FlightWave EDGE™ UAS

I am sure majority of drone experts want to invest in a drone with a high endurance. I agree that a drones’ endurance is extremely important, especially if one is constantly flying missions that require a long flight time. Not only is a drones’ endurance important but its range and payload capabilities are also key factors to consider prior to purchasing a drone. Another crucial factor for me is its takeoff capabilities. Most fixed wing drones are launched either by a catapult or by throwing it up in the air. Personally, I want to invest in a drone that is a fixed wing with vertical takeoff and long endurance capabilities. Three weeks ago, I attended the Drone World Expo and I came across FlightWaves’ EDGE™ UAS. It is a drone capable of flying challenging missions in tough environments. 

Experience FlightWaves’ EDGE™ UAS

The EDGE™UAS is a fixed wing drone that can fly speeds of 100 km/hr. It also has a flight time of roughly 120 minutes, 100 km range and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities. I love the fact that this drone effortlessly transitions from VTOL to horizontal flight. As a result, it requires no catapults, nets or a strong arm to throw it in the air. Another crucial factor is its quick, tool free and effortless assembly process. They are a lot of things I love about this drone, but I absolutely love the fact that it comes with a large, bright touch-screen controller for automated flight. As a drone operator that flies mostly automated flights for agriculture purposes, a touch screen controller is essential. Some automated flight apps are made to work only on Android devices and not on Apple devices. I had to purchase an Android device because Mission Planner is not available to Apple users. Not having to worry about buying a touch screen controller makes a drone operators life easier.

Important Specs

1. Vehicle Mass: 2.65 lb.
2. Maximum Payload Mass: .66 lb.
3. Endurance: 120 Minutes
4. Solar Endurance Boost: 47 Minutes
5. Maximum Cruise Speed: 58 mph
6. Maximum Wind Tolerance: 46 mph
7. Optimal Cruise Speed: 31 mph

You can find more information on this drone at https://www.flightwave.aero/edge-uas/ 

 

 

 

Separating & Keeping Track of Unmanned Traffic

The drone industry has come a long way but it still has a long way to go. Companies are eager to use drones for delivery purposes but we have a long way to go before that can happen. The FAA needs to quickly figure out how to track drones and safely integrated them into the national airspace. At the present moment the FAA has not come up with an effective way to monitor and track remotely piloted aircraft’s (RPAS). How do we ensure that certified drone pilots and hobbyists aren’t doing anything unlawful? If they are how do we make sure they are fined accordingly? Also, how do we separate manned and unmanned aircraft traffic? The answer to the aforementioned questions is simple; drones flying in the airspace have to be monitored and the pilot in command of the unmanned aircraft identified.

Keeping Track 

DJI released two technology white papers in response to ICAO’s RFI on UTM and related systems. “What’s In a Name?” A Call for a Balanced Remote Identification Approach was published on July 15^th, 2017. In the paper DJI suggested “The balanced approach that we propose to solve safety, security, and accountability concerns while taking into account operator privacy and safety, is to create an identification mechanism that provides localized identification without permanent recording or logging”. I personally believe that DJI’s proposal would aid authorities with keeping track of remotely piloted aircraft’s and know who is flying them. In a situation where an operator breaks the law it would be easy to identify the person and fine them accordingly.

Low Altitude Tracking and Avoidance System (LATAS)

Another challenge the drone industry is currently facing is effectively separating air traffic between manned and unmanned aircraft’s. PrecisionHawk partnered with other Aviation Leaders and created LATAS. It is the only platform that gives real time air traffic information and displays live FAA radar feeds. Drone operators that use the platform receive warnings when manned aircraft flights create a potential hazard in the area of operation. LATAS fly safer hardware is easily mounted to any drone. Data telemetry data is transferred twice per second and speed, positioning, heading, and altitude are tracked. I personally believe that in addition to using the LATAS platform, the FAA should employ several people solely responsible for monitoring unmanned aircraft’s in designated regions, similar to how Air Traffic Controllers monitor airplanes. Personally, I believe that every drone flying in the national airspace should come with an installed tracking and avoidance system like LATAS.

 

Augmented Reality and Precision Agriculture

Going Mainstream

Augmented Reality (AR) enhances what we see by integrating computer generated graphics into the real world. Last week, Apple announced that the new iOS 11 will allow customers to experience augmented reality. I am sure a lot of people didn’t know what augmented reality is prior to Apples announcement last week, but that’s all about to change. According to CNBC, Robert Scoble a prominent tech evangelist stated that “Apple and Google will play a significant role in taking the technology mainstream”. As developers continue to learn more about augmented reality, the technology will become more advanced and transform our lives.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Augmented Reality

Not only is AR getting traction in the video game industry but it is slowly becoming popular within the drone industry. UAVs are now using augmented reality for gaming. Edgybees is an augmented reality drone racing game and Air Hog’s Connect Mission Drone is a game that allows its players to fly search and rescue missions.

In the commercial side of the industry, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are extremely beneficial. Not only are UAVs with augmented reality capabilities being used for gaming, but they are also being used for firefighting missions and disaster response. According to Commercial UAV NEWS, “drones from Boeing subsidiary Insitu and the Microsoft HoloLens are being used to make fighting forest fires a lot safer for firefighters”. Operators use the holographic tactical map to send resources where they are immediately required. In disaster response drones equipped with SmartCam3D can positively contribute to disaster relief. As per suasnews.com SmartCam3D uses “augmented reality overlays to live or recorded video, making it useful before, during and after a natural disaster”.

Precision Agriculture and Augmented Reality

As time passes AR will become more sophisticated and people in the drone industry will have access to cutting edge technology. I would like to see augmented reality being used in precision agriculture. UAVs in agriculture are used for mapping, surveying, and spraying. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles allow farmers to monitor their crops from a bird’s eye view. Ground level inspections are not efficient and they give a farmer limited visual information. Farmers can find problem areas easier and quicker with a UAV. The data collection process is easy and efficient as well. Once an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle captures images of a farm using a multispectral sensor, the images get uploaded into the cloud and afterwards processed. After that, the farmer will get an image like the image above. From looking at the image the farmer will be able to determine the problem areas. Unfortunately, the image won’t specifically tell the farmer what the problem is, because of this the farmer has no choice but to physically walk over to the problem area for further inspection. Instead of a farmer walking over to the problem area for further inspection, special sensors and cameras can be incorporated to enable augmented reality. As an alternative, a farmer can fly his drone over the farm and use a tablet to inspect the problem area. Whether the farm is visible on a tablet or as a hologram it shouldn’t matter as long as the farmer is able to identify what’s wrong with his crops. If one day this becomes a reality I am sure it will gain traction and farmers with hundreds of acres will be happy.