UAS and Robotics


Navy to unveil first MQ-4C, stays course after UAV crash

The Navy and contractor Northrop Grumman will unveil the first production version of its MQ-4C Broad Area Maritime Surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle June 14 despite the recent crash of one of its demonstrators on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Wireless rechargers would make powering up simpler for soldiers

Army researchers are working diligently to develop a way for troops to wirelessly recharge all of the location and communications gear they wear into battle by outfitting them with wireless chargers.

Throwable robot can eavesdrop on enemy conversations

Recon Robotics' Throwbot XT micro-robot is now outfitted with a microphone for audio intelligence to supplement its video intelligence capabilities for warfighters.

Marines explore unmanned choppers for ship-to-shore resupply

The Marine Corps has issued a request for information seeking ideas for unmanned, vertical lift ship-to-shore resupply.

Large Navy UAV crashes on Maryland's Eastern Shore

A large unmanned aircraft operated by the Navy crashed June 11 on Maryland's eastern shore.

Air Force longs to forget it ever wanted Blue Devil airship

The Air Force is getting read to put the Blue Devil 2 airship into permanent storage.

Future UAVs might have two-way voice to speed communications

The U.S. military is working on improving the man-machine interfaces between unmanned aircraft operators and the aircraft they remotely fly on missions.

Phantom Eye holds promise, but has long way to go

Boeing's massive hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye UAV performed its first test flight at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center June 1 reaching an altitude of 4,080 feet and a cruising speed of 62 knots, which is short of the performance attributes the military wants it eventually to achieve.

Obama's 'kill list' dictates who the drones will strike

U.S. President Barack Obama personally oversees a "kill list" of individuals selected to be the target of unmanned aerial vehicle strikes in Yemen, Pakistan and Somalia in a highly secret manner that has given rise to calls for greater transparency in the shadow war against al Qaeda.

Navy wants help boosting coastal surveillance

The Navy wants industry and other interested parties to submit ideas for new systems and technologies for use in shore surveillance and amphibious operations.

Canada should let Polar Hawk recon Arctic, Northrop says

Canada has received an unsolicited proposal from Northrop Grumman to furnish three modified RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles to provide surveillance of the country's vast Arctic territories.

Army places new order for nimble ground bots

The Army has placed a second order for a nimble ground robot that can explore dangerous objects and places.

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