Bio-inspired drones are getting attention, a general contractor receives a waiver for flights over people with a parachute-equipped drone, six Israeli drone companies, a drone-mounted flamethrower, BVLOS critical infrastructure inspection, and an online drone survey.

UAV NewsForget props and fixed wings. New bio-inspired drones mimic birds, bats and bugs

Bio-inspired drones are being investigated by a number of researchers. A Northeastern University roboticist is working on a bat-inspired robot called Bat Bot. Animal Dynamics of Oxford, England, is working with the United Kingdom’s Defense Science and Technology Laboratory to build a dragonfly-like drone called Skeeter. Harvard University researchers are working on RoboBee which weighs less than a paper clip and features two pairs of solar-powered wings controlled by artificial muscles.

Video: Advanced Robotic Bat Can Fly Like the Real Thing

ParaZero Client Gets FAA Waiver for UAV Flights Over People

ParaZero Technologies Ltd announced the FAA has approved a waiver for flights over people to Hensel Phelps, a large general contractor. Hensel Phelps will use ParaZero’s ASTM F3322-18 compliant SafeAir Phantom Parachute System. The system monitors flight parameters for anomalies and when critical failures are identified, the rotors are stopped and the parachute is deployed. According to the FAA, this process is scalable and available to other applicants who propose to use the same drone and parachute combination. The FAA will require each applicant to provide the testing, documentation, and statement of compliance listed in ASTM 3322-18 in their applications using the same drone and parachute combination. ASTM 3322-18 is the Standard Specification for Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Parachutes.

From Apple Picking to Security Details: 6 Israeli Companies Developing Specialized Drones

This article describes six Israeli drone companies:

• The Tevel Aerobotics Technologies Ltd. autonomous drone has a one-meter long mechanical claw which can pick apples and oranges.
• Flytrex Aviation Ltd. has a cellular data communication module allowing operators to remotely control any drone using a mobile app.
• SkyX Ltd. modifies commercially available drones to become agricultural spraying machines.
• Construction tech startup Civdrone Ltd. turns commercially available drones into land surveying, measuring, and marking machines for construction sites.
• Airobotics Ltd. develops automatic drones for security details and land surveys at factories, refineries, and mining sites.
• Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) has a “suicide drone” called Rotem that uses a grenade to attack targets in combat situations.

How can a Flamethrower on a Drone be Utilized by Commercial UAS Operators?

Flamethrower manufacturer Throwflame is now selling a drone-attachable flamethrower, the TF-19 Wasp, available for personal and commercial use such as controlling weeds, ground-clearing, ice and snow melting/clearing, and grassland management.

Soaring Eagle Imaging Performs 51 Mile BVLOS Utility Inspection

Soaring Eagle Imaging (SEI) utilizes unmanned technology in inspection applications for enterprise clients. They have been granted 17 emergency BVLOS waivers in the past and helped with critical infrastructure inspection near Baton Rouge after Hurricane Barry hit Louisiana on July 13th, 2019. SEI is a veteran-owned and operated UAS company that offers drone aerial services, such as image capture, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), aviation and FAA regulations.

Does a drone flying overhead make you uncomfortable? The NCDOT wants to know

The N.C. Department of Transportation wants to gauge public opinion about the growing use of drones and has created an online survey. Please support NCDOT’s efforts and contribute your input.