Bell APT carries 110 lb payload

Credit: Bell Flight

On Dec. 9, 2020, Bell Flight’s Autonomous Pod Transport (APT) flew with 110 lb of payload over an 8-mile route at Bell’s testing site near Fort Worth, Texas. To date, the APT test program has completed more than 300 flights.

“The APT flight test team continues to push the capabilities of our aircraft, and we are excited to hit this milestone,” says John Wittmaak, unmanned aerial systems program manager.

In 2021, Bell engineers plan to demonstrate several military and commercial operations with the APT while simplifying user interfaces and enhancing the aircraft’s autonomous features.

SkyVision team wins AUVSI award

The SkyVision joint effort between the Air Force, the state of Ohio, and industry partners won first place in the Technology & Innovation (Hardware – Platform) category of 2020’s Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI) Awards.

SkyVision’s ground-based detect and avoid capability enables UAS to sense and avoid other aircraft when operated remotely, especially when flown in beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) mode.

AeroVironment teams with Robotic Skies for UAS MRO

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) provider AeroVironment Inc. is teaming with Robotic Skies, a global maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) network for UAS, to provide field maintenance, inspection, and repair support for AeroVironment customers.

Robotic Skies Founder and CEO Brad Hayden says, “With Robotic Skies, AeroVironment customers can get the benefit of high-quality, OEM-certified maintenance and the peace of mind knowing they can meet any maintenance-related waiver requirements.”

Founded in 2014, Robotic Skies has 200 independently owned and operated certified repair stations in its growing network, spanning more than 40 countries.