Month: August 2015
Can Taiwan create innovative companies like DJI?
A DJI booth at the 8th International Model Exhibition in Shenzhen, April 3, 2014. (File photo/CFP)
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) guided by a Chinese tourist crashed into the Taipei 101 skyscraper last month, provoking national security concerns.
In fact, there have been numerous reports of drone incidents around the world since last year. Earlier this year, a small drone crashed in a White House garden, spurring calls for tighter regulations of the technology because it could be abused by terrorists.
In April, a drone bearing trace amounts of radioactive cesium was found on the helicopter pad on the roof of the Japanese prime minister’s office.
The use of drones has also been frequently reported in war-plagued Nigeria, Syria and Pakistan.
Thanks to breakthrough technology, drones can take off and land even in highly sensitive areas and could spur the next phase of the logistics revolution.
Notably, all of the UAVs used are made by Shenzhen-based DJI Innovations, which specializes in the development of remote-control quad-copters.
DJI ranked third on the list of the world’s top 10 most innovative companies of 2015 in the consumer electronics field, behind internet giant Google and electric-car manufacturer Tesla.
DJI has also been regarded by some as the only technology company other than Apple that can dictate world trends.
Currently, DJI controls 80% of the global market for civilian drones.
Founded in 2006 by Wang Tao shortly after he graduated from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with the support of a research team from the university, DJI is the worldwide leader in UAV flight control systems.
The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to aid in the use of unmanned aerial systems, both professional systems and those used by hobbyists.
Wang was originally keen to set up his first start-up in Hong Kong, but his efforts went nowhere partly because of a lack of funding and a lack of government support.
Wang was forced to give up Hong Kong as his first choice for his start-up and later launched DJI in Shenzhen. Today, Shenzhen is not only the home of DJI but also a hub for many other key technology businesses because it hosts several individual supply chains specific to producers there.
In 2010, however, the university of Hong Kong invested HK$2 million (US$258,000) in the company, showing the close relations between the two parties.
It is also hoped Taiwan can create innovative start-ups like DJI by offering financial support and relaxing regulations governing the enrollment of its own students as well as Chinese students in Taiwan’s universities to allow them to innovate and contribute to Taiwan’s economy after graduation.
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150822000075&cid=170
Aerial photo comparison, Sony A7RII vs Sony Rx100 vs DJI Fc350
Pope Francis has a drone of his very own
A group of students from a Jesuit school in Rome presented Pope Francis with a drone of his very own Thursday, continuing what has become a delightful tradition of giving the pope cool gifts.
And this drone isn’t just any drone: It’s tricked out with the colors of the Vatican flag (yellow and white) and bears the papal emblem. Francis was meeting Thursday with the Community of Christian Life in Italy and the Missionary League for Italian Students.
The drone is supposed to represent “the values of technology in the service of man,” according to a statement from the school released to the Italian news agency ANSA. “Drones have proved useful to check the condition of structures [in the earthquake zone in Nepal] and study paths from bringing relief to people who need this in remote villages.”
It’s unclear what the pontiff plans to do with the drone, but the same could be said about many of the gifts he has been given.
Francis received all sorts of unusual things for his birthday in December, including a giant Looney Tunes card, some maté and a group tango.
People also like to give the pope expensive gifts. The Vatican put some of those gifts up for auction in January — including a Fiat, a designer hat, an espresso machine and a bicycle — to raise money for the poor.
In March, a Naples pizzeria chased down the popemobile to hand the pontiff a custom pie, shortly after Francis said in an interview that he would love “to go out one day, without being recognized, and go to a pizzeria for a pizza.” One of the pizzeria’s owners later told ABC News that Francis told him he’d eat the pizza later.
Gulf Unmanned Systems Center public outreach
by Patrick Egan
Gulf Unmanned System Center, LLC (GUSC) visited the Tallahassee Museum in Tallahassee, Florida to educate the youth on unmanned vehicles and the uses of this technology. GUSC Education Manager, Bruce Buckley and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Program Manager, John Watts spoke to the children attending a Science Camp about the uses of all Unmanned Systems.
Mr. Buckley and Mr. Watts are both former contractors for the United States Military. Both representatives of GUSC agreed it was a great experience educating children about the positive uses of drones. Mr. Buckley said “I look forward to teaching people about the uses of this technology from the commercial side of its uses. Mr. Watts agreed, and stated “It’s really cool to start an outreach program like this to educate the community, especially the youth”.
GUSC and Tallahassee Community College (TCC) started a 9 week introduction course on Unmanned Systems in June 2015. The interest in the subject demanded a second course offering July, with a third expected to begin in September. An advanced course is being developed and is expected to be available early 2016.
Gulf Unmanned Systems Center owner and CEO, Bruce McCormack, said “It is such a great opportunity to educate the youth that may one day work for GUSC”. Mr. McCormack added “This is just the beginning of GUSC outreach program. We have also been working with the Franklin County Library to do a free adult education program and youth workshops”. Mr. McCormack stated, “We have some of the best instructors in the Gulf Coast area. Our instructors have vast experience with unmanned systems (aerial, surface, underwater, and ground) dealing with the military. That translates into results”.
Mr. Buckley concurred, “I see a real win-win for the people in our area from job creation to education. That’s what GUSC adds to the community”. Mr. Watts added “From college curriculum to outreach programs this is a good start to educate our local peers and have fun teaching them about what we do”!
GUSC is already preparing for additional summer outreach activities to be scheduled in 2016. If you are interested in learning more about GUSC, the outreach program, educational programs, or job opportunities you may contact us by phone or e-mail.
Gulf Unmanned Systems Center, LLC
206 Highway 98 West
Carrabelle, FL 32322
850-720-1500
http://www.suasnews.com/2015/08/37963/gulf-unmanned-systems-center-public-outreach/
Video: Being a Responsible Drone Pilot
Congressman Polis Honors UAS Professionals for Startup Day Across America
Broomfield, Colorado: In honor of Startup Day across America, Congressman Jared Polis, Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Broomfield’s Mayor Pro-Tem Greg Stokes, City Council Members and city staff honored UAS Professionals as a startup company leading the UAS industry in Colorado. UAS Professionals is a FAA approved drone operator headquartered in Broomfield that provides support and training to individuals and businesses wanting to utilize dronetechnology. In addition, they have founded a non-profit organization, Coalition of UAS Professionals, to represent the voice of the small business operator. With no membership fees, the nonprofit provides updates of all pending and passed legislation affecting the UAS industry. In addition, the Coalition provides a forum for members to share ideas and a means to help shape the future of this burgeoning industry.
Startup Day Across America was founded by Reps. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Darrell Issa (R-CA) in 2013. The day is designed to recognize the innovation created by startups across the country and connect elected officials with startups in their communities so they can learn about the challenges new companies face. Startups add enormous value to our local and national economies, and they are responsible for a majority of the net job growth in the U.S. They will ultimately be the engine that drives the tremendous economic impact UAS is poised to achieve.
At the event, Congressman Polis, Mayor Pro-Tem Greg Stokes, and budding entrepreneur, Jack Bonneau (9 years old) faced off in a drone flying completion. Following a bit of tutelage from UAS Professionals, each took to the “gauntlet” – a UAV obstacle course requiring precision flying. Scored by 3 volunteer judges, the competition was very tight, but in the end, young Jack edged out the Congressman and Mayor Pro-Tem receiving perfect scores of 10-10-10 after landing his drone unassisted.
“Today’s garage startups will be employing thousands of employees in the next 5 to 10 years,” said Congressman Polis. “Supporting Startup Day Across America is a highlight every year for the City and County of Broomfield, as we have so many small businesses that contribute everyday to our thriving economy,” expressed Broomfield Mayor Pro-Tem Greg Stokes. “We know how important it is to support startups like UAS Professionals who, in turn, support local startup businesses themselves and jobs. It was a very fun day!”
UAS Professionals offers a full service solution to the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) Industry. The company provides a range of training solutions, from the first-time hobbyist who wants to master the skills of flying drones safely to the commercial operator who needs certification in areas such as infrared imaging or forensic aerial photography. UAS Professionals also provides business support to startups, including helping them obtain legal approval to operate commercially. As one of the first companies in the state of Colorado to receive authorization from the FAA, UAS Professionals conducts mission operations for organizations that need aerial data collection – ranging from photography, videography and GIS mapping to multispectral analysis.
“We are honored that Congressman Polis is recognizing UAS Professionals as a leading startup company in the drone industry. The potential of this technology is tremendous – analysts estimate that the economic impact just for Colorado over the next 18 months will exceed $232 million with the creation of 1,190 new jobs. But the only way to make this a reality is to go above and beyond public expectations, driving the industry to operate at the utmost levels of safety and professionalism,” said Nathan Ruff, Chief Operating Officer, UAS Professionals.
About UAS Professionals:
UAS Professionals provides aerial data collection solutions, drone training, and small businesses assistance filing 333 exemption waivers with the FAA so they can conduct commercial operations legally. UAS Professionals are the founders of a 501(c)3 non-profit organization The Coalition of UAS Professionals, which provides education and assistance to the small business operators who will ultimately be the economic engine powering the drone industry. For more information on UAS Professionals, please visit www.UASPI.com, email Nathan@uaspi.com or call 720-330-8320 x6.
Flying Robots Replace Oil Roughnecks
“We decided to focus on oil and gas because the barriers to entry are very high, but there are real problems to be solved and the economics were better, despite the very low oil price,” Blackford says.
Business, Blackford says, is booming. Although the first drone inspections were carried out five years ago, demand for Sky Futures’ and Cyberhawk’s services has surged, more than doubling in the last year alone.
At the start of 2015 the Federal Aviation Administration finally relaxed its stance on drones flying in U.S. airspace, giving companies like Sky Futures access to the world’s largest offshore market. ”We will continue doubling, if not tripling, revenues over the next three to five years,” says Blackford.
Drone Data
Inspections involve sending one drone operator and one engineer out to a rig to fly a small aerial vehicle around the platform, building a 3D model of the structure and mapping any anomalies.
“What we can capture in five days using a drone could take eight weeks with human inspectors,” Blackford says. “We can even inspect the flare stacks while in production, which saves money.” Avoiding a shutdown can save more than $4 million, the company says.
Once the data is captured, it’s analyzed using proprietary algorithms and presented through an online portal, instead of a traditional paper report. Each flaw is flagged in red, amber or green, based on urgency. Thanks to lasers, Sky Futures’ drones can track cracks and corrosion and map how they evolve over time. They can even sniff for gas leaks.
Cyberhawk, founded in 2008 in Livingston, Scotland, offers a similar service to oil and gas companies as well as inspecting renewable energy plants with wind turbines, communications towers, pipelines and railway lines and bridges.
Cyberhawk’s commercial director, Phil Buchan, says his customers don’t care about the drones, only the data: “They care about the information you can give them and the decisions you can help them make.”
Blackford agrees: “We view ourselves as a data business and not a drone business.”
North Carolina-based PrecisionHawk has served the oil and gas industry by mapping the ice roads across remote areas of Alaska. In the past, coming within five miles of a polar bear den would have meant the replanning of routes at a cost of millions of dollars to avoid the animals. PrecisionHawk’s drones can identify the dens in advance.
Automation
The next milestone for inspection drones is automating their flight. “We still have to send out an oil and gas inspection engineer and a drone pilot. Our vision is total automation,” says Blackford.
Trouble is, drone technology isn’t yet good enough.
Jeremy Howitt, who oversees drone research at Qinetiq, says, “Once aircraft know where other vehicles and obstacles are and they have the ability to safely avoid collisions and areas of known traffic density, it will open up many new applications.”
Beyond oil and gas, there are plenty of other applications for these airborne inspectors.
“Oil and gas is a big vertical, but the same technology applies to lots of industries — wind farms, solar, other refineries, pipelines and other fixed infrastructure,” says Simon Menashy, investment director at venture capital firm MMC Ventures, which invested $4 million in Sky Futures in May. That’s before even looking at construction and agriculture. “There is lots of opportunity,” he adds.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-21/flying-robots-replace-oil-roughnecks
Two members of the Unmanned Aerial System Centre of Excellence join forces for a precision agriculture project
Alma, August 20th, 2015– The management team of Agrinova (Alma, Quebec) and Hovercam-Media (Saint-Félicien, Quebec), two members of the Unmanned Aerial System Centre of Excellence,are proud to announce their new project “Using precision multispectral aerial imagery as a productivity diagnostic tool in the culture of wild blueberries” has been accepted by the NationalScience and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for a total value of $25,000.
This project combines blueberry culture research and UAV applications.
In a wild blueberry crop (Vaccinium angustifolium), numerous causes have a direct impact on blueberry plants which may cause significant losses. Thus, the gathering of plants is uneven and sparse for different reasons, such as genetic variability (clones), the presence of weeds, the soil conditions or poorly adapted terrain features. Being unable to explain the reasons behind theses phenomena’s, it is currently very difficult for companies to carry out a practical and proper treatment
adapted to the specificity of the field.
Under the supervision of Agrinova, the main objective of this project is to experiment using low altitude aerial imagery as a mapping tool for blueberry fields, and analyse the variability of ground cover and as projected performance indicator. The project will also be used to demonstrate the numerous possibilities for agriculture, using unmanned aerial vehicules (UAVs) and remote sensing aerial imagery.
This research project will be conducted during La Bleuetière des Blancs’ 2015 crop season, in the
Municipality of l’Ascension, Lac-Saint-Jean. This is not their first innovative project which makes
them a key partner in this project.
http://www.suasnews.com/2015/08/37952/two-members-of-the-unmanned-aerial-system-centre-of-excellence-join-forces-for-a-precision-agriculture-project/
AMA issues drone challenge
August 20, 2015
By Jim Moore
Students in the AMA UAS4STEM program will build quadcopters similar to the one pictured here, seen at a recent, unrelated event in New York. Photo by Jim Moore.
Students across the country are invited to team up for a new challenge from the Academy of Model Aeronautics, building and flying small unmanned aircraft for a search-and-rescue missions and learning a little science, technology, engineering, and math along the way.
Quadcopter kits available through the UAS4STEM program will be available in the fall, and teams of up to eight can register online now. Training, insurance, equipment, entry fees, and AMA memberships are all included in the $1,995 cost per team. Everything needed to build and support a Quadzilla quadcopter is included in the kit, though teams will need to supply their own laptops. Online training will cover the safe (and legal) operation of the unmanned aircraft, and the coursework is mandatory (it must be completed before the kit is shipped to the team). Participants will have access to online videos explaining how to build and fly the quadcopter, and prepare to use it to find lost hikers.
AMA flying sites around the country will host the search-and-rescue challenge in the spring of 2016, tasking the students with searching a predefined area for hikers lost in a remote area.
AMA “continues to embrace new technology and increase its educational efforts,” the organization noted in a press release, and has granted nearly $900,000 to date in scholarships for youth members pursuing higher education. The organization has about 50,000 youth members participating in its education programs.