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Reliable Robotics continues momentum towards certification of its autonomous flight system

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Reliable Robotics, a developer of autonomous aircraft automation systems, has announced further certification progress with FAA acceptance of requirements for Reliable’s advanced aircraft navigation and autopilot systems.

These systems provide continuous autopilot engagement throughout all phases of flight including automatic taxi, takeoff, and landing.

In an industry-leading first, Reliable Robotics and the FAA established agreement on the testing and analysis that will be performed to show that these highly automated systems satisfy FAA safety and performance requirements for operations throughout the conterminous United States and Alaska. [Read more…] about Reliable Robotics continues momentum towards certification of its autonomous flight system

Honeywell-led project to bring autonomous flight to Europe

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Honeywell has launched “project OperA”, one of the two Honeywell-led projects to be awarded through the latest round of funding from the European Union’s SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking. The work will take place at Honeywell’s international development center in Brno, Czech Republic.

Project OperA (Operate Anywhere) will develop and validate several solutions for the safe accommodation of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) vehicles in flight.

The project will build solutions for complex operations of AAM-piloted air taxi and uncrewed cargo in real-life air traffic control conditions in Europe. [Read more…] about Honeywell-led project to bring autonomous flight to Europe

Skyports unveils plan to launch advanced air mobility in urban Japan

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Skyports Infrastructure has revealed its involvement in the next phase of research for a Concept of Operations (ConOps) for advanced air mobility (AAM) for the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB).

The company will continue to work alongside its ConOps partners Kanematsu Corporation, Japan Airlines and Eve Air Mobility to define Japan’s framework for the development and implementation of advanced air mobility operations in Japan.

The ConOps is designed as a critical reference point for companies that are considering entering the Japanese AAM market. [Read more…] about Skyports unveils plan to launch advanced air mobility in urban Japan

Terrafame hires autonomous airships from Kelluu to help create digital twin of 60 sq km industrial production site

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Terrafame, a battery chemicals producer for electric vehicles, has selected Finnish airship development company Kelluu to provide “accurate and geo-referenced terrain data” for the continuous monitoring of its 60 sq km industrial site in Finland.

The aerial monitoring has been done mainly using satellites or helicopters, battery-powered drones, or land-based surveys.

Kelluu develops long-distance, self-flying, and hydrogen-powered airship concepts mounted with several spectral cameras, sensors, and scanners that can gather real-time data on terrain, vegetation, and infrastructure. [Read more…] about Terrafame hires autonomous airships from Kelluu to help create digital twin of 60 sq km industrial production site

Drones and the Future of Travel: What’s Next for Airline easyJet?

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easyJet has always been at the forefront of innovation in the airline industry, not only for their consumer offerings but also in terms of aircraft maintenance and operations.

All the way back in 2015, when drones were far less readily available, easyJet pioneered the use of the Remote Intelligent Survey Equipment for Radiation or RISER drone quadcopter to complete inspections on Airbus A320 units.

It was used with a T-Series tracking system that assessed the location of the aircraft relative to its own position in 3D, allowing it to maintain a safe distance while inspecting the plane for signs of lightning strikes and other issues. [Read more…] about Drones and the Future of Travel: What’s Next for Airline easyJet?

FAA approves Reliable Robotics’ autonomous flight certification plan

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Reliable Robotics, a developer of safety-enhancing aircraft automation systems, says its certification plan has been formally accepted by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The Reliable autonomous flight system enables continuous autopilot engagement through all phases of aircraft operation including taxi, takeoff and landing.

This landmark achievement marks unrivaled progress towards the certification of fully automated aircraft. [Read more…] about FAA approves Reliable Robotics’ autonomous flight certification plan

AutoFlight makes history with world first formation flight of three autonomous eVTOL aircraft

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In a milestone moment for the aviation industry, AutoFlight, a leader in autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology, successfully executed a world-first formation flight of three autonomous eVTOL aircraft in Shanghai, China.

Three of AutoFlight’s industry-leading “Prosperity I” models were involved in the groundbreaking flight, demonstrating the company’s capability in rapid prototype design, manufacturing, and its ambition to shape the future of aerial transportation. [Read more…] about AutoFlight makes history with world first formation flight of three autonomous eVTOL aircraft

Reliable Robotics conducts autonomous flight demonstration at Travis Air Force Base

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Reliable Robotics, a specialist in safety-enhancing aircraft automation systems, has provided a demonstration of its autonomous flight technology during the recent Golden Phoenix readiness exercise at Travis Air Force Base (AFB).

This exercise demonstrated capabilities that will help the United States Air Force (USAF) modernize and project safe, rapid, global mobility. During the flight, Reliable’s remotely operated aircraft system was engaged for an end-to-end automated mission including auto-taxi, auto-takeoff, climbout and auto-landing with an onboard test pilot.

Major Wesley Williams, Travis AFB Phoenix Spark Innovation Lab, says: “This signifies a historic milestone as an aircraft, under the guidance of Air Mobility Command airmen, autonomously taxied, took off, and landed at an AMC base for the first time. [Read more…] about Reliable Robotics conducts autonomous flight demonstration at Travis Air Force Base

Reliable Robotics and NASA complete ‘first-of-its-kind’ flight tests to advance aviation safety

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Reliable Robotics, a specialist in safety-enhancing aircraft automation systems and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), says it has completed flight tests designed to substantiate the use of existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) primary surveillance radar (PSR) data to improve the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS).

Reliable Robotics has been working with NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign since 2021 to advance the safe, secure and efficient integration of remotely piloted aircraft systems.

Of note – the FAA granted NASA limited access to PSR data for these specific flights conducted by Reliable Robotics – a step towards utilizing existing radar infrastructure for Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems. [Read more…] about Reliable Robotics and NASA complete ‘first-of-its-kind’ flight tests to advance aviation safety

Xwing’s uncrewed aircraft system becomes FAA’s first certification project

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Autonomous aviation company Xwing has submitted a Project Specific Certification Plan (PSCP) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), becoming the first Standard Category large unmanned aerial system (UAS) to receive official project designation.

This marks the beginning of the process for approval of uncrewed commercial cargo operations in the national airspace.

Unlike other aviation projects that focus on augmenting piloted operations with autonomous technology or have Special Category certification, Xwing’s Superpilot technology integrates into existing type certified aircraft to enable uncrewed operations that work within the existing air traffic control system. [Read more…] about Xwing’s uncrewed aircraft system becomes FAA’s first certification project