Tony Murfin

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has spooled up to take the lead in drone warfare with its Replicator 1 program initiative.

Here are some details of the planned use of unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), potential new restrictions on Chinese drone imports, OEM GNSS changes and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) test flights.

Is it possible that we have already oversold the potential — or at least the timing — for when we expect operational electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis? United, Delta, Southwest, and other airlines seem intent on being part of the coming air taxi game.

More news of further contenders for the Loyal Wingman UAV role, extending reconnaissance UAV range and endurance using a commercially available hydrogen fuel-cell and more investment to move eVTOL air taxis toward manufacturing.

Read updates about consolidation in the UAV industry, artificial intelligence (AI) in UAV autonomy and the uphill path to electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) certification/introduction.

The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, along with the unrest in various universities across the United States in support of Gaza Palestinians, and the continued aggression by the Houthi rebels in Yemen against shipping, are impacting several aspects of our lives, including the rising cost of gasoline.

A recap of the U.S. DOD Replicator project and budget approval, the U.S. Navy’s decision to acquire long-endurance, surveillance UAVs and an update on one Loyal Wingman candidate flight trials.

Why was there a mix up in Tallahassee, Florida while trying to legislate for eVTOL air taxis and vertiports? Is China catching up on low-observable surveillance drones? And there’s news of an improved indoor UAV inspection system. This all appears to be happening in UAV-land this month.

NASA has announced that the semi-autonomous little helicopter on Mars has crashed, while US troops suffered from a UAV attack that caused serious casualties and Iran showed off a jet-powered kamikaze UAV.

Building illicit UAVs intended for terrorism may not be one of the best academic projects to undertake when you’re an ISIS supporter; Russia and Ukraine appear to be in a race to mass produce ever more sophisticated UAVs; and DARPA/Aurora appear to be headed to a relatively heavy prototype air vehicle.

Progress is being made toward a hybrid-electric approach for eVTOL passenger-carrying autonomous vehicles on the commercial side of UAVs. As the war continues in Ukraine, could the reduced cost of ‘UAV-warfare’ prolong any outcome?

GNSS jamming is escalating in and around Ukraine as the war drags on, while efforts to revolutionize shuttle services for passengers to and from major airports in the United States has taken positive steps in Tampa, Florida.

War has broken out between Israel and terrorist forces in Gaza. It would seem that the rockets used by Gaza were aimed rather than carrying on-board guidance, while Israeli air force bomb/rocket attacks have been carried out with some degree of precision.

UAV deliveries appear to have been successful for medical samples and medications, which are now being shipped regularly on time-sensitive routes by UAVs.

Urban air mobility shows up at the Paris Air Show; kamikaze UAVs are now playing a significant role in the war in Ukraine; India reacts and builds its own.

A couple of war in Ukraine unmanned air vehicle (UAV) stories and a response to the recent Open Letter by “Future of Life Institute” with over 200,000 signatures on advanced artificial intelligence (AI), which urged a six-month moratorium to allow the development of seemingly much needed AI regulations.

UAV’s are seeing more use in the war in Ukraine, U.S. Navy, autonomous ship operations are expected to be tested extensively and the use of collision-protected UAV is demonstrating high returns for nuclear facility inspections.

Since the initial instance of an unidentified object floating across U.S. airspace — later identified as a Chinese surveillance balloon — three additional unidentified aerial objects were spotted in North American airspace.

Browsing through the news from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last week, there seems to have been the regular number and variety of ‘robots’ demonstrating various capabilities from basic movement to almost complete human animation & speech. There were also a few more navigational and autonomous related demos that could be of more interest to our readership. In particular, the case was made for more extensive use of drones for deliveries and in agriculture.

Not to harp on an event that’s already passed out of the headlines and national coverage, but Hurricane Ian — a Category 4 storm that hit Florida in September — was full of destructive winds and caused major damage that could be with us for years before things get fixed. One source also indicated th…