The Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions (CCDB) has developed a tool for the hibernation of FPV drones of the Joker line, which allows unmanned aerial vehicles to go into sleep mode for up to several weeks after being placed in an attack position.
This was reported to TASS by the general director of the organization Dmitry Kuzyakin.
“A tool for the hibernation of FPV drones of the Joker line and its top model, Ultimatum, was developed and implemented in the CCDB. A drone with a hibernator can take a position to attack and literally go into hibernation for several weeks. On the air, the sleeping drone does not manifest itself in any way. As a rule, dominant heights, roofs of buildings or other tall structures are chosen. When the time comes, he doesn’t have to cover the distance for the goal. The drone is already in place and all it needs is to turn on and attack,”
Kuzyakin said.
According to him, the hibernation tool allows you to minimize the time to prepare the device for an attack.
“Time is saved for the flight. A few seconds pass between turning on the drone and the attack, which leaves no chance of launching counteraction systems. One FPV pilot can place, and then “wake up” and consistently apply up to 15 “sleeping” drones,”
the specialist stressed.
Kuzyakin noted that the CCDB is working ahead of technology in the field of FPV drones.
“We are on the threshold of the FPV revolution in armaments. Now, in a situation of a stable front, the scenarios that we see in Telegram channels are most in demand: attacks on enemy strongholds and hunting for armored vehicles. But if you look at the FPV tool more broadly and improve the functionality, you can get ahead of the enemy not only in the technique itself, but also in the scenarios of its application,”
said the CEO of the organization.
The head of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation clarified that cooperation with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation regarding the combat use of FPV systems has been conducted since the spring of 2021.
“The first results and the first combat experience were obtained in March 2022. Now the work of the center is aimed at expanding the functionality and scenarios for the use of FPV drones. For all the time of its operation, there was not a single loss from among the FPV pilots trained by the Central Research Bureau,”
Kuzyakin said.
The center is based in Zhukovsky, develops and manufactures FPV drones, and also trains specialists. The CCBI works only with law enforcement agencies. The center is self-funded.
Hermeus has accepted its first F100 engine from Pratt & Whitney. Set to be integrated into the enhanced Chimera II turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) propulsion system, this powerful engine component marks a critical milestone in Hermeus’ development of Darkhorse which is set to unlock new possibilities in both military and commercial hypersonic applications.
Recognizing propulsion as the critical challenge in achieving hypersonic flight, Hermeus has been dedicated to the development of its proprietary turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine architecture without diluting their efforts in reconstructing already proven and reliable components. The F100 will propel the unmanned Darkhorse aircraft to speeds of approximately Mach 2.8. At this transition point, a ramjet will take over, propelling Darkhorse to its target velocity of Mach 5.
While developing Quarterhorse, a demonstrator vehicle designed for high-Mach flight testing, the Hermeus engine architecture has been proven through the first iteration of Chimera which utilizes the General Electric J85 as its core. Consistent with their fundamentals Hermeus has developed and manufactured in-house the other engine components including the inlet, precooler, ram burner, and bypass system. These elements will all be scaled up for integration into the advanced Chimera II.
Darkhorse will serve as a multifaceted hypersonic vehicle aimed at meeting the needs of the Department of Defense and will act as a precursor to Hermeus’ visionary civil hypersonic transport design, Halcyon.
In a recent interview Chris Johnson, Vice President for Fighter and Mobility Programs at Pratt & Whitney, expressed his confidence in the Hermeus team, stating, “At the end of the day, it’s the Hermeus team that’s going to take this whole enterprise to Mach 5.”
This collaboration between Hermeus and Pratt & Whitney brings together Pratt’s rich history in high-speed propulsion, stretching back to the development of engines like the J58 for the Mach 3-plus Lockheed SR-71, and Hermeus’ ambitious vision for the future of hypersonic aviation. Hermeus anticipates that Quarterhorse will break the speed record of the SR-71 and Darkhorse will push the boundary even further.
First integrated drone delivery solution for laboratory samples and medical supplies in Africa
Siemens Healthineers to collaborate with German drone manufacturer and service provider Wingcopter to pilot an integrated drone delivery solution for healthcare facilities throughout Africa
2-way delivery system transporting blood samples, vaccines, and pharmaceuticals to improve access to sample analysis, accelerate diagnosis and allow faster treatment for rural communities
Dubai (UAE), Weiterstadt (GER), Siemens Healthineers Middle East, Southern & Eastern Africa and Wingcopter GmbH have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop and roll out an integrated drone delivery solution to transport various laboratory diagnostics materials as well as other medical supplies in Africa. The combination of Siemens Healthineers’ Laboratory Diagnostics testing capabilities and Wingcopter’s drone delivery services will provide improved diagnostics and faster treatment. The solution will adopt the latest in digital technology provided by Siemens Healthineers and Wingcopter from highly automated drone delivery to Laboratory Information Systems which will accurately track and report results directly to the patients.
Ole Maloy, Managing Director of Siemens Healthineers Middle East, Southern & Eastern Africa, said, “At Siemens Healthineers, we are committed to providing access to care for everyone. Our partnership with Wingcopter will look to bridge the existing gaps in healthcare infrastructure, providing equitable and affordable access to diagnostic testing and medical supplies.”
The utilization of Wingcopter’s delivery drones interconnected with Siemens Healthineers’ laboratory diagnostics facilities will allow for quick and automated 2-way delivery of samples, medicine and other medical products. The battery-powered drones will be operated by Wingcopter, covering a range of 75 kilometers while maintaining the cold chain at all times. These sustainable and efficient drone delivery networks will allow for the centralization of sample testing and medical consumables distribution, resulting in improved access to diagnosis, faster turnaround time, increased efficiency and reduction in costs.
Tom Plümmer, CEO and Co-founder of Wingcopter GmbH comments, “We are convinced that we have found the perfect partner for our bold ambitions to improve and save the lives of millions of people on the African continent and beyond. Partnering with Siemens Healthineers will bring us a big step closer to the goal we are working tirelessly towards: to make a real social impact worldwide for those who need it most through fast, reliable and sustainable drone delivery networks in the sky.”
Roughly half of the world’s population still lack access to essential health services such as timely diagnostic services, according to a report from the World Bank and WHO. While accessibility for diagnostic testing will increase, the drone delivery solution will also have a positive impact on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, from access to health, to potential reductions in carbon footprint and the risk of road accidents, to capacity building on drone operations. Wingcopter intends to train and upskill local young people, creating jobs and perspectives in the fast-growing drone industry. In doing so, Wingcopter is following the company’s approach in Malawi, where operations are run by an all-local, majority-female crew.
The exact time and place of the first deployment of drone-based lab sample deliveries will be announced in due time.
Siemens Healthineers AG (listed in Frankfurt, Germany: SHL) pioneers breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. As a leading medical technology company headquartered in Erlangen, Germany, Siemens Healthineers and its regional companies are continuously developing their product and service portfolio, with AI-supported applications and digital offerings that play an increasingly important role in the next generation of medical technology. These new applications will enhance the company’s foundation in in-vitro diagnostics, image-guided therapy, in-vivo diagnostics, and innovative cancer care. Siemens Healthineers also provides a range of services and solutions to enhance healthcare providers’ ability to provide high-quality, efficient care. In fiscal 2022, which ended on September 30, 2022, Siemens Healthineers, which has approximately 69,500 employees worldwide, generated revenue of around €21.7 billion and adjusted EBIT of almost €3.7 billion. Further information is available at www.siemens-healthineers.com.
Wingcopter is a German manufacturer of unmanned, all-electric delivery drones and provider of drone delivery services, specializing in enhancing medical supply chains and the logistics of urgently needed goods. The 150-strong team is dedicated to improving and saving lives worldwide through meaningful commercial and humanitarian applications. Wingcopter is a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer and Global Innovator.
Thanks to its patented tilt-rotor mechanism and proprietary software algorithms, the Wingcopter 198 can take off and land vertically like a multicopter, while flying long distances as efficiently and quickly as a fixed-wing aircraft, even in rain and wind.
Wingcopter’s investors include the European Investment Bank, REWE Group, Salvia, XAI technologies, Xplorer Capital, Futury Capital, ITOCHU, DRONE FUND, SYNERJET, Expa, Hessen Kapital III, and Corecam Capital Partners.
In support of the U.S. Navy’s (USN) Integrated Battle Problem 2023 (IBP-23) exercise in May, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) conducted a series of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercises cooperatively with the USN Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadrons (HSM) 38, 49, 71, and 75.
GA-ASI flew a company-owned MQ-9B SeaGuardian Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) under a USN Flight Clearance. The HSM squadrons flew the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter flown out of Naval Air Station North Island off the coast of San Diego, Calif., on April 24-25, 2023.
The exercise was focused on Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) to conduct Cooperative ASW in the Southern California Offshore ASW range. During the two-day event, MH-60s dropped sonobuoys to detect a mobile training target. Using the combined SeaGuardian and MH-60R teaming concept, correlation and location of the target was expeditiously achieved and tactical reports – known as TACREPs – were then transmitted to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 34 Theater ASW Center at Naval Station Pearl Harbor via the MQ-9B crew. The CTF then directed a coordinated constructive “kill” of the simulated submarine with notional torpedoes dropped from the MH-60s. The ASW payload on the SeaGuardian uses the latest version of General Dynamics Mission Systems’ Sonobuoy Processor.
“These advanced tactics, techniques, and procedures utilizing MUM-T further reinforce the advantages to unmanned aircraft in combat with less risk to force,”
said GA-ASI Vice President of DoD Strategic Development Patrick Shortsleeve.
The IBP-23 exercise is the third time GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian has supported this annual event. These exercises generate warfighting advantages for the Fleet by providing the operational environment to work through tactics, techniques, procedures, and command and control to refine and enhance warfighting. The Fleet IBP series is led by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet and executed by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet and will continue throughout May 2023.
In support of the U.S. Navy’s (USN) Integrated Battle Problem 2023 (IBP-23) exercise in May, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) conducted a series of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercises cooperatively with the USN Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadrons (HSM) 38, 49, 71, and 75. GA-ASI flew a company-owned MQ-9B SeaGuardian® Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) under a USN Flight Clearance. The HSM squadrons flew the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter flown out of Naval Air Station North Island off the coast of San Diego, Calif., on April 24-25, 2023.
The exercise was focused on Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) to conduct Cooperative ASW in the Southern California Offshore ASW range. During the two-day event, MH-60s dropped sonobuoys to detect a mobile training target. Using the combined SeaGuardian and MH-60R teaming concept, correlation and location of the target was expeditiously achieved and tactical reports – known as TACREPs – were then transmitted to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 34 Theater ASW Center at Naval Station Pearl Harbor via the MQ-9B crew. The CTF then directed a coordinated constructive “kill” of the simulated submarine with notional torpedoes dropped from the MH-60s. The ASW payload on the SeaGuardian uses the latest version of General Dynamics Mission Systems’ Sonobuoy Processor.
“These advanced tactics, techniques, and procedures utilizing MUM-T further reinforce the advantages to unmanned aircraft in combat with less risk to force,” said GA-ASI Vice President of DoD Strategic Development Patrick Shortsleeve.
The IBP-23 exercise is the third time GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian has supported this annual event. These exercises generate warfighting advantages for the Fleet by providing the operational environment to work through tactics, techniques, procedures, and command and control to refine and enhance warfighting. The Fleet IBP series is led by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet and executed by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet and will continue throughout May 2023.
About GA-ASI
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator® RPA series and the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar. With more than seven million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent flight that enables situational awareness and rapid strike. The company also produces a variety of ground control stations and sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas. For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com
Inspired Flight and Phase One Announce New Integrated Solution
by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby
Commercial sUAS manufacturer Inspired Flight Technologies and aerial photography system developer Phase One have announced the launch of a new plug and play solution which integrates the Inspired Flight IF1200A and the Phase One P3 camera.
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The solution brings together advanced aerial imaging and flexible operations to serve a broad range of surveying and inspection applications.
“Our customer base in both the mapping and inspection markets made it clear to us that integrating tightly with Phase One is critical to their business goals and future growth,” said Inspired Flight Product Manager and Co-Founder Marc Stollmeyer. “The Phase One team was great to work with during the integration effort, and we can’t wait to bring this new capability to the market on an industry-leading NDAA-compliant UAS.”
“We’re looking forward to deepening this partnership and continuing to make Inspired Flight and Phase One one of the go-to UAV solutions for inspections,” said Phase One Unmanned Portfolio Director Michael Messerschmidt. “With this plug and play solution, customers have an exceptional opportunity to increase their data quality, end-to-end productivity, and operational safety using a proven UAV platform. We are confident that our joint solution will empower customers to conduct more efficient missions with unrivaled performance.”
The Inspired Flight and Phase One integration solution combines both market-leading products in order to provide numerous benefits, such as increased efficiency, complete camera control, and the ability to write GNSS data directly on an image. The Phase One P3 Payload features a high-resolution 100MP iXM camera specially made for UAVs. It includes a BSI sensor with a maximum dynamic range of 83dB, a rangefinder with Smart Focus, and a wide range of lenses.
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Ian attended Dominican University of California, where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and a keen interest in technology, he is now contributing to DroneLife as a staff writer.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies. For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
Unmanned systems developer UAVOS has created and integrated into its autonomous systems video processing and computer vision algorithms for automatic recognition and tracking objects. The technology is specifically geared towards the security industry with vision and recognition AI algorithms, autonomous labelling, and model training of a tracking algorithm which is based on a neural network, says the press release.
The AI algorithms work through training a tracking algoritym based on a neural network to learn the features of objects and their movements within a video sequence. The software has already successfully been integrated into Uavos’ pan-tilt platform for real-time long-range observation as well as advanced border protection, airports and other public facilities.
The system will use electro-optical (EO), light detection, and brain-inspired technologies to automatically recognize objects in environments from ground and aerial surveillance. Therefore, advanced computer vision algorithms integrated into Uavos. optoelectronic onboarding unit gyro-stabilized gimbal is used for both object detection and tracking to monitor the earth’s surface in the field of environmental protection, control of illegal logging activity, volcanic activity, etc.
The technology leader in integrated anti-drone solutions, announced has been renamed Sentrycs. Under the direction of the US fund manager, Treo Asset Management, Sentrycs’ rebrand is inspired by the company’s commitment to protecting the sky from threats caused by unauthorized commercial drones, while enabling the progress drones are bringing to society, and contributing to a healthy drone economy.
The consumer drone market is rapidly expanding and is set to be valued at $11. 6 BN by 2030. However, the proliferation of drones and the pace of technological development – ensuring each model is more precise and intelligent than the prior, opens a pathway for criminals and actors with malicious intent as well as careless or reckless users to take advantage. Solutions that address the misuse of drones must keep pace with the burgeoning capabilities drones possess. Developed and refined by Sentrycs, the integrated counter-drone solution leverages protocol analytics to autonomously detect, track, and identify drones approaching a perimeter, as well as their remote-control locations, determining if they are authorized drones to then implement remediations.
Sentrycs’ counter-drone solution has the unique capability to command, redirect and complete craft takeover when required. This best-in-class, holistic countermeasure can easily be installed and quickly deployed in any terrain. It can protect all manner of facilities, infrastructure, or convoy – large or small. Sentrycs protocol-based system is the only solution suited for dense urban areas as it does not depend on line of sight, is less affected by noise, does not interfere with communications and navigation systems and does not inflict any collateral damage. Equally important, it is a mandatory complement to any Unmanned Traffic Management system as it protects against unwanted commercial drones without disrupting the operation of authorized drones.
“In the last couple of years, we have put all of our efforts in building a technology-leading fully integrated, anti-drone solution, based on our distinct protocol analytics platform. We have taken it upon ourselves to join forces with other players in the UAV ecosystem, to build together a safe and secure drone-powered future. We are grateful for Treo Asset Management’s continued support in the journey to fulfill our vision,” said Yoav Zaltzman, CEO at Sentrycs.
Sentrycs automatically detects, tracks, identifies, takes over and safely mitigates drones’ threats, with zero collateral damage and no interference. Sentrycs is perfectly suited for urban and sensitive environments, where disrupting ongoing communication signals, GNSS or compromising people and infrastructure safety isn’t an option.
“We are thrilled to be supporting Sentrycs, said Jeffrey Dunn, Partner at Treo Asset Management. Sentrycs has developed world-class domain expertise and a significant technological edge that’s making waves in the drone ecosystem where very few players can bring a sustainable, safe, and scalable solution. The next chapter of the drone economy will see the type of innovations the industry is in desperate need of, and we are proud to join Sentrycs throughout this journey.”
About Sentrycs
As the usage of commercial drones continues to proliferate, security officers to sensitive sites are facing escalating threats. To safeguard their sky perimeters against unauthorized drones, they are seeking an effective response that is tailored to their specific needs without compromising any existing security frameworks. Ensuring the safety and protection of communities – including people, assets and critical infrastructures- necessitates a comprehensive approach that goes beyond simply implementing more technology. This multifaceted challenge can only be addressed through tight collaboration among the key stakeholders in the drone ecosystem, including regulatory bodies, unmanned traffic management players, technology vendors and drone users.
Recognizing the critical nature and complexity of this challenge, the Sentrycs team of Communications and Radio Frequency experts embarked on a mission in 2017 to develop modular solutions that can be fully customized to precisely meet the unique security requirements and drone ecosystems of each partner. By uniting its field-proven technology and expertise in global drone environments, Sentrycs is leading the way towards a safer and more secure drone-driven future.
To ensure that environmental impact considerations are integrated into the development of the airspace change masterplan, the UK Civil Aviation Authority must ensure that the masterplan is subject to a strategic environmental assessment(SEA) and a Habitats Regulations assessment (HRA). These assessments are a legal requirement.
The first stage of each of these assessments is to decide what they must cover, including the approach we propose to use. You can give us your views via our consultation on our dedicated webpage. The consultation closes on 8 May 2023.
The masterplan is being developed by the Airspace Change Organising Group to coordinate the airspace changes that will upgrade and modernise UK airspace at a system level.SW2023/063
Athena AI’s computer vision architecture, which will be integrated in the new Teal 2 military drone, can detect people and weapons at night. Image courtesy of Red Cat Holdings Inc.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico—Red Cat Holdings Inc., a military technology company integrating robotic hardware and software to protect and support the warfighter, announced Athena AI as a computer vision partner for the new Teal 2 military-grade drone.
Australia-based Athena, an AI-enabled military decision-support company, has licensed to Red Cat its proprietary computer vision architecture, which allows high-speed tracking of objects and, at slower speeds, in-depth data exploitation. Athena’s solution can identify weapons and various other objects and poses at night, as well as identification friend or foe markers, such as Cyalume HALOs and IR beacons.
Athena has spent more than three years curating and analyzing military night-fighting footage, including thermal and low light camera systems, to create computer vision architecture for warfighting after dark.
“The Teal 2 is a mission-focused military drone, and our partnership with Athena enables us to integrate the very latest computer vision technology,” said Red Cat CEO Jeff Thompson. “In military operations, every second counts, and Athena’s ability to track objects at night means our drone can deliver crucial intel to warfighters and commanders, providing rapid decision-making support.”
By integrating Athena’s technology, the Teal 2 can support danger close fire missions at night. The forward line of own troops can be detected, recognized and geolocated in comparison with the enemy, allowing for precision and safe fires on the target.
Athena also supports rapid in-field target-set updates, with a turnaround as short as 72 hours for new target-detection algorithms. This allows the warfighter to quickly respond to emerging threats and ensure their kit remains in the fight.
“Most military operations take place at night, and Athena is proud to help the Teal 2 ‘dominate the night’ by offering our computer vision architecture,” said Athena CEO Stephen Bornstein. “We’re also excited to showcase our tech to the global customer base that Red Cat has built on its reputation for exceptional products.”
In addition to Athena, Red Cat’s previously announced technology partners for the Teal 2 include Teledyne FLIR, Tomahawk Robotics, Reveal Technology and Immervision. The Teal 2 is the first sUAS to be equipped with FLIR’s new Hadron 640R sensor, optimized for nighttime operations.
Red Cat has already filled an order from U.S. Customs and Border Protection for 54 units of the Teal 2. In February, a Red Cat delegation headed by Jeff Thompson also visited NATO countries to discuss how the Teal 2 can potentially help Ukrainian forces counter Russian forces when they’re most active—after dark.
Separately, Athena announced its first export sales to the U.S. Department of Defense in January. Athena is currently demonstrating its technology at the Avalon 2023 Australian International Airshow to March 5.
