UAVs / Satellites / Blimps

Sanswire has lofty plans for airship
The Florida company has seen its ups and downs, but it now has a joint venture with TAO Technologies of Germany to develop and manufacture airships for use in war zones, border security, and for commercial purposes
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As the Pentagon relies more heavily on UAVs, UAV makers benefit
The Pentagon’s fiscal 2010 includes approximately $3.5 billion for unmanned aerial vehicles
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NATO deploys airship to Afghanistan
NATO forces in Afghanistan deploy an airship to support security efforts in the war-torn country; the airship hovers several hundred feet above ground, using sensors to detect IEDs
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Robotic German sperm dirigible ready to take off
German engineers are ready to test a 111-foot long, tadpole-esque “segmented” drone airship; as was the case with the famous Graf Zeppelin airship liner of the 1930s, only the front compartment of the bendy airship contains helium for buoyancy’ the remaining back cells contain the fuel for the craft’s engine
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Competition for U.S. Marines' supply robocopter down to two
The U.S. Marines are looking for unmanned supply helicopters that can deliver ten tons of supplies across distances of 150 miles in 24 hours; they also have to be able to hover at high altitudes (say, up in the Hindu Kush mountains)
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Tiny Nano Air Vehicle (NAV) to help in in-door surveillance
California company develops tiny UAV (10 gram, a 7.5-centimeter wingspan) that hovers and climbs with flapping wings; the NAV can explore caves and other hiding places, relaying GPS data and images to base
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"Point-and-toss" UAV in field demonstration
Florida-based IATech used the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International’s biannual field demonstration to show its point-and-toss UAV: the unit measures 3 feet across and is thrown like a paper airplane; it costs only about $25,000
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DA-42 UAV tested
Israeli Aeronautics Defense Systems tests new UAV; the system can stay airborne for up to 28 hours with a 900-pound payload
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First Israeli business delegation visits Indonesia
The Indonesian military wanted to buy Israel UAVs in order better to patrol the vast archipelago, but the Indonesian House of Representatives rejected the plan
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Dayton's new UAV center receives initial funding
UAVs are becoming more and more ubiquitous in military and homeland security missions; Dayton, Ohio — a neighbor to Wright-Patterson Air Force base — wants to capitalize on the UAV trend, and it opens a new UAV technology center
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Aurora shows new, more lethal hovering killer drone
Innovative UAV company shows a new drone capable of carrying four Hellfire missiles at speeds of up to 400 knots (the Predator carries just two Hellfires and cruises at just 70 knots)
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Robo-bats with metal muscles for surveillance
Researchers envision micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs) which mimic nature’s small flyers — and develop robotic bats that offer increased maneuverability and performance
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Aerovironment wins a $2.1 million Phase 2 contract for tiny fluttering UAV
Aerovironment wins more money to develop its Nano Air Vehicle; the tiny, insect-size robot, flies and hovers using flapping wings like a hummingbird
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Rules of war to be programmed into robots' decision making
Georgia tech researcher has developed an “ethical governor” which aims to ensure that robot attack aircraft behave ethically in combat
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Border agency testing UAV along U.S. northern border
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has adopted a new addition to help the agency watch over the northern border in upstate New York: a Predator B UAV
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