News Categories
DASA awards £2m contracts to counter hostile drone threats
Funds will develop new technology to tackle rising security risks posed by Unmanned Air Systems. The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) can today announce it has awarded nearly £2m to develop new capabilities to detect, disrupt, and defeat the hostile and malicious use of drones. Eighteen bids have been funded as part of the Countering Drones competition launched earlier this year by the then-Defence Secretary. Among the proposal being developed are methods for detecting 4G & 5G controlled drones, cutting edge applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence for sensors to automatically identify UAVs, and low risk methods of stopping drones through novel electronic defeat or interceptor solutions. The competition, run by DASA – the MOD’s innovation hub – on behalf of Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), is the latest stage in Dstl’s ongoing research programme into countering unmanned air systems (UAS) which has been running for ten Read More »
Small Business Funding Options Simply Explained
We set up Swoop to help businesses grow, and one question we hear again and again is “where can I get access to funding for my small business?”. In order to grow, your company is likely to face the need for additional capital, which can be obtained in one of three main ways: equity, debt, or grant. This blog aims to simply explain these options to enable you, as a small business owner in UK or Ireland, to make better decisions about your company’s financial future. Equity Finance for SMEs Read More »
Percepto at AUTOMA 2019 to Show How Autonomous Drones Improve Inspection, Operation Security and Safety at Oil & Gas Refineries
Percepto, the global market leader for autonomous industrial drone solutions, today announced its participation in AUTOMA 2019 – The Oil & Gas Automation and Digitization Congress. The company will share with key players from the upstream, midstream and downstream segments, real cases of how its artificial intelligence-powered drone-in-a-box (DIB) solution is able to automate inspection, operations, security and safety for organisations operating oil and gas refineries.The oil and gas sector has been one of the earliest to recognize the potential of autonomous drones and earlier this year the American Petroleum Institute published its Guide to Developing an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program in which it suggests ‘These systems have the potential to significantly reduce safety risks to personnel, cut operational costs, and increase efficiencies across a variety of tasks.’ These benefits mirror the experience of Percepto’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ariel Avitan, who expla Read More »
Percepto Autonomous Drone-in-a-Box Shortlisted for Prestigious Security Technology Innovation of the Year Award
Percepto, the global market leader for autonomous industrial drone solutions, has revealed its Drone-in-a-Box (DIB) solution is a finalist for the prestigious Security & Fire Excellence Awards 2019, in the Security Technology Innovation of the Year category. The winners will be announced on Wednesday 20th November at the London Hilton on Park Lane.Percepto’s artificial intelligence powered DIB delivers aerial surveillance by navigating pre-defined patrols, providing real-time detection and tracking of humans and vehicles, as well as anomaly identification, all without the need for a pilot or on-site operator. It is currently being used in security operations by large industrial organizations around the world to improve security and safety, reduce risk, improve regulatory compliance and optimise operations.Speaking at IFSEC International earlier this year, where Percepto premiered its next-generation DIB to security professionals in Europe, the Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Offi Read More »
5 steps to mastering your commercial drone operations
Electric Transmission & DistributionEveryone with a stake in the Electric Transmission & Distribution industry, are aware of the rapidly growing adoption of commercial drones. However, successfully integrating drones into your operations can be a long process of trial and error if you do not have the necessary knowledge beforehand. This article comprises the 5 most important points to consider, in order to maximize value gained from drone operations. Read More »
Why you should be outsourcing your data analysis
Are You spending unnecessary resources on in-house analysis, or are you right to hold off when it comes to outsourcing? Trusting an external company with Your data analysis might feel daunting, but in many cases, it can actually save You a lot of time and even increase the quality of inspection results. However, sometimes it just isn’t right.So how do you know? Read on.So how do you know? Read on. Read More »
Thermal orthographic vs individual images
We thought it would be interesting to compare thermal orthographic (stitched images) versus individual images, to examine flight times of data collection and resulting deliverables. Thermal orthographic vs. individual images When conducting a thermal survey of solar pv by UAV/drone, the data can be collected in a variety of formats (video/stitched images/individual image). It can also be processed in different ways, all of which have pros and cons. We thought it would be interesting to compare thermal orthographic (stitched images) and individual images, examining flight times of data collection and comparing resulting deliverables. The testing ground We start in a small field of approx. 1.5MW, which has a selection of anomalies. The following results are an illustration of the types of differences, that can be observed between methods and heights. Not all solar farms are the same, and so results can vary. Thermal Orthographic (6GSD) By collecting many overla Read More »
A journey with drones
The story of a CEO, who believed that you can be a successful entrepreneur and still maintain a healthy work-life balance. Once upon the magical year of 2009, a fresh-faced graduate named Ken Isobe Falk left school with high ambitions on his shoulders, and a computer science degree in his hand. In the following years, he walked a winding road, that would eventually lead him to his unlikely destination. At this point, Ken was working 80-hour weeks, developing mission critical systems for the defense industry, at a CMMI5 certified company. “I had the kind of mindset, where I believed I had to take on everything, solve everything myself. When I worked the most, it was around 80 hours a week, and I had three hours of transportation each day. That didn’t seem like a lot at the time.” Ken Falk, CEO Scopito Eventually, this take on work left Ken severely stressed. “Today I’m glad it happened. It gave me a chance to consider, what is important in my life. Read More »
DROWNING IN DATA
It used to be more data = more problems. But for Jim and Fenix I.S.R, one tool changed it all.Jim Timberlake. Director of Field Operations at Fenix I.S.R.; a US based drone operator. Jim’s goal is to deliver an end-to-end service for the customer, but it isn’t always easy.All aboard the drone Read More »
DfT Transport-Technology Research and Innovation Grants
The Connected Places Catapult supports the DfT’s Transport-Technology Research and Innovation Grants (T-TRIG) programme. T-TRIG bridges the early stage, proof-of-concept funding gap in transport innovation, where small investments can de-risk emerging solutions. An Open Call to fund ideas across the whole of the transport technology spectrum is now open. Apply by 29 October for grants up to £30k to prove your idea works.The 2019 T-TRIG call was announced by George Freeman, Minister of State for the Future of Transport, on 24 September and will remain open until 23:59 on 29 October. Read More »
JAPAN DRONE 2020 (International Tradeshow in Tokyo)
The best platform to understand and access the Japanese market! In 2020, Japan Drone will celebrate its 5th Anniversary. Read More »
SkyWatch.AI Announces New Partnership with Drone U to Provide Flight Mastery Graduates with Lower Drone Insurance Rates
Palo Alto, California, Aug 14th, 2019 SkyWatch.AI Drone Insurance, a leading risk-assessment and InsurTech platform for the drone industry, announced today its partnership with Drone U, one of the largest US professional drone training communities. SkyWatch.AI recognizes that quality remote pilot training and education are vital components in the safe advancement of the commercial UAS industry, and are essential in an industry where there is an increasing number of commercial remote pilots. With SkyWatch.AI, Drone U’s Flight Mastery graduates will be eligible for lower insurance rates based on their flight experience. “Drone U has been with SkyWatch.AI since the very beginning, and we are proud to support an educational program that is utilized by the National Transportation Safety Board as one of the required training programs for their drone pilots," said Tomer Kashi SkyWatch.AI CEO and Co-Founder. “From working closely with thousands of drone pilots across the US, we know Read More »
SkyWatch.AI Announces New Partnership with AUVSI to Provide Certified TOP operators with Lower Drone Insurance Rates
Palo Alto, California, September 3rd, 2019 SkyWatch.AI Drone Insurance, a leading risk-assessment and InsurTech platform for the drone industry, announced today its partnership with AUVSI, the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems. With the rapid increase of commercial drone pilots, quality training and education are essential components in the safe advancement of the commercial UAS industry. Through the partnership, drone pilots who complete AUVSI’s Trusted Operator Program (TOP) level 2 and 3, will be eligible for lower insurance rates with SkyWatch.AI based on their flight experience and professional education. “We are proud to team up with AUVSI and support TOP pilots” said Tomer Kashi, SkyWatch.AI CEO and Co-Founder. “In the past year, we worked closely with thousands of drone pilots from multiple industries throughout the US. It is clear to us that extensive education, such as that provided by TOP, is crucial in the Read More »
Drone Technology in the World of Entertainment
Entertainment As We Know It:Since the establishment of the film industry, storytellers, screenwriters, and producers have always looked for ways to make movies all the more enjoyable. Movies and films enable audiences worldwide to feel almost every emotion, experience different cultures and develop their imaginations. Motion picture through advanced technologies has allowed the entertainment industry to continuously advance overtime. Throughout history, cinematographers and photographers alike utilized everything from motion toys, cranes, helicopters, and planes to capture beautiful aerial shots for unique movie scenes. While these technologies paved the way, they also made movie sets all the more expensive. Getting the perfect shot always requires multiple tries and numerous hands on deck. Fast forward to today: drone technology has made aerial photography much more accessible and affordable! Almost all production sets are bound to have a drone and drone photographer handy. The Read More »
Successful inspection flights in the North Sea, Germany
Aero Enterprise uses its new developed helicopter drone for offshore inspection operations for the first time. Read More »
Airspace Access: Integrated or Segregated?
9 October 2019 - 10 October 2019No.4 Hamilton PlaceConference Read More »
Artificial Intelligence finds damages on wind turbines
Aero Enterprise is specialized in airborne inspection of damages on wind turbines as well as on other vertical objects, such as dams, chimneys or bridges. For this purpose, the self-developed helicopter drone AERO-SensorCopter acquires high-resolution image data. These image data are converted into a damage report using the proprietary AERO-Software Package.Since 2017 Aero Enterprise has been offering a comprehensive software package for the analysis, interpretation and digital reporting of damages on wind turbines. In May 2019 the AERO-Software Package has been enhanced with a powerful feature: In a record time of just 6 months, the Aero Enterprise software engineers developed a machine learning tool based on AI (Artificial Intelligence). For this purpose, a total of more than one thousand damage patterns from existing flight operations on wind turbines were marked manually, image by image. Then, the type of damage is determined according to an industry standard classification.Unlike Read More »
GreaterBayX 8-Week Cross-Border Mobility/Smart-City Scalerator Project Looking For Applicants: Investment and Business Opportunities Available.
Dear Drone Major Group Community, An excellent last-minute opportunity from our partner, GreaterBayX, based in Hong Kong and China. The core information is as follows: Read More »
JUMPSTARTER COMPETITION
TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES NEEDED: WIN MAJOR INVESTMENT PLUS $100,000 IN CASH JUMPSTARTERLevel39 (where we have an office in 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf) have been working with Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund on their innovation competition: JUMPSTARTER.Here's the deal - if you participate in the pitching competition taking place at Level39, September 16-17, you will be considered for the chance to pitch at the Grand Finale in Hong Kong, February 11-12, next year. The winning five companies presenting at this event take home a share of $5m investment commitment and $100,000 in cash. Read More »
Drone Collision Avoidance for Beginners
Drone collision avoidance and obstacle detection are key focus points in the booming global UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) market. The industry is prospected to top $11.2 billion in 2020, as hobbyists and professionals alike come to understand the attraction to, and commercial benefits of drone technology. Yet costly impacts still represent a real concern for commercial and industrial users alike.The lightweight nature of drone airframes and flight components generally makes them intolerant to impacts, which typically require costly repairs – a risk that is reflected by the cost of insurance. One rugged solution to the risk of impact-related damage is to cage the entire vehicle in a protective structure that absorbs the force of collisions: otherwise known as collision-tolerance. While this has proven useful in working environments with enclosed spaces that are generally unsafe for workers, it cannot provide the level of precision offered by smart drone collision avoidance systems.Dro Read More »