UAS and Robotics


Winners and losers in the fiscal 2013 budget

It's been several weeks since the release of the fiscal 2013 defense budget, and heads are certainly still spinning in the Pentagon. Here are some of the winners and losers at each of the services.

Watch out, China, US spy drones headed your way

The Australian government is considering allowing the United States to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles to a coral atoll in the Indian Ocean where they might conduct surveillance missions of that ocean and also the South China Sea.

Pakistan rejected offer by US to scale back UAV attacks

U.S. officials offered key concessions to Pakistan's intelligence chief in January regarding the use of unmanned aerial vehicles against al-Qaeda in the southwest Asian nation in an effort to regain the trust of Pakistani officials, but the offers were rejected.

Robotics juggernaut seen as unstoppable

The use and proliferation of robotic systems by the U.S. military will likely continue unabated because they offer far more advantages than disadvantages.

Press delete: Sandia's idea for nuclear-powered UAV not practical

A research project by Sandia National Laboratories to create a nuclear-powered unmanned aerial vehicle that could stay aloft for days without refueling was eventually cast aside because "political realities" would not allow its development.

Navy dreams of ocean-traversing undersea robots

It may not be in the cards yet, but the Navy hasn't given up hope that one day it will have underwater UAS that can journey across the ocean. And in fact, some universities are already working on the technology.

Say what? Block 30 Global Hawk contract still in place

Northrop Grumman doesn't know when the Air Force is going to cancel its Block 30 Global Hawk program.

Can US and Pakistan mend differences over UAV strikes?

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will convene a special meeting of his nation's parliament March 20 in an effort to improve his government's strained relationship with the United States.

New names, new contract structures alter UAS market

The military unmanned aircraft systems market is changing in more ways than one.

New satellite capabilities target UAV needs

UAV operations are driving new developments in waveforms and spacecraft to support mission needs.

Blimp video caught soldier's surrender after Afghanistan massacre

A surveillance camera mounted on a blimp hovering above a combat outpost in Afghanistan captured video of the surrender of a U.S. Army staff sergeant who allegedly murdered 16 Afghan civilians during a shooting spree in Afghanistan.

Satellite comms offers warfighters multiple data paths

To compensate for budget shortfalls and also meet the growing demand for bandwidth, DOD is being forced to come up with creative ways to meet warfighter communications needs.

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