of how safety regulations must be followed before, during and after a UAV flight.


Greece: ¿EU subsidies for Police UAV?


It is suspected that European Union subsidies may be used by the greek Public Order Ministry for the purchase of the some UAVs though it remains unclear what sum has been earmarked for the investment, how many drones the ministry is seeking to acquire, and what type. The purpose of the Public Order Ministry regarding the acquisition of the UAVs is to bolster the efforts of the Greek Police (ELAS) to monitor the country’s borders and curb illegal immigration as well as cracking down on organized crime and domestic terrorism.


miércoles, 18 de junio de 2014

Textron, Airbus To Bid on Expected French UAV Tender


Airbus Defence & Space has teamed with Textron to prepare a joint bid for an expected French tender for a tactical UAV, a competition likely to attract a lively clutch of international offers, said Senior Vice President Jens Nielsen. (Read more

martes, 17 de junio de 2014

Skunk: The RiotControl UAV


Desert Wolf has developed a riot-control UAV named Skunk, capable to fire dye-balls, pepper spray and rubber bullets at protesters, blinds them with strobes, broadcasts control messages to them, and records them.


In addition to two high definition day cameras, the Skunk carries a FLIR thermal camera for night vision capability.

US Navy develops GBAD to Shoot Down Enemy UAVs


A laser weapon capable of shooting down drones which can be mounted on military vehicles such as Humvees, is to be created by the US Navy.


The Office of Naval Research (ONR) said it had awarded contracts for the design of a lightweight laser missile aimed at protecting troops from drone attacks, dubbed Ground-Based Air Defence Directed Energy On-the-Move programme, otherwise known as GBAD.


Colonel William Zamagni said the GBAD is necessary to combat enemies' increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in conflicts. "We can expect that our adversaries will increasingly use UAVs and our expeditionary forces must deal with that rising threat. GBAD gives the Marine Corps a capability to counter the UAV threat efficiently, sustainably and organically with austere expeditionary forces. GBAD employed in a counter UAV role is just the beginning of its use and opens myriad other possibilities for future expeditionary forces."

domingo, 15 de junio de 2014

Harop, the Missile UAV from IAI



Let us have a glance on the IAI's Harop, now one of the world’s most sophisticated and accurate UAVs. 


With an ability to remain airborne for hours, Harop has the capability of diving and crashing into a precise target, much like a conventional missile.

SelectTech Geospatial to lead UAV industry in Clark County


SelectTech Geospatial is pushing ahead with their attempts to make Clark County a leader in the emerging commercial drone industry, despite losing out on a bid to be one of six national test sites. That includes launching the state’s first precision agriculture program at Clark State Community College and building $500,000 hangars at the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport to house unmanned aerial vehicles. "These and some other assets put Clark County in a good position to attract businesses in manufacturing and research, even without the Federal Aviation Administration test site designation" said Frank Beafore, executive director of SelectTech Geospatial.

(Read more)

jueves, 12 de junio de 2014

Argentina: UAVs a la vista


El diputado nacional Agustín Portela (UCR Corrientes), ha presentado un proyecto de Ley para modificar el artículo 36 de la Ley del Código Aeronáutico Nº 17.285 y sus modificatorias, a fin de incluir una regulación específica para UAVs. Portela ha explicado que lo que se pretende es adecuar la legislación vigente debido al aumento del uso de estos aparatos en la Argentina, tanto en su uso civil como estatal.

miércoles, 11 de junio de 2014

ScanEagle to monitor wildfire in Alaska


The massive wildfire raging on Alaska’s Kenai Penninsula is now being monitored by an ScanEagle UAV.


This aircraft can fly at altitudes up to 22,000 feet, and can remain airborne for up to 20 hours, recording video with two different cameras: one infrared, which shows the contrast of cool areas and heat areas, and a regular visual camera. The video is then analyzed and given to fire officials to determine their next actions.


It was an exercise in the applications of unmanned aircraft in public safety, officials said, and in maneuvering new regulations still early in their evolution. "It really got some of the key people understanding that we can really help," said Ro Bailey, deputy director of the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration. "It's not a toy or something like that. It's actually something that can improve their ability to do a job."

martes, 10 de junio de 2014

¿UAVS? Si, ¿por qué no?


Aunque desde luego su uso está creciendo en aplicaciones militares, no todos los UAVs llevan armas o pertenecen a las fuerzas armadas: Muchos de ellos se utilizan para la tareas relacionadas con seguridad publica o para gestionar una situacion de crisis ayudando desde el aire a las fuerzas de seguridad. Vamos a verlo con algunos ejemplos:




En algunas ciudades la policía utiliza UAVs para operaciones ISR. Se trata de UAVs dotados de cámaras que permiten realizar seguimientos en tiempo real, evitando poner en riesgo vidas de inocentes.


Las brigadas de bomberos tambien hacen uso de UAVs para combatir los incendios forestales, ya que proporcionan video en tiempo real de la zona del incendio e informacion sobre el cambio de la direccion del viento. 


En definitiva, los UAVs presentan un inmenso campo de oportunidades para el desarrollo de nuevas aplicaciones en el ambito civil.