http://gpsworld.com/micropilot-receives-2-million-donation-for-uav-flight-project/
June 11, 2018 - By Allison Barwacz
MicroPilot receives $2 million donation for UAV flight project
MicroPilot received a $2 million contribution toward its $5 million project to develop systems and processes that will allow certification to DO-178C airworthiness standards. In other words, MicroPilot aims to demonstrate a level of software reliability that will allow regulators to permit UAVs to operate over cities and towns.
MicroPilot is leading the Hi-Rise research consortium, a group of companies from different nations that is working to help achieve this goal.
“This is such a large project because the software and certification process for DO-178C compliance is complex and difficult,” said Howard Loewen, president of MicroPilot. “MicroPilot and the Hi-Rise consortium are always looking for new and innovative ways to assure regulators that the software is reliable.”
According to MicroPilot, it will use this contribution to further its goals to improve the regulatory and software certification framework for UAVs.
New Leica Aibot facilitates accurate, safe aerial surveys
June 12, 2018 - By GPS World Staff
Leica Geosystems has released the Leica Aibot, its latest unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system based on DJI’s aerial platform, the M600 Pro, designed to rapidly and autonomously enable digitizing of critical infrastructure.
Leica Geosystems’ UAV technology enables users to get a complete data set in less time with a user-friendly and innovative interface, opening new business opportunities while reducing time, costs and effort from with traditional data collection methods.
A proprietary software suite supports the new UAV workflows. Using Leica Infinity for point cloud, digital surface model and orthophoto generation enables surveyors to process and visualize aerial data, increasing productivity and speeding data delivery. Supporting users to share data to Cylcone and Cloudworx, the integration of the UAV point cloud with terrestrial scan data enables informed decisions, while complete data sets increase project efficiency.
Use in construction
Throughout a construction project lifecycle of planning, designing and construction, Aibot provides easy access to critical information to perform volume calculations and monitor site progress. From creating digital terrain models to stripping and bulk earthworks and trenching to finally fine grading, paving and compaction, the solution facilitates actuals comparisons. This provides a more transparent view of site progression monitoring and volume calculations with safer operations, to keep projects on schedule.
High-definition imagery and 3D mapping enable viewing of site mapping or progress documentation, meaning users identify gaps early with high accuracy, and save time and money at all project stages.
Automating operations
The new technology, developed in partnership with UAV manufacturer DJI, allows users to process and analyze millions of data points gathered from above and to visualize the data for actionable information. UAV data can be combined with existing survey technologies, such as TPS, GPS and laser scanning, for a more complete set of information.