Dronecode Project receives new investments
Yesterday the Dronecode Project announced that it had received investments from 27 new member organizations including DroneDeploy, Airmap, and Sentera. Qualcomm also increased its investment participation level. Specific amounts were not disclosed but the funding will allow the Dronecode Project, a non-profit that develops and maintains an open source platform for drones, to continue its work. They also announced 3 working groups:
- MAVlink Camera Working Group: aims to assist camera manufacturers implementing the MAVlink protocol in cameras. The group will also work with developers and manufacturers to expand the Dronecode platform so that it can support additional cameras and functions.
- Airspace Working Group: formed to establish common data types, units and formats that all airspace providers can transmit and receive. The working group will also lead the discussion on best practices for how to ensure separation between aircraft(s) and establish agreement on common response behavior.
- Hardware Working Group: the mandate of the hardware working group is to establish mechanical and electrical standards for interfaces to the autopilot and the peripherals. This will create a more formal interface between hardware and software development and unite efforts between Dronecode members and the open source developer community working to advance UAVs.
In making the announcement Chris Anderson, Dronecode Board of Directors chairman said “From increasing member investments to a growing, vibrant developer community, the Dronecode Project’s first year has been extremely exciting. By bringing efforts together to establish a common platform and utilizing open source best practices, we’re able to build the foundation for a new era of drone applications that extend from the camera to the cloud. The Dronecode ‘full-stack’ platform approach, combined with the hardware and software innovations of its members, will bring about a new generation of drones that are autonomous, aware of their environments, and continuously connected — an airborne Internet of Things.” Anderson is also the CEO of 3DR a U.S. based drone manufacturer.
You can learn more about the Dronecode Project here.
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Is it OK to lie on FAA reg form?
John Goglia of Forbes continues to drill down on the FAA’s wonky registration process. He continues to highlight holes in the process. Most recently he reports that the FAA may be allowing the Academy of Model Aeronautics to lie on their UAS registration forms. The specific issue pertains to whether or not checking a box on the reg form stating that you will observe the 400 foot altitude limit even if they have no intention of doing so and may be okay with the FAA. The reason being that according to FAA, as they wrote to Goglia, drones can operate in accordance with a “community based set of safety guidelines and within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization.” A set of guidelines that may not have that altitude restriction. You can find Mr. Goglia’s article here.
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Intel does Beethoven and sets a Guinness record
On a lighter note Intel together with Ars Electronica Futurelab has set a Guiness World Record for most drones airborne simultaneously. And they did it to Beethoven’s 5th.
Frank Schroth is editor in chief of DroneLife, the authoritative source for news and analysis on the drone industry: it’s people, products, trends, and events.
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