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A MEDICAL CHECK FOR YOUR UTILITY
Colorado Aerial Imaging’s insights to being a successful DSP. “I see a lot of people worrying about drones invading their privacy. It never worried me much. My life is just not that exciting – people flying over my house; they won’t see anything that they could sell to a news outlet and make good money. I’m not Tom Cruise.” – Scott Fredericksen, CEO, Colorado Aerial Imaging Though he might be a few movie-deals behind, Scott Fredericksen has the edge on Cruise, when it comes to aviation expertise. With 21 years in the US Army National Guard flying BlackHawk’s (UH-60), Huey’s (UH-1) and Scouts (OH-58s), he knows his way around a cockpit. He even ended up as the Aviation Battalion Commander in Colorado, before he left to become an entrepreneur four years ago. Joined forces With a degree in Aerospace engineering and a professional software engineer, it made sense to Scott, to start a company in the drone industry. He partnered with a former UH-60 Blackhawk Read More »
Dutch Drone Delta: Dutch consortium is preparing for Urban Air Mobility
Drones have the potential to reduce traffic congestion, to automatically inspect and secure ports and to deliver medicines at the right time and location. To ensure that this happens in a safe, efficient and sustainable manner, leading industrial parties in the Netherlands announced the launch of the Dutch Drone Delta consortium during the Amsterdam Drone Week.Ambition for the Netherlands The Dutch Drone Delta focuses on creating opportunities for the Netherlands in the field of future passenger and freight transport through the air with drones (Urban Air Mobility). The consortium will work on the essential requirements for the successful integration of drones and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in the Dutch society, including social embracement and safe integration into the airspace. By using drones for medical deliveries, surveillance and inspections of ports and ultimately the transport of cargo and people by air the socially added value will be shown to the general public.The foundation Read More »
Digital Catapult announces Platinum Award winners
This week Digital Catapult celebrated the launch of the inaugural Platinum Awards and the announcement of our eight winners. Digital Catapult's Platinum Awards is a prestigious new initiative recognising and celebrating the most impactful advanced digital technology startups and scaleups, adjudicated by an eminent, independent judging panel. The Platinum Awards celebrate the best companies that have been part of Digital Catapult’s industry-leading programmes: CreativeXR, Augmentor, Machine Intelligence Garage, 5G Testbed Accelerator Programme, LPWAN Testbed, Immersive Labs, Cyber 101 and the Future Networks Lab. We were thrilled to welcome so many of the companies that have worked with Digital Catapult over the last five years to celebrate the 24 shortlisted startups and scaleups and to join us in recognising the achievements of the eight winning companies - the stars of Digital Catapult’s programmes. The winners are (in alphabetical order): axial Read More »
Flying motorbikes showcased at Amsterdam Drone Week
Amsterdam Drone Week is getting ready to show two innovative flying machines designed and created by students from TU Delft University. Both are single-person aerial vehicles that look like flying motorbikes. Both futuristic vehicles are also creating waves in the international media as they are compact, quiet, and electrical. Startups Talaria and Silverwing will give visitors a glimpse of what Personal Air Mobility will look like in future. In recent months, a team of over 30 students from the Talaria startup worked overtime to complete their electrically powered aerial vehicle. Their Hermes II prototype is now ready and will be shown to the public for the first time at Amsterdam Drone Week. The flying machine is 2 m tall and the diameter of the rotors is approximately 2.6 m. Alexander Essle, one of the students: ‘This first prototype is intended to function as a single-person flying machine. The ultimate goal is to have it fly fully autonomously’. The Hermes II looks somethi Read More »
Medical drone showcased at Amsterdam Drone Week
KPN provides communication data links for test flights The prototype drone used for trials with medical drones will be showcased at the Amsterdam Drone Week at the beginning of December. Last week, the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam gave the green light for the trial named the Medical Drone Service. KPN is involved in this innovative project as a technology partner.The Erasmus MC and Sanquin Blood Bank, in collaboration with ANWB, PostNL and technology partners Avy (drone developer) and KPN are investigating how drones can be used for medical applications such as transporting blood, medicines, and diagnostic samples to patients and care institutions. Within a period of three years, the partners involved in this collaboration aim to determine what kind of contribution drones can actually make to society in ensuring that care is delivered at the right time and the right place. Connectivity In the coming period, ANWB will be the party actually carrying out the test flights in order to dem Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Coverdrone Launch Bespoke ROV Insurance
By Jess Brown • July 30, 2019We are extremely excited to announce that today we are launching our newest product – bespoke marine equipment insurance, covering remotely operated (ROV) and autonomous underwater (AUV) equipment!Our cover is unique as many other types of insurance can offer marine equipment insurance; however, the majority will exclude equipment whilst being tested, worked upon and whilst in use in water. We can also insure similar equipment that is used within the marine equipment market which can include renewable energy devices, as well as equipment typically used by the oil and gas industry on platforms or onshore. Read More »
Space Drones Have Arrived
Well, technically, space drones have been around for a while since traditional satellites are in fact drones*.Recently, however, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) showcased a fully autonomous drone system that can operate with zero gravity. The “JEM Ball,” which weighs only 1 kilogram and is equipped with highly sensitive cameras, is already being used and tested at the International Space Station.The goal of the technology is twofold: decreasing the amount of time that astronauts spend taking/transmitting photos and increasing the amount of area photographed. Since it is small in size and easily manoeuvred (both from space and from ground controllers), the JEM Ball’s range extends beyond that of the astronauts. The drone can navigate into small crevices or dangerous locations, sending real-time photo evidence down to the researchers on Earth. A real-world example of drone technology revolutionizing the way in which we live and work. Read More »
Drones and Forestry
The application of drone technology in the forestry industry offers significant advantages to those who embrace it. This exciting and rapidly evolving technology possesses the capability to capture high-resolution images as part of an even larger collation of data that can enable organisations and researchers alike to better understand and track the health of forests and their inhabitants.Drones can monitor tree health, track animal locations and migration patterns, even locate or communicate with lost or malicious persons. The technologies are far more efficient and cost-effective compared to the traditional methods of data collection. Additionally, agile drones can reach places that are dangerous or impossible for humans to safely navigate. To note a few applications, we will discuss drones in tree disease detection and prevention, wildlife monitoring and human interaction (security, as well as search and rescue). Read More »
How Drones Helped Save Notre Dame
Paris used to be a no-fly zone – well, for drones that is. The city, rich in history, art, fashion, to name a few, is known for taking cultural protectionism very seriously, which may explain the aversion to allowing high tech devices, like drones, to operate in their skies.But we have to wonder now if that opinion may change?When Notre Dame went up in flames close to two weeks ago, the world watched in awe as emergency services organisations struggled to gain control over the fire. While this is and continues to be an undeniable blow to history on a global scale, the event marked a significant milestone for the drone industry. Firefighters, desperate to quell the flames and preserve what they could of the landmark, looked to drones for safety and guidance. DJI drones equipped with delicate, yet powerful imaging devices helped to add information, insight and data to the strategy of the crews on the ground while allowing them to keep a safe distance from the scene. Utilising images an Read More »
SKYCORP & The Bionic Eye: Upgrade Your Drone System with Hydrogen Technology
SKYCORP, a Drone Major supplier and the provider of Europe’s only commercially available hydrogen drone (e-Drone Zero) has recently announced a joint service relationship with The Bionic Eye – a project they are calling H2DroneUnlock. This strategic collaboration will provide current drone hardware providers with the opportunity to revolutionise their offerings with the integration of a Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered system.To SKYCORP, the benefits of Hydrogen Fuel Cell power (as opposed to traditional LiPO batteries) include the following: 3+ times longer flight endurance on multicopters Refuelling reduced to 1-2 minutes Improved workflow Improved flight characteristics Zero emissions Read More »
Fly Your Drone Safely with Moonrock Insurance and Consortiq
Moonrock Insurance, a Drone Major Group supplier, is excited to announce a new partnership with Consortiq to promote safer drone flying for all of Moonrock's customers. The details of Moonrock's news are below: Drone safety hit the news in dramatic style in December. Christmas travel plans for thousands were disrupted and ruined, following sights of a drone flying in restricted airspace around Gatwick Airport. Following that incident, calls for greater restrictions on the use of drones resulted in the government announcing new powers for the police when it comes to drone use including the use of fixed penalty notices. What impact the new rules will have is unclear with further disruption experienced at Heathrow on 8 January following more drone sightings. Read More »
What 5G Means for the Drone Industry
5G has been the subject of significant recent media scrutiny, with critics claiming that the high frequency, ultra-fast service is dangerous to overall health, while supporters assert its potential to revolutionise life as we know it by offering 10-20x faster internet speeds than its predecessor, 4G. Regardless of what side you may fall on, it is important to understand the basics of what 5G is and how, if implemented, it could affect activities like drone use.So, what is 5G? In the most basic sense, 5G is the next generation of internet connectivity. It dramatically increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the pre-existing radio spectrum, allowing more users to access the network simultaneously, whilst maintaining a strong and fast connection. Essentially, 5G means a stronger mobile internet connection, lightning fast web searches and almost immediate connection between users, especially in condensed urban areas. The applications are vast, ranging from seamless data sharing betwe Read More »
Are Drones the Farm Aids of the Future?
The days of small, recreational drones are long behind us, with commercial applications of drone technology expanding at an exciting, and often unforeseen, pace. It seems that every day there is a new prototype, a new business or a new application for drone and counter-drone technology, further sparking public interest in the true capabilities of this revolutionary technology.A recent, and very applicable, development comes in the form of crop monitoring. In previous years, monitoring large crops fields required large-scale piloted aircraft and bulky sensors; however, the so-called “Fourth Industrial Revolution” has introduced technologies that promise to make personal and professional tasks far more accessible. Drones are an important component of this revolution, as their applications in farming are producing substantial benefits for both farmers and the wider population.UAV’s equipped with advanced imaging sensors are now able to scan expansive fields and give detailed reports Read More »
A SKYCORP announcement - e-Drone Zero - 2019 Deliveries
A SKYCORP announcement - e-Drone Zero - 2019 Deliveries Almost 3 months have passed since the unveiling of Europe’s first commercially available hydrogen powered drone e-Drone Zero in London’s Commercial UAV Show last November by SKYCORP and we would like to start off by thanking everyone for the tremendously overwhelmingly positive feedback and response. Read More »