New research finds that autonomous vehicles can gain most of the benefits of adaptive route planning with only a few course corrections For an autonomous drone searching for a missing person, new information can change the mission. An image or sensor reading may suggest that the aircraft should search somewhere else. But how often does the drone need to reconsider its … [Read more...] about Smarter Drone Searches May Require Less Replanning, Not More
Research
FAA Awards $12 Million for Drone Research and Testing
Funding supports 19 projects focused on detect-and-avoid, BVLOS communications, drone traffic management, identity verification and other technologies for UAS integration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $12 million for 19 drone research and testing projects. The projects aim to support the safe expansion of drone operations in the National Airspace System … [Read more...] about FAA Awards $12 Million for Drone Research and Testing
UAF Ice Tower Gives ACUASI a Controlled Testbed for Drone Icing Research
The Supercooled Water Experimental Arctic Tower creates calibrated icing conditions so researchers and students can study how ice buildup affects drone lift, control and performance. The Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute conducts drone icing research in a purpose-built ice tower. … [Read more...] about UAF Ice Tower Gives ACUASI a Controlled Testbed for Drone Icing Research
Cat-Inspired Claws Help Ice Dart Drone Land on Steep Ice
Université de Sherbrooke researchers demonstrate a new approach to landing multirotors on steep, irregular ice surfaces Cats may seem an unlikely source of inspiration for drone landing gear. But retractable claws helped researchers at Canada’s Université de Sherbrooke address a difficult problem: landing a drone on steep, slippery ice. The result is the Ice Dart, a … [Read more...] about Cat-Inspired Claws Help Ice Dart Drone Land on Steep Ice
NOAA Sends Autonomous Surface Vehicles Into Hurricanes to Study Rapid Intensification
Long-running partnership with Saildrone aims to improve hurricane forecasting and rapid intensification models Saildrone announced plans to deploy 10 Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) during the 2026 hurricane season in partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The mission will support hurricane forecasting and storm research … [Read more...] about NOAA Sends Autonomous Surface Vehicles Into Hurricanes to Study Rapid Intensification
