UAS and Robotics


Unmanned aircraft crashes into Somalia refugee camp

An unmanned surveillance aircraft crashed Feb. 3 into a refugee camp in the Somali capital.

Northrop Grumman gets contract for BACN payloads

The Battlefield Airborne Communications Node payloads will be for two existing Block 20 Global Hawk aircraft.

AAI, ViaSat team for UAS satcom capability

AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems and ViaSat have formed a strategic alliance to develop beyond-line-of-sight satellite communications capabilities for AAI's existing and future unmanned aircraft.

DOD to test throwable robots in Afghanistan

The Defense Department plans to test a variety of throwable robots in Afghanistan this year to determine which are best suited for sustained use in combat conditions.

Unmanned aircraft to take on terrorist groups in East Africa

An outpost in Ethiopia will become a launching area for U.S. unmanned aircraft along with another facility in the nearby Seychelles.

Greater UAV autonomy needed: former ISR chief

Finding ways for unmanned aircraft to process more sensor information on board will provide substantial benefits, says the Air Force's former Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.

Air Force likely to retire Block 30 Global Hawks

The Air Force is likely to retire its fleet of Block 30 RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles, a surprising turn of events considering the Global Hawk was on the verge of replacing the five-decade-old U-2 manned spy plane program.

Navy makes progress on unmanned aerial refueling capability

The Navy is testing an aerial refueling system designed to significantly increase the range of carrier-based unmanned aircraft.

DARPA's Galileo aims for closer look at space satellites

DOD is developing new ways to get high-resolution images of spacecraft as part of a plan to build new satellites in orbit from parts salvaged from deactivated crafts.

Argus One airship undergoes initial testing

The World Surveillance Group has completed an initial demonstration of its Argus One unmanned airship at the Energy Department’s Nevada Test Site.

Unmanned systems, networks struggle with reliability tests

Army networks and unmanned systems did not perform well overall in meeting reliability thresholds when tested in fiscal 2011.

Alfred Lumpkin

Brighter days ahead for unmanned systems

The unmanned systems industry is poised to serve any mission for the Defense and State departments and also for law enforcement and other civilian agencies.

Webcast

  • Improving Performance Management and Project Control to Meet Cost/Schedule Milestones in DoD Procurement

    It can be nearly impossible to build annual budgets that consider forecasted project and program work plans along with detailed cost data, particularly when attempting to reconcile actual and projected program costs with actual schedule performance. In this webcast, a defense IT program manager will share best practices and hard-won lessons aligning critical data on project performance, cost systems and schedules for truly big picture program management insight. Read more