Drones

Plus, AI will help make offside calls at the World Cup, research reveals social media users’ satisfaction with Twitter and Facebook, and the Department of Energy gives out a major loan.

SAIC, based in Huntsville, Ala., has developed technology to track and take control of drones suspected of smuggling drugs or invading restricted airspace. The technology can identify and take command of UAVs roughly six miles away.

Seeing how students responded to drone pilot competitions at her school, a San Antonio-area teacher is gathering support to persuade the University Interscholastic League to make it an official state academic program.

Oregon Department of Forestry type 3 helicopters were forced to reroute after a personal drone was spotted in the air above a structure fire that spread into nearby wildlands in Medford yesterday.

Reports of drone sightings — and even a “guy in a jetpack” — have prompted the Transportation Security Administration to use new technology to spot, track and identify drones in LAX restricted airspace.

The Torrington City Council has tabled a vote to approve the purchase of two drones for police use after citizen privacy concerns were raised. The vote has been postponed until the September meeting.

A newly acquired DJI Matrice 30T thermal drone system is set to replace the drone that the department has been using since 2018. The drone will be used in locating missing persons and surveying fires.

Connecticut high school students were building drones last week in a summer workshop for the Career Pathways program, designed to give them experience, including internships or apprenticeships, before graduation.

The Anderson, Ind., Police Department recently received funding to purchase a drone as well as the accompanying software package to use it through a community safety grant from CenterPoint Energy.

Autonomous research vessels produced by Saildrone Inc. will be traversing Lake Superior to study fish populations. The uncrewed, solar-powered boats will be active in the area between Aug. 8 and Sept. 30.

Cities, especially those in fire-prone areas, are increasingly exploring tech-based alternatives to traditional fireworks shows. While not everyone is a fan of the switch, officials are discovering unexpected benefits.

After several years of pushing, the Phoenix Fire Department has officially launched its unmanned aircraft systems program, laying the policy and best practices groundwork for other city departments to follow suit.

Hosting STEM Camp for the nonprofit CFES (College For Every Student) Brilliant Pathways, a New York community college gave students lessons in drone package delivery and various STEM career fields.

Orting Police Department's drone is equipped with a Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) system, which can detect temperature variations. The tool is useful for both police and rescue operations, officials say.

A contract to track down illegal fireworks by drone in Kern County, Calif., was justified, according to fire officials. Initial estimates show the drone flagged 100 potential violations with citations of $1,500 each.

The historically Black university is working with AeroX and Piedmont Flight Training so students in the Mecklenburg County area can complete a four-year degree in aviation science and unmanned aircraft systems online.

Kern County Fire Chief Aaron Duncan demonstrated the department's new technology during a press conference attended by representatives of various county agencies and local hospitals, which also provided safety tips.

California State University's annual five-day workshop trained more than 70 students, professors and industry professionals in safety, data management and real-life applications of the technology.