DroneMasters Briefing #194

Today's news shows that the drone industry is booming - whether manned or unmanned. Business models are starting to fly everywhere, many of which have been under discussion for years but are now reaching technical maturity and have identified the proper demand. This applies to the military sector but, fortunately, to the broad field of logistics and mobility. 

As a result, the need for training and education is increasing. This was also clearly noticeable at the Berlin Air Show ILA last week. Our STEM training drone, which we presented with the Björn Steiger Foundation and MINTMASTERS, aroused great enthusiasm among trade visitors, parents and teachers alike. The CLARA educational package comprehensively introduces drone construction, control, and programming. It helps to build STEM skills among schoolchildren. CLARA and the associated curriculum developed by the DroneMasters Academy will be available for educational institutions starting in the fall of 2024. Interested parties can already sign up to the mailing list.

But that's not all; this week, the DroneMasters Academy once again excited the kids in the winning classes of the annual talent competition Zukunftsflieger on behalf of the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) about new technologies.

For the third year running, the DroneMasters Academy Hamburg has been a proud partner of ProTechnicale, a unique program designed to promote young women in aviation and aerospace. This initiative, which saw young women taking off in our workshops this week, underscores our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity in the drone industry. 

Please note: This is an abridged version of the DroneMasters Briefing. Further news, links to all sources and references to upcoming events are part of the DroneMasters Briefing via Email. Register here.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Funding. AURA AERO has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the development of its new two-seater electric aircraft, which is set to have its first flight soon. This campaign offers French and European investors the opportunity to support the company's vision and is part of an ongoing funding strategy that has already raised EUR 70 million.

Acquisition. Red Cat has signed a letter of intent to acquire FlightWave Aerospace Systems, a leading provider of VTOL drones, sensors, and software solutions. This acquisition will enhance Red Cat's capability to offer innovative UAV solutions for defense and commercial markets, particularly through the integration of the military-grade Edge 130 tricopter.

Partnership. Skyports and United Aviation have partnered to develop modular, fast-build vertiport concepts. This collaboration aims to provide flexible and cost-effective landing infrastructures for air taxis worldwide.

Partnership. Flymotion has signed an exclusive partnership with Roboticanto offer their hybrid ISR and CUAS platform Rooster in North America. The Rooster, capable of both rolling and flying, provides advanced surveillance features and a self-healing mesh network communication capability.

Partnership. Indonesian Aerospace has signed an agreement with start-up Intercrus Aero Indonesia to co-develop the new Sola eVTOL aircraft. This partnership includes the manufacturing, certification, and commercialization of the Sola, which can carry four passengers over 100 km at a speed of 150 km/h.

Partnership. Archer Aviation has partnered with South Korea's KakaoMobility in a USD 250 million eVTOL project. The agreement includes the purchase of up to 50 eVTOL aircraft to launch air taxi services in South Korea, aiming to revolutionize urban transportation.

Find trusted drone companies around the world. The Drone Industry Map helps you find reliable drone companies worldwide. As the world's largest public database, it provides unique access to global drone expertise - from operators to manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, and more.

TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT

Drone-Deliveries. The Walmart app has been updated to include a drone delivery feature, allowing customers to place orders directly through the app. This streamlines the process and expands the range of deliverable products, reaffirming Walmart's commitment to drone technology.

Transition. Archer Aviation has achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing a transition flight of its eVTOL aircraft Midnight, reaching speeds over 100 mph. This progress brings the company closer to the commercial use of eVTOL air taxis and highlights the aircraft's technical capabilities.

Flight Operation. Saudi Arabia has launched the world's first autonomous air taxi operations, transporting pilgrims between holy sites during the Hajj season. This initiative, overseen by the General Authority for Civil Aviation, utilizes the electric air taxi EHang EH216 and aims to promote cutting-edge transportation technologies and eco-friendly models.

Transport. The DJI FlyCart 30 successfully completed the first drone delivery to Mount Everest, transporting three oxygen bottles and 1.5 kg of supplies to a camp at 5,300-6,000 meters altitude. This mission highlights the advantages of drones for dangerous and hard-to-reach areas.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Education. Ukraine has become the first country in the world to create a drone military branch called the Unmanned Systems Forces. This unit will use a range of unmanned air, sea, and ground systems and plans to train 20,000 drone operators, which exceeds the active personnel of Canada's regular army.

POLICY & REGULATIONS

Certification. Amazon has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to expand its Prime Air drone deliveries. This permission allows Amazon to fly its drones over greater distances and serve more customers in the United States.

Legislation. A new bipartisan bill has been introduced in the US Senate to prevent foreign terrorists from accessing commercial drones. The legislation responds to a recent drone attack in Jordan attributed to Iran-backed militias, which affected American soldiers.

Regulation. The Urban Air Mobility Commission of the Madrid City Council has launched six working groups to regulate urban air mobility. These groups focus on regulations, safety, operations, infrastructure, environment, and economic operators to develop a future urban air mobility ordinance.

CRAZY!

Tornado. A drone video shows the tornado that struck Greenfield, Iowa last month. Not only are buildings devastated, but wind turbines are also snapped off like toothpicks.

Further news, links to all sources and references to upcoming events are part of the DroneMasters Briefing via Email. Register here.