Unmanned Vehicles

The FAA has announced two expansions to its Low Altitude Authorization and Capability (LAANC) program, which automates the airspace authorization application and approval process for drone operators. The first adds four airports to the list of air traffic facilities where LAANC is available. The new additions are Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Dulles International […]

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the completion of a 50-mile unmanned traffic management corridor on Tuesday. The corridor, which is being called the first of its kind to be established in the U.S., will be used for testing unmanned aerial systems (UAS/drones) and unmanned traffic management (UTM) technology. It runs from Syracuse International Airport […]

UPS and CVS made the first U.S. commercial drone deliveries of medical prescriptions from a CVS pharmacy directly to customers’ homes in North Carolina last Friday. Two deliveries—one to a private home and one to a retirement community—were successfully completed using an M2 drone developed by UPS partner Matternet. The autonomous flights were monitored by […]

A critical step in the integration of unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System is scheduled for Dec. 20 as the FAA releases its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on remote identification requirements for drones. The agency will require that all drones emit some kind of signal giving aircraft and ownership information and that’s considered fundamental […]

Embraer announced that it has successfully completed the first test of an autonomous aircraft in Brazil. As shown in the video below, the taxi test, which was overseen by a pilot in the cockpit, took the aircraft “along a previously established path without human interference.” According to Embraer, an integrated artificial intelligence system capable of […]

Aerial application solutions company UAVOS announced that it has converted a Robinson R22-UV helicopter for use as an unmanned agricultural drone. In addition to the modifications necessary for remote operation, the R22-UV “agro-drone” has been equipped with a 100-liter (26-gallon) tank and spray system for liquid chemical delivery. According to the company, the aircraft has […]

The U.S. Navy and Boeing successfully completed the first test flight of the MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueler on Thursday. The test lasted approximately two hours and included an autonomous taxi and takeoff followed by flight along a predetermined route. According to Boeing, the goal of Thursday’s flight was to “validate the aircraft’s basic flight functions […]

Austrian Airlines is testing out a new system that uses autonomous drones to inspect its aircraft for paintwork and structural damage. The company says it has been using the drones—supervised by an aircraft technician—to inspect its 36 Airbuses since the middle of the year. It plans to continue the tests until the end of 2019 […]

uAvionix announced on Tuesday that it will provide free pingRX Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS/drone) ADS-B receivers to “first responders and UAS service organizations participating in rescue and recovery efforts associated with Hurricane Dorian.” The company cautioned drone operators not to rely on ADS-B data alone to detect and avoid traffic and highlighted the need to […]

In response to the approach of Hurricane Dorian, drone manufacturer DJI issued a statement reminding drone operators to follow FAA guidance and keep drones grounded during and after the storm unless participating in authorized emergency response operations. “Airspace in affected areas will be crowded with low-flying helicopters and airplanes flying unusual patterns, temporary flight restrictions […]