Inside Unmanned Systems

AUG-SEP 2016

Inside Unmanned Systems provides actionable business intelligence to decision-makers and influencers operating within the global UAS community. Features include analysis of key technologies, policy/regulatory developments and new product design.

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18 unmanned systems inside   August/September ugust/Septe   August/September   August/September be   August/September 2016 0 2016 6 2016 AIR REGULATION saving time and money while also enhancing safety. Today, there are only two ways to fly be- tween structures, Eisenrauch said. One is to use a daisy chain with an observer on the ground to keep the UAS in sight and the second is to fly a manned aircraft that can see the UAS and report back to the operator if it deviates from its path. Both are fairly expensive and time consuming. Trying to f ly beyond visual line of sight with these restrictions is cumbersome and not very practical, said Grant Leaverton, vice president and general manager for A AIR, a company that provides inspection services for a variety of industries using the Falcon 8 and the Steadi- Drone Mavrik drones. But the regulations the FAA put in place are a start, he said. He would like to see the FA A continue to evaluate the regulations and learn more about how opera- tors can safely f ly beyond visual line of sight to effectively assess transmission lines, gas pipe- lines and other similar assets. The beyond visual line of sight limitation also could hold the health care industry back, said Dr. Jeremy Tucker, Vice President Patient Safety and Regional Medical Director at MEP Health. Many health-related applications in- volve delivering blood, medication or other Photo courtesy of Aeryon Labs A variety of industries can benefit from night UAS flights, such as building inspection and security, but probably none more than LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES and FIRE DEPARTMENTS. Most law enforcement calls come in at night, Mesa County Sheriff's Office Quartermaster and unmanned aircraft manager Ben Miller said, and being able to check a building at 2 a.m. after a burglar alarm or track a criminal running through the woods would be a huge benefit. Night flights also could do a lot to monitor and ultimately help control wildfires, Miller said. These flights would let responders know if the fire changed direction overnight, giving them a better idea of where to hit the fire in the morning and if they need to evacuate any homes. "Wildfire monitoring at night is going to be a big deal," Miller said. "If you can have a UAV circle around a fire at night to watch fire activity using an infrared camera, that is huge and it's a very doable, realistic application." THE BENEFITS OF NIGHT FLIGHT "THE ENTIRE UAS INDUSTRY benefits from this rule." Ben Miller, Mesa County Sheriff's Office quartermaster and unmanned aircraft program manager The Aeryon Labs SkyRanger small UAS. Continued from page 15

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