DroneMasters Briefing #188

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 236,000 people around the world drown each year. In water emergencies, every second counts. As a result,?water rescues?often pose particular challenges for emergency services. The automated drone system "RescueFly," newly developed under the leadership of the?Bj?rn Steiger Foundation, one of the most renowned emergency rescue organizations in Germany, is intended to support the rescue process in the future (SCIENCE & RESEARCH). A photographer has just demonstrated the use of drones in water rescue through his courageous efforts (CRAZY!).

In the field of mobility,?EHang?continues to surprise with demonstration flights in various places around the world and seems to be the company that has taken off in most countries. However, despite all its efforts, even the most famous?Chinese air taxi manufacturer?is struggling to establish?permanent flight routes. Whether this challenge can be overcome in the?U.K.?remains to be seen in a few years' time. According to an ambitious action plan by the?British Ministry of Transport, regular air taxi services will be offered?by 2028.?

At the same time, military interest in testing air taxis is growing. The?U.S. Air Force?is expanding its partnership with?Joby?and recently began working with the?Drone Racing League?to encourage more women to pursue careers in aviation.?

The?DroneMasters Academy?has also been successfully using the fascination of drone racing for years to get people?interested in future technologies,?sustainability, and?new career fields. The?DroneMasters Academy vacation courses?start at Easter in?Berlin, followed by?Dresden,?Cologne,?Munich, and?Switzerland. At the?DroneMasters Academy Hamburg, you can take off all year round. ?

Enjoy the news from the drone industry, and have a wonderful weekend!

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.

XPO+ Launcher?is?XPONENTIAL's new startup platform.?XPO+ Launcher?will host a three-day lounge during the next show in?San Diego,?April 23-25, where autonomous tech startups can showcase their latest product and service offerings, meet angels, VCs, and other key stakeholders, test-run their pitch deck on the Innovation Stage, and participate in the inaugural?XPO+ Launcher Award?onsite on April 24. The winning startup will receive a free booth at?XPONENTIAL EUROPE?in Düsseldorf in February 2025.?More info

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Partnership.?Joby Aviation?has expanded its partnership with the?U.S. Air Force?by committing to deliver two additional eVTOL air taxis to?MacDill Air Force Base, furthering the development and testing of electric vertical takeoff and landing technology. This move is part of a broader USD 131 million contract with the?Air Force's AFWERX program, bringing?Joby's?total commitment to four aircraft for U.S. Department of Defense sites.

Acquisition.?Terra Drone?has significantly increased its presence in the US by acquiring the largest stake in?Aloft, a key player in fleet management and airspace data. This move not only grants?Terra Drone?a strategic entry point into the thriving US drone market but also accelerates its ambition to develop a global Uncrewed Aerial System Traffic Management network.

Partnership.?Japanese eVTOL manufacturer?SkyDrive?has signed a letter of intent with?Bravo Air?for a pre-order of up to five?SD-05?air taxis for use at?Augusta Regional Airport. The partnership aims to develop commercial applications for the three-seater aircraft.

Business Idea.?Skynopoly, a startup based in Dortmund, Germany, wants to sell?overflight rights?over private property to drone operators and give the owners a share of the profits. As a testimonial for this idea, the startup won over?legendary German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who has already transferred the overflight rights for his property to the company.

TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT

Test Center.?ANRA Technologies?has partnered with the?Estonian Aviation Academy?to open a U-space test center in Tartu, Estonia, aimed at advancing Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) technology and aligning with EU U-space regulations. This collaboration seeks to establish Estonia as a key hub for U-space technology development, with the Tartu facility serving as a central point for research, testing, and the refinement of UAS technologies, supporting the move towards commercialized operations.

Demonstration Flight.?EHang's?autonomous air taxi, the?EH216-S, has completed its first flight in Costa Rica, marking its debut in Latin America. The demonstration flight is intended to pave the way for innovative transportation solutions in the airport-city shuttle and resort travel sectors.

Concept.?Vela Prima Nusantara, an Indonesian company, is developing the?Vela Alpha, a piloted eVTOL aircraft set to be Indonesia's first new civil aircraft of the 21st century, aiming for certification and service by 2028 in Asia and North America. The aircraft, which will have both battery-electric and hybrid-electric versions, was unveiled at the?Singapore Airshow?and is being developed in partnership with?Indonesian Aerospace.

Challenge.?The?Funke?Challenge of the?German Federal Agency for Jump Innovations?(SPRIND) encourages teams to develop fully autonomous drones that can fly safely in adverse conditions. Selected teams will demonstrate their technology at an autonomous drone race at?Erding Air Base?in autumn 2024, with the aim of revolutionizing logistics and mobility, including potential applications in delivery services, emergency operations and unmanned passenger transport.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Empowerment.?The?Drone Racing League?(DRL) has partnered with the?U.S. Air Force?to launch?Women Taking Flight, an initiative aimed at increasing women's participation in drone racing, sports, technology and aviation. The program is designed to recruit women as drone pilots and inspire them to take up the sport.

SCIENCE & RESEARCH

Water rescue.?The "RescueFly" project aims to revolutionize water rescue by developing autonomous drones that can help quickly and effectively in emergencies. Coordinated by the?Bj?rn Steiger Foundation?and funded by the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport, the project aims to?optimize rescue times, especially in inland waters. By using AI and innovative drone technology, RescueFly promises to improve the efficiency and reliability of water rescue services.

Remote-ID.?A study by?SkySafe?reveals that over 70% of major drone manufacturers are not prepared for the?FAA's?Remote ID requirements, with only one out of seven companies fully compliant. The research highlights significant inconsistencies in the implementation of the Remote ID technology, which is crucial for public safety and regulation compliance, indicating a gap between current manufacturing practices and regulatory standards.

POLICY & REGULATIONS

Action Plan.?The UK's Department of Transport has released the?Future of Flight?action plan, setting the stage for drone deliveries by 2027, the introduction of piloted flying taxis by 2026 with regular services by 2028, and autonomous flying taxi demonstrations by 2030, aiming to revolutionize transportation and stimulate the economy with advanced technology.

CRAZY!

Rescued.?A drone photographer who wanted to record seals instead initiated a rescue operation for a capsized kayaker. The photographer used his drone to locate the casualty and guide the rescue team, which ultimately led to the safe recovery and hospital treatment of the kayaker.

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