Shield AI’s V-BAT selected for defense program

Photos courtesy of respective companies

Defense technology company Shield AI is receiving funds for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering’s (OUSD(R&E)) pilot program to accelerate the procurement and fielding of innovative technologies (APFIT).

Shield AI’s V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are semi-autonomous, long-loiter, vertical takeoff and landing-capable, with modular payload capability. The firm’s Hivemind artificial intelligence (AI) pilot software enables teams of aircraft to perform missions together autonomously, disconnected from the cloud.

Robotic Skies, Continuum Applied Technology partner

Robotic Skies and Continuum Applied Technology Inc., providers of CORRIDOR aviation service software, are partnering to create a global maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) network for next-generation unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft. The partnership provides Robotic Skies with customized software to manage its MRO operations while extending CORRIDOR’s maintenance support to emerging aerospace markets.

Using CORRIDOR software, Robotic Skies will manage MRO and track compliance by its global network of more than 240 independent repair stations.

Reveal Technology, Teal Drones demo multi-drone mapping

Teal Drones, a division of Red Cat Holdings, is partnering with defense tech company Reveal Technology on mapping software that automatically combines imagery from multiple unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to produce high-fidelity 3D maps.

Reveal’s Farsight mapping software blends computer vision, AI, and edge computing on handheld devices. No network connection is required, speeding up detailed map creation with data acquired simultaneously from multiple UAS, such as Teal’s 4-Ship multi-drone system.

Teal Drones also secured a licensing agreement to use software and technology from Autonodyne, adding exclusive autonomous capabilities to Teal’s drone product for military and government use.

Commaris partners with FIZUAS

Commaris, a Terrafugia Inc. brand of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), is partnering with FIZUAS Unmanned Aircraft Systems to sell Commaris’ Seeker UAV for commercial use. FIZUAS brings commercial application expertise in power, gas, oil, mapping, agriculture, law enforcement, and public safety, which are primary Seeker applications.

The electric, fixed-wing/vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) hybrid Seeker UAV offers 3+ hours of flight time without a battery change with payloads up to 10 lb at a top speed >75mph.

Terrafugia and Commaris are members of the Geely Technology Group.

Berry Aviation to develop Special Ops UAS

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Science and Technology Directorate awarded Berry Aviation Inc., a member of Acorn Growth Companies, $1.45 million to design and develop a new Group 1 unmanned autonomous system (UAS) for Special Operations Forces (SOF). The design employs advanced technologies for SOF members operating in contested environments. Berry Aviation’s UAS division operates from Stillwater, Oklahoma, with 21 employees across the state.