Système autonome de surveillance
L’armée britannique compte déployer des ‘essaims de drones’ d’ici six mois
Yahoo Actualités – 25/11/2020 – Si les drones classiques sont aujourd’hui largement utilisés par les armées du monde entier, les stratégies militaires pourraient être bousculées par l’arrivée d’une nouvelle technologie : les essaims de drones. Ces « drone swarms » fonctionnent de manière coopérative et complètement automatisée. Avec un objectif donné, chaque drone opère simultanément sur une tâche différente. Les utilisations en opération pourraient être multiples, allant de la conduite de cyber-attaques à des missions suicides. Lire l’article
Vodafone using mobile networks to map drone flight paths
TotalTelecom – 26/11/2020 – Vodafone is working with Ericsson to use mobile network data to help map flight paths for connected drones. Vodafone and Ericsson claimed a technological breakthrough yesterday, using network data to hel devise flight paths for drones, allowing the devices to remain reliably connected to the mobile network. Earlier this month, the two companies conducted a proof of concept trial at Vodafone’s 5G Mobility Lab in Aldenhoven, Germany, not only creating reliable flight paths for drones beyond line of sight, but also collating anonymised user data to help the drones avoid heavily crowded areas. Lire l’article
MQ-9 set to explore artificial intelligence in UAVs
Flight Global – 26/11/2020 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has landed a $93.3 million contract related to artificial intelligence (AI) in unmanned aircraft. The contract was awarded by the US Department of Defense’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC), and is aimed at enhancing the autonomous sensing capabilities of unmanned aircraft, says GA-ASI. It falls under the JAIC’s Smart Sensor project, which is designed to demonstrate object recognition algorithms using unmanned aircraft, and employing AI to control an aircraft’s sensors and direct autonomous flight. Lire l’article
Surveillance des espaces maritimes
Philippine Navy receives ScanEagle unmanned aerial system from US
Naval Technology – 26/11/2020 – The US military handed over the ScanEagle unmanned aerial system (UAS) to the Philippine Navy on 25 November. The UAS was delivered by Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Kimberly Kelly and US Embassy in the Philippines’ Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) representatives. Kelly said: “Transferring the ScanEagle system for operation by the Maritime Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron represents the steadfast commitment by the US to our partners in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.” Lire l’article
MARSUR European Maritime Surveillance project takes next step
Navy Recognition – 26/11/2020 – European Defence Agency’s longstanding Maritime Surveillance (MARSUR) project entered a new phase on 19 November 2020 when the Agency launched its third phase, focused on the development of a next generation system. Whereas the precedent project phase (MARSUR II) dealt with network maintenance and addressed outstanding issues with the MARSUR Exchange System (MEXS, the software ensuring the automatic exchange of maritime surveillance data among the participants), MARSUR III will also enhance the system’s interoperability with other maritime security regimes, primarily with the EU’s Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE). The overall objective is to enhance MARSUR’s operational use in CSDP missions and operations. Lire l’article
Surveillance la faune
SÉNÉGAL : l’État étudie la piste des drones pour la sécurité de ses parcs nationaux
Afrik 21 – 26/11/2020 – Le gouvernement du Sénégal veut améliorer la conservation de la biodiversité de ses parcs nationaux. C’est ainsi qu’il a organisé récemment une formation pour outiller les agents et les écogardes aux techniques de pilotage, de collecte, de traitement et d’analyse de données de drones. « Affiner les techniques de surveillance et de suivi écologique de ses parcs nationaux ». C’est ce à quoi aspire le gouvernement du Sénégal. Lire l’article
UTM
Real-Time LTE Urban Drone Monitoring System Under Development
UST Drone – 24/11/2020 – Kongsberg Geospatial has partnered with Unifly to develop a real-time UAS (unmanned aerial system) identification and tracking system that integrates Kongsberg Geospatial’s IRIS airspace situational awareness system with Unifly’s BLIP (Broadcast Location & Identity Platform), and will enable monitoring of drones over LTE wireless broadband networks. Based on technology that was originally created for missile defense applications, IRIS provides enhanced situational awareness for operators of both UAVs and UGVs (unmanned ground vehicles). Lire l’article
ISR maritime
PH Navy receives P710-M unmanned aerial system from US
Manilla Bulletin – 25/11/2020 – Representatives of the United States Embassy in Manila and the Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) led the delivery of a Php710 million ($14.79 million) ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to the Philippine Navy to boost the country’s maritime domain awareness and border security capabilities. In a ceremony at the Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Sangley Point, Cavite on Wednesday, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Kimberly Kelly and JUSMAG officials turned over the ScanEagle UAS to Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo.
The ScanEagle UAS will provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)… Lire l’article
Surveillance de zone ou de site
C-Astral Receives Investment from Global Industrial Drone Provider
UST Drone – 25/11/2020 – C-Astral Aerospace has received an investment from global industrial drone solutions provider Terra Drone Corporation, based in Japan. The partnership will also allow Terra Drone-affiliated companies to provide C-Astral’s fixed-wing UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) around the world with local maintenance and product support. C-Astral is an aerospace solutions provider specializing in high-endurance fixed-wing small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The company’s customer base includes commercial drone operators, larger institutional networks, scientific users and government entities. Lire l’article
Recherche et développement
Navy tests autonomous drone as target for laser weapon testing
Space War – 25/11/2020 – The U.S. Navy Surface War Center announced a test in which an autonomous drone was launched and landed on a moving ship as a target for laser weapons. The tests, held last week at the NSWC Division at Port Hueneme, Calif., involved software made for the Navy by Planck Aerosystems Inc. that allow the drone to follow the ship without people controlling it, the Navy said. The four-rotor drone, called a quadcopter, took off, hovered and flew alongside a ship, and then landed on stationary and moving ships. Lire l’article
Turkish firm develops AI-powered software for drone swarms
C4ISRNet – 24/11/2020 – A privately owned Turkish company says it has developed an artificial intelligence-based software for swarm drones. MilSOFT announced Nov. 19 it developed the software after four years of research, and the the technology could be used in both fixed- and rotary-wing drone platforms. “These drones could be ideal in asymmetrical warfare. They are quick, cost-effective and easy to operate,” the official said. “Most importantly, they are assets designed to minimize human loss in asymmetrical warfare.” Lire l’article
Neutralisation
Indian Navy inducts two American Predator drones on lease, can be deployed on China border
ANI news – 25/11/2020 – In a sign of growing closeness between India and the United States amid conflict with China, the Indian Navy has inducted two Sea Guardian drones from an American firm on lease for carrying out surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region and which can also be deployed along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. The American drones have been inducted by the Navy under the emergency procurement powers granted by the Defence Ministry in view of the India-China border conflict. Lire l’article
Ukraine Forming Joint Venture with Turkey to Produce 48 Bayraktar TB2 Drones
The Defense Post – 25/11/2020 – Ukraine is forming a joint venture company with Turkey to domestically produce as many as 48 Bayraktar TB2 combat drones. The news came from Vadym Ihorovych, General Director of Ukrspetsexport, a state-owned Ukrainian defense manufacturer, in an interview with online publication Left Bank. Bayraktar TB2 is manufactured by Turkey’s Baykar Makina, a manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and artificial intelligence systems. Lire l’article
Destruction
Chine : un drone guide une frappe conduite par un hélicoptère
Air & Cosmos – 24/11/2020 – L’emploi de drones par la Chine est désormais chose fréquente et les aéronefs pilotés à distance prennent dans le pays une place croissante, que cela soit dans le domaine civil ou militaire. La semaine dernière, le 18 novembre, la Chine a rapporté avoir mené des essais ayant pour but de faire collaborer un hélicoptère et un drone. L’ambition pour la brigade aérienne du 71eme groupe armé de la PLA était ainsi de pouvoir faire communiquer les deux plateformes afin que le drone puisse désigner une cible qui sera ensuite engagée par l’hélicoptère. Lire l’article
Inspection visuelle & surveillance de zone ou de site
Percepto Secures $45 Million Investment Led by Koch Disruptive Technologies to Deliver Truly Autonomous Inspection of Industrial Sites
UASweekly – 25/11/2020 – Percepto, pioneering autonomous inspection by industrial robotics, today announced a strategic investment of $45 million in Series B funding led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT) to launch a transformative solution for remote, fully autonomous, asset monitoring, inspection and compliance of industrial sites. KDT is joined by new investors State of Mind Ventures, Atento Capital, Summit Peak Investments, Delek-US and existing investors U.S. Venture Partners, Spider Capital and Arkin Holdings, bringing the total investment in the company to $72.5 million. Evolving their advanced drone-in-a-box solution to the next level, Percepto’s Autonomous Inspection & Monitoring (AIM) platform sets a new standard for how critical infrastructure and assets are monitored, end-to-end, paving the way for the remote operations center of the future. Lire l’article
Surveillance de longs linéaires
Network drone monitoring deployed by GB operator
Smart Energy – 23/11/2020 – Network operator Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is monitoring towers across central southern England with drones. The company has over 1,500 towers on its 64,200km of overhead powerlines across the four regions of its distribution area. The programme being undertaken with visual data management provider Cyberhawk, uses drones and its iHawk data management platform to inspect and visualise SSEN’s infrastructure without intrusion or inconvenience to nearby customers… Lire l’article
Drone captif
Vicor dc-dc enables a second tethered drone
Electronicsweekly – 26/11/2020 – FlyFocus has developed a detachable tethered drone that can hover for up to 30 days at 70m altitude, powered through a tether, then drop the line to fly for up to 30 minutes on internal batteries. Called CableGuard, the drone consumes up to 5kW, and 400Vdc is specified within the tether cable to reduce I2R losses, allowing lighter conductors to be used. Vicor’s isolated regulated buck DCM series dc-dc converters are used between the high voltage umbilical and the UAV’s motors and electronics. Lire l’article
Plastron et cible
Naval Air Systems Command Accepts Delivery of 100th Production BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Target System
Kratos – 19/11/2020 – Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider and industry-leading provider of high-performance, jet-powered unmanned aerial systems, announced today that it has delivered the 100th production BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Target (SSAT), nearing completion of its third and final Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract. Lire l’article
Inspection visuelle et cartographie
Review of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) applications in the built environment: Towards automated building inspection procedures using drones
ResearchGate – 2018 – Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS – a.k.a. drones) have evolved over the past decade as both advanced military technology and off-the-shelf consumer devices. There is a gradual shift towards public use of drones, which presents opportunities for effective remote procedures that can disrupt a variety of built environment disciplines. UAS equipment with remote sensing gear present an opportunity for analysis and inspection of existing building stocks, where architects, engineers, building energy auditors as well as owners can document building performance, visualize heat transfer using infrared imaging and create digital models using 3D photogrammetry. Lire l’article
Certification USA
FAA Moves Forward on Safe Integration of Drones
FAA – 23/11/2020 – The FAA published airworthiness criteria for the proposed certification of 10 different Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or drones as special class aircraft. This is a crucial step to enabling more complex drone operations beyond what is allowed under the small unmanned aircraft rule (Part 107), including package delivery. “The development of airworthy, durable, and reliable unmanned aircraft is a crucial step forward for this innovative sector,” said Dr. Michael C. Romanowski, director of Aircraft Certification Service Policy and Innovation. “Type certification will help increase both public and regulatory confidence in drone technology as operations become more advanced.” Lire l’article
Relevés Volumétriques
Laser and drone technology recreates Ribblehead viaduct like never before
Network Rail – 23/11/2020 – Laser scanners and drones have been used to map every inch of the iconic Ribblehead viaduct as part of a major restoration project to secure its future for passengers and tourists. An essential upgrade to brickwork and drainage is underway on the 144-year-old structure which carries the historic Settle to Carlisle railway 400 metres across the Ribble valley. As part the £2.1m Great North Rail Project investment, North Yorkshire’s most recognisable railway icon was 3D scanned and turned into a computer model by surveyors. Lire l’article
ISR
OCCAR and Industry Agree Terms for Euro MALE RPAS
OCCAR – 20/11/2020 – After several months of intensive negotiations between Airbus Defence and Space and OCCAR, the European Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (MALE RPAS) Programme has taken a decisive step forward with the completion of the negotiation phase for the Stage 2 Contract. This major breakthrough has been achieved thanks to the continued dedication and unwavering drive of everyone involved. Lire l’article
Logistique médicale
Walmart in El Paso delivers coronavirus tests by drone
KGNS – 23/11/2020 – A Walmart in Texas has started delivering coronavirus tests by drone in one of the cities that is being hit the hardest by the pandemic. The free delivery is available for people in single-family homes within a one-and-a-half-mile radius of the store. The program, sponsored by Walmart, quest diagnostics, and Droneup, is bringing the technology to the El Paso area. The kit includes a device for nasal swab collection. The drones will deliver the kits to single-family homes within 1.5 miles of the El Paso Walmart Supercenter. Findings from the program will help determine how drones can play a role in the pandemic response, health care delivery, and retail. Lire l’article
Logistique terrestre
JAL test-flies drone to carry relief goods in mountainous area
Kyodo News – 18/11/2020 – Japan Airlines Co. on Wednesday flew a drone carrying emergency relief goods within a city in a mountainous area of western Japan as part of tests aimed at operationalizing logistics services using unmanned aircraft, although the flight was cut short due to adverse winds. During the test flight opened to the media, a fixed-wing drone that can fly at up to 30 kilometers per hour departed from a park in Yabu, Hyogo Prefecture. Lire l’article
UAV Navigation and CATEC looking for the Global Unmanned Mobility Solution
UASweekly – 23/11/2020 – Smart cities are developing around the world. In order to turn them into sustainable and livable spaces, one of the key points is that they must respond to new mobility challenges. As days go by, betting on the introduction of a reliable and safe unmanned vehicle network on its transport routes is not as impossible. In this context, UAV Navigation and CATEC have presented a project within the CERVERA call, funded by the Center for Technological and Industrial Development (CDTI) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. It is also co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), which prioritizes the promotions of market-oriented scientific-technical research in technological areas in our country. Lire l’article
NRBC (Nucléaires, Radiologiques, Biologiques, Chimiques)
[Video] Un drone vous emmène au coeur de la centrale de Tchernobyl
Fredzone – 26/11/2020 – Le 26 avril 1986 est une date qui restera à jamais gravée dans l’histoire. Elle nous ramène à l’explosion du réacteur numéro 4 de la centrale nucléaire de Tchernobyl. Cet accident reste l’une des plus grandes catastrophes nucléaires que l’humanité ait connues à ce jour. Le taux de radiations émises par cette explosion était 400 fois supérieur à celui de la bombe d’Hiroshima. Aujourd’hui, peu de gens osent s’aventurer sur le site de l’accident et c’est justifié. Récemment, l’entreprise suisse Flyability a envoyé un drone au cœur de la centrale de Tchernobyl. L’appareil qui s’est rendu sur place est baptisé Elios 2. Lire l’article
Elios 2 Inspection Drone Deployed at Chernobyl
UST drone – 21/11/2020 – Flyability’s Elios 2 inspection drone has been used to conduct a mission at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in order to determine whether nuclear waste was present in one of the plant’s decommissioned reactors. At the time of the disaster, the fifth block of the Chernobyl Plant was under construction, and no record was made of whether the holding pools in Reactor Five had ever received the depleted uranium fuel bars for which they had been made. Lire l’article
Anti-drone
CONTROP Launches New Ground-Based C-UAS Surveillance System
UST Drone – 25/11/2020 – CONTROP Precision Technologies has launched the SPEED-LR, the company’s newest long-range ground observation system for counter-UAS (unmanned aerial system) and other surveillance applications. The fully-digital and stabilised multispectral system is designed to rapidly detect and identify potential threats from increased distances. Lire l’article
USAF awards contract to SRCTec for counter-UAS technology
UASweekly – 19/11/2020 – The US Air Force has awarded a contract to SRCTec for the design, delivery and sustenance of counter unmanned aircraft system (UAS) technology, which will aid its Medusa counter-sUAS programme. The US Air Force has awarded a contract to SRCTec for the design, delivery and sustenance of counter unmanned aircraft system (UAS) technology, which will aid its Medusa counter-sUAS programme. The $90m sole-source indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract is valid for five years. Lire l’article
Keas, la PME iséroise qui neutralise les drones pour le compte de la Marine nationale
France 3 – 20/11/2020 – Depuis plusieurs années maintenant, les drones commerciaux se sont démocratisés auprès du grand public. Qu’ils soient inoffensifs ou porteurs d’intensions hostiles, ces petits engins volants téléguidés posent un problème de sécurité majeur lorsqu’ils se mettent à survoler des sites stratégiques, comme des ministères, des centrales nucléaires, ou des sites de la Marine nationale. Lire l’article
Recherche scientifique
Les drones, un moyen de contrôler les émissions des volcans
Scidev – 17/11/2020 – Des drones spécialement équipés aident les scientifiques à se rapprocher des volcans actifs en vue de mesurer et mieux comprendre leurs émissions de dioxyde de carbone. Dans le cadre du projet ABOVE (Aerial based Observations of Volcanic Emissions[1]) utilisant des drones avec des équipements miniaturisés d’échantillonnage de gaz, les chercheurs ont pu mesurer les émissions des volcans Manam et Rabaul en Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée. Ces volcans actifs sont difficiles d’accès par les technologies traditionnelles au sol. Lire l’article
Sentinel-6, la nouvelle génération de satellites européens de surveillance des océans
Futura Science – 23/11/2020 – Sentinel-6A Michael Freilich, également appelé Jason CS (continuité de service), a été lancé ce week-end à bord d’un lanceur Falcon 9 de SpaceX. Ce satellite du programme européen Copernicus de la Commission européenne observera en permanence le niveau moyen des océans, un des meilleurs indicateurs du changement climatique. Lire l’article
Divers
Afghan spy chief warns drone warfare is Taliban’s new fighting method
Intelnews – 24/11/2020 – The director of Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency warned on Monday that the Taliban are for the first time resorting to using drones in order to carry out attacks against the Afghan government. Groups such as the Islamic State in Syria, and Houthi rebels in Yemen, have been using modified drones to drop makeshift bombs on enemy targets since at least 2016. But the Taliban have not previously been known to make use of such weapons. Lire l’article
Hollywood Man Arrested on Federal Charge Alleging He Recklessly Operated a Drone that Crashed into and Damaged LAPD Helicopter
US Dpt. of Justice – 19/11/2020 -Special agents with the FBI this morning arrested a Hollywood man on a federal charge alleging that he recklessly operated a drone that crashed into a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter. The drone damaged the LAPD aircraft and the pilot was forced to initiate an emergency landing. The drone also damaged a vehicle when the unmanned aircraft fell from the sky after the crash. Lire l’article
OSCE spots new Russian drone control station in Ukraine
Defence Blog – 22/11/2020 – The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine has reported that it had spotted a modern Russian Navodchik-2 ground drone control station for unmanned aerial vehicles in Ukraine. For the first time, Navodchik-2 ground control station and three boxes assessed as used for storing and transporting unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) were spotted at an airfield near non-government-controlled Luhansk city by SMM mini drone on 8 November. Lire l’article
Recherche & sauvetage
British Drone Provider Awards DJI Package to Search and Rescue Agency
Drone Life – 23/11/2020 – British drone provider COPTRZ is offering free online drone training for emergency services agencies–including mountain rescue teams—across Great Britain. In addition, the company recently announced a competition to award a winning public-safety agency with a Mavic Enterprise Dual to support SAR call-outs. Lire l’article
UAV and Canine Search and Rescue Demonstrated
UST Drone – Scientific Systems Company, Inc. (SSCI) has conducted research for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Information Innovation Office (I2O) on teaming autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with search and rescue canines. The research culminated in a demonstration during which a UAV worked with a canine without intervention from a human handler to conduct a simulated search and rescue mission. Lire l’article