Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Studies

First in the Nation - Pearland PD expands DFR operations to include BVLOS without Visual Observers

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 14, 2023

PEARLAND, Texas, March 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearland Police Department has been awarded a certificate of authorization (COA) to operate its drone as first responder (DFR) program beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operation, eliminating the need for human visual observers (VOs). This was achieved using Iris Automation's Casia G ground-based air surveillance system.

Key Points: 
  • The City of Pearland is a rapidly growing city south of Houston with a population of 129,600 and 179 sworn police officers.
  • It covers a mostly residential area of 49 square miles, and includes major urban facilities such as hospitals, schools, colleges, and shopping centers.
  • Pearland PD is now able to radically improve its DFR program and how it responds to emergency calls.
  • Drones can be dispatched immediately, circumventing traffic, and offering an advanced assessment of the incident scene and reducing risks to officers.

Flying Lion and Iris Automation Add Airspace Awareness Capabilities for Drone as First Responder (DFR) Programs

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 10, 2023

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. and RENO, Nev., March 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Drone service provider, Flying Lion, Inc., and safety avionics technology innovator, Iris Automation have entered into a new partnership to provide Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs with enhanced airspace awareness. This partnership will see the addition of Iris Automation's Casia G ground-based detect and alert system to the Flying Lion suite of services.

Key Points: 
  • BVLOS operations allow for timely response, situational awareness in advance of personnel on scene
    REDONDO BEACH, Calif. and RENO, Nev., March 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Drone service provider, Flying Lion, Inc. , and safety avionics technology innovator, Iris Automation have entered into a new partnership to provide Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs with enhanced airspace awareness.
  • This partnership will see the addition of Iris Automation's Casia G ground-based detect and alert system to the Flying Lion suite of services.
  • Quote from Flying Lion President & Founder, Barry Brennan
    "Flying Lion is proud to partner with such a forward-thinking organization as Iris Automation, to provide a safer environment to conduct DFR operations.
  • Iris Automation and Flying Lion will be exhibiting at the National Public Safety UAS Conference , March 14-15, 2023 in Williamsburg, VA.

VOTIX Partners with Iris Automation to Bring Comprehensive Drone Management for Safe BVLOS Operations

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 22, 2023

WESTON, Fla. and RENO, Nev., Feb. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Drone automation technology leader, VOTIX , is excited to join forces with safety avionics technology innovator, Iris Automation .

Key Points: 
  • WESTON, Fla. and RENO, Nev., Feb. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Drone automation technology leader, VOTIX , is excited to join forces with safety avionics technology innovator, Iris Automation .
  • The partnership enables safe BVLOS flights through the seamless integration of Iris Automation's Casia G ground-based detect and alert system into the VOTIX cloud-based drone operating system.
  • VOTIX, with its pioneering "Drone Orchestration" approach, integrates all processes and systems required for a BVLOS operation.
  • We have integrated every aspect of drone operation in a single pane of glass so pilots can easily perform safe and secure BVLOS flights."

Iris Automation Granted Third BVLOS Waiver to Operate Without Visual Observers on Behalf of the City of Reno

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 8, 2022

RENO, Nev., Dec. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Iris Automation has been granted its third waiver for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) autonomous operations on behalf of the City of Reno Fire Department, a participant in the FAA's BEYOND program.

Key Points: 
  • RENO, Nev., Dec. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Iris Automation has been granted its third waiver for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) autonomous operations on behalf of the City of Reno Fire Department, a participant in the FAA's BEYOND program .
  • Iris Automation is using the concept on behalf of the City of Reno's Fire Department for search and rescue operations in the test environment near the Carson River area.
  • This third BVLOS waiver approves operations without visual observers over a limited operational area based on a 'network' of two separate Casia G nodes.
  • The waiver that Iris Automation has been granted puts our program one step closer to being able to utilize drones during rescue operations within the City of Reno."

GA-ASI, SES and Hughes Team Up to Demonstrate NextGen SATCOM on MQ-9B SkyGuardian

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 10, 2022

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), SES and Hughes Network Systems (HUGHES) worked together to successfully demonstrate multi-orbit satellite communications (SATCOM) using a GA-ASI-supplied MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

Key Points: 
  • SAN DIEGO, Nov. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), SES and Hughes Network Systems (HUGHES) worked together to successfully demonstrate multi-orbit satellite communications (SATCOM) using a GA-ASI-supplied MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).
  • "This demonstration proves the importance of next-generation SATCOM for operators of our aircraft," said GA-ASI Senior Vice President for MQ-9 Systems, Fred Darlington.
  • "We are very proud of our partnership developed over the years between SES, GA-ASI and their government customers.
  • Hughes and HughesNet are registered trademarks and JUPITER is a trademark of Hughes Network Systems, LLC.

Iris Automation Receives Second FAA BVLOS Waiver Without Visual Observers for Reno BEYOND Program

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 6, 2022

RENO, Nev., April 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Iris Automation has been granted a second waiver for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) autonomous operations on behalf of the City of Reno, this time utilizing its Casia G ground-based solution.

Key Points: 
  • RENO, Nev., April 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Iris Automation has been granted a second waiver for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) autonomous operations on behalf of the City of Reno, this time utilizing its Casia G ground-based solution.
  • The approval follows the recent award of a waiver for Iris Automation on behalf of the City of Reno's Fire Department, using Casia X for autonomous flights.
  • The City of Reno is a participant in the FAA's BEYOND program .
  • The BVLOS waiver allows the operator to fly without the need for visual observers or the Remote Pilot in Command to maintain visual contact with the drone.

GA-ASI Installs First V-Tail From GKN Aerospace Onto MQ-9B RPA

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 22, 2022

GA-ASI and GKN Aerospace have partnered for more than a decade, first as part of the MQ-9A program and now with the MQ-9B.

Key Points: 
  • GA-ASI and GKN Aerospace have partnered for more than a decade, first as part of the MQ-9A program and now with the MQ-9B.
  • The GKN Aerospace V-tails are now a standard component of MQ-9B SkyGuardian and the maritime variant, SeaGuardian.
  • GKN Aerospace has been a global supplier to GA-ASI's MQ-9 RPA program for a decade, with the strategic partnership on GA-ASI's world-leading RPA systems starting in 2010.
  • GKN Aerospace is market leading in aerostructures, engine systems and operates in 13 countries at 38 manufacturing locations employing approximately 15,000 people.

GA-ASI SeaGuardian Flies First Approved Point-to-Point UAS Flight in UK

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 16, 2021

The GA-ASI-owned RPA flew from Royal Air Force (RAF) Waddington to RAF Lossiemouth and the SeaGuardian flight was controlled by NATS, the UK's civilian Air Navigation Service Provider.

Key Points: 
  • The GA-ASI-owned RPA flew from Royal Air Force (RAF) Waddington to RAF Lossiemouth and the SeaGuardian flight was controlled by NATS, the UK's civilian Air Navigation Service Provider.
  • "This successful flight paves the way not only for future operations of Protector in UK airspace, but also for other civil and commercial UAS flights."
  • According to NATS, the flight was controlled through more complex airspace than any previous UAS flights in the UK.
  • Avenger, Lynx, Predator, SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

GA-ASI SeaGuardian Flies From UK to the Netherlands

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 2, 2021

The flight is part of a maritime demonstration series that began in August and continues through September.

Key Points: 
  • The flight is part of a maritime demonstration series that began in August and continues through September.
  • The RNLAF has ordered four MQ-9A RPA and the first is expected to be delivered to Leeuwarden later this year.
  • "We appreciate the international cooperation we've received from the RAF, the RNLAF and civil aviation authorities such as the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
  • Avenger, Lynx, Predator, SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.