Starting in August, Pioneer Aerial Surveys, which is the wholly owned subsidiary of Global UAV Technologies, will conduct a survey for Quantum Pacific Exploration (QPX), after signing a UAV-MAG contract in Chile. For Pioneer Aerial, this will be its third international survey, and its first contract for a UAV-MAG survey in South America. “The QPX contract marks a significant step in Pioneer Aerial’s acceptance as the leader in UAV-MAG surveys worldwide,” says Michael Burns, President of Pioneer Aerial Surveys. “We are excited to develop a strong relationship with QPX as we continue to grow our international business operations.” Burns adds that Pioneer Aerial will have the option of flying additional surveys for QPX this season, after the successful completion of the first survey. Recently, Pioneer Aerial completed a 525 line kilometer survey at the Seabee Gold Operation in Northern Saskatchewan for Silver Standard Resources. Pioneer Aerial flew a “high resolution, low-elevation survey over the Santoy deposit that overlapped previous airborne data,” and according to the company, the UAV-MAG survey produced higher resolution results, at a cheaper cost in comparison to traditional airborne or ground based survey methods. The results of the survey impressed Silver Standard so much that it is interested in using Pioneer Aerial’s UAV-MAG survey technology again down the line. “Pioneer Aerial has developed a game-changing technique whereby ground-mag quality data can be acquired at cheaper cost without line-cutting and in only a fraction of the time,” says Anders Carlson, Exploration Manager - Seabee Gold Operation and Saskatchewan Projects.

Teledyne Optech’s CL-360 is a survey grade 360-degree laser scanner that enables OEM hardware manufacturers and integrators to develop the next generation of best-in-class UAV, mobile, and terrestrial scanning solutions for various surveying applications. Being a survey grade lidar scanner means that the resulting 3D points derived from the CL-360 are suitable for applications such as surveying or inspections. More specifically, the accuracy and precision (repeatability) of the points is greater than those obtained by lower performance lidar sensors or other methods such as photogrammetry, according to Mark Treiber, Product Manager, Compact Lidar. According to Treiber, the biggest differentiator between the CL-360 and other lidar scanners on the market is that the CL-360 has both long-range detection capability needed for UAV operations, and a high scanner speed for use in mobile applications. As a result, lidar system integrators can develop dual-use systems that can either be mounted on a UAV or a mobile vehicle to maximize the end-user’s return on investment.  “The ability to use CL-360 based lidar systems on both a UAV and on a mobile vehicle is a key value of the CL-360. There are many transportation surveying applications where a mobile survey is required due to accuracy and point density requirements which cannot be achieved from a UAV,” Treiber says.  “However, these surveys also require a topographic survey away from the road surface which cannot be observed from a lidar scanner mounted to the vehicle. The CL-360 allows a single system to be used for both surveys instead of separate systems.” The CL-360 also has the industry’s narrowest beam divergence at 0.3mrad 1/e2, which means that laser beam is the tightest on the market, allowing it to penetrate through gaps in vegetation to reach the ground, or for obtaining returns from a power-line. Both are key applications where lidar sensors are used, Treiber notes. The range of the CL-360 also allows it to be operated at an altitude of 120 meters above ground level (AGL) to cover the largest areas and therefore maximize the data collection productivity.  “A CL-360 based lidar system gives you assurance that the data you collected will meet your surveying requirements,” Treiber says. “From a UAV, it allows you to operate from the 120m AGL ceiling and therefore survey an area in the minimal amount of time while having the range and vegetation penetration capability to survey the surface hidden beneath the trees with survey grade accuracy while also capturing tricky to collect utility wires. In the event that all the data cannot be collected from a UAV you can take the same system and mount it to a vehicle for higher accuracy and greater point density collects of road surfaces and assets. Photo below: Teledyne Optech’s CL-360 is a survey grade 360-degree laser scanner that enables OEM hardware manufacturers and integrators to develop the next generation of best-in-class UAV, mobile, and terrestrial scanning solutions for various surveying applications.

Graduates of the first Unmanned Maritime Systems Certification program from the University of Southern Mississippi received their certificates late last week in a ceremony marking the end of an unmanned systems demonstration in the Gulf of Mexico. The class was created by the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, and the 15 graduates were presented their certificates by Rear Adm. Tim Gallaudet, commander of the meteorological service. John Meyer, deputy technical director for the command, said the program is the first of its kind in the country. It took about a year and a half to pull together, and more classes are planned.  The first class was Tier 1, a one-semester program tailored for the novice. The second Tier 1 class is planned for next year. Beyond that, a Tier 2 class will consist of two full semesters and a summer, aimed at the “journeyman” student. The Navy and MSU are also planned Tier 3, which would be specialized instruction to meet an “expert” level need. Meyer said that would probably mostly consist of civilian specialists. The classes cover a variety of areas, including basic marine science, remote sensing data management and command and control. Meyer said MSU wants to expand it beyond military students and even offer it to international students in the future. “We want the Navy to recognize the need for a program like this,” Meyer said. The certificates were awarded at a technical demonstration in an aircraft hangar at the Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Mississippi, which included a speech by Gov. Phil Bryant. Bryant told the companies that had stands at the event that the students were present, and “if you’re hiring, there they are.” Bryant also signed an executive order creating the state’s Ocean Task Force, which will develop a master plan and find key partnerships and resources to promote ocean science and technology in the state. It’s modeled on the federal Task Force Ocean, created by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson.

Boeing has unveiled a new unmanned electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) cargo air vehicle (CAV) prototype. The CAV prototype will be used to “test and evolve Boeing's autonomy technology for future aerospace vehicles.” Powered by an environmentally-friendly electric propulsion system, and outfitted with eight counter rotating blades that allow for vertical flight, the CAV prototype is designed to transport a payload up to 500 pounds for possible future cargo and logistics applications. “This flying cargo air vehicle represents another major step in our Boeing eVTOL strategy,” says Boeing Chief Technology Officer Greg Hyslop. “We have an opportunity to really change air travel and transport, and we'll look back on this day as a major step in that journey.” The CAV prototype, which complements the eVTOL passenger air vehicle prototype aircraft that is currently being developed by Aurora Flight Sciences, was designed and built in less than three months by a team of Boeing engineers and technicians. Boeing HorizonX, along with its partners in Boeing Research & Technology, led the development of the prototype. “Our new CAV prototype builds on Boeing's existing unmanned systems capabilities and presents new possibilities for autonomous cargo delivery, logistics and other transportation applications,” says Steve Nordlund, Boeing HorizonX vice president. “The safe integration of unmanned aerial systems is vital to unlocking their full potential.” The CAV prototype, which successfully completed initial flight tests at Boeing Research & Technology's Collaborative Autonomous Systems Laboratory in Missouri, will be used by Boeing researchers as a “flying test bed” to advance the building blocks of autonomous technology for future applications.