Show notes
U.S. Navy selects the Boeing MQ-25 Stingray, Boeing conducts synchronized drone flights in Australia, an IBM drone delivery patent, an FAA Drone Integration Pilot Program update, a new Cape May County drone facility, flying drones in India, and drones and law enforcement.
UAV News
Boeing has won the $805 million contract for four MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tankers. The company will design, develop, fabricate, test, deliver, and support the aircraft. First flight is planned for 2021 with initial operational capability on carrier decks in 2024. An eventual fleet of 72 Stingrays is planned, at a total program cost of around $13 billion.
Boeing completed autonomous air missions with five UAV test beds. Only six months ago, Boeing established a large autonomous systems development program in Queensland in partnership with small and medium-sized companies, issuing AU$2.3 million in contracts with 14 Queensland businesses. Boeing has partnered with the Queensland Government under the Advance Queensland Autonomous Systems Platform Technology Project.
The patent contemplates a drone that detects the “cognitive state” of office workers to determine when they need coffee. The drone could then lower cups of coffee on an “unspooling string,” or deliver hot coffee in a sealed bag, or even dispense coffee directly into the worker’s cup.
A previously unknown and uncontacted indigenous Brazilian tribe was captured in a drone video. The images come from a three-week expedition in 2017 but were just released. The expedition was responding to reports of illegal hunters threatening tribes.
Under the FAA’s Drone Integration Pilot Program (IPP), Matternet and WakeMed Health & Hospitals in Raleigh, North Carolina are flying a drone to collect data on flying in urban environments. The Matternet drone flew autonomously on a pre-programmed route over people carrying vials of water (standing in for blood) and other medical samples.
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that Cape May County was awarded a $3 million grant to build a 20,000-square-foot multi-tenant drone facility. Officials believe this will create 130 jobs and generate $1.9 million in private investments. Each tenant will get a 5,000 square-feet space for offices and manufacturing. No word on project start date or completion date.
Civilian use of drones in India are currently restricted by the Directorate General of Civilian Aviation, but now the Ministry of Civil Aviation has finalized a national drone policy. “No Drone Zones” are defined around airports, near the international border, certain government buildings, strategic locations, military installations, and other locations. Registration is required for owners and pilots, and permission is required for each flight through an app that provides instant digital permits. Any drone without a digital permit to fly will not be able to take off.
PoliceOne offers advice for law enforcement: know who can fly what and where, learn the difference between hobbyist and commercial drone operations, establish protocol for drones, get UAS and counter-UAS training, and treat counter-UAS like every other threat law enforcement faces.
The Denver Police Department recently bought a drone to photograph crime scenes and collect potential evidence. But public concern over invasion of privacy and civil liberty issues and caused the Denver police program to abandon the program for now. Recently, Fairfax County in Virginia delayed its drone program over citizen worries.
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