UNMANNED SYSTEMS UPDATE

30 Sep 05. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has extended its Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance (CTA) with General Dynamics Robotic Systems for an additional three years. The contract, which continues General Dynamics’ role as the lead for a robotics-focused consortium, has a value of approximately $28m and will run through fiscal year 2009. General Dynamics Robotic Systems is part of General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD – News).

04 Oct 05. BGen EJ Sinclair – head of US Army Aviation – says putting UAVs into the Army’s blue force tracking software is ‘a great answer’ to the problem of airspace conflicts. ‘We’ve had three incidents (collisions between helos and UAVs) and we’re convinced this simple approach is an answer.’ Blue force tracking is a satellite based ID system in which objects carry transponders. ‘The UAVs can be tagged so you can ID them individually,’ he said, and targets show altitudes so ground commanders can see where they are and, more importantly, where they went. DSH BGen EJ Sinclair – head of US Army Aviation – says putting UAVs into the Army’s blue force tracking software is ‘a great answer’ to the problem of airspace conflicts. ‘We’ve had three incidents (collisions between helos and UAVs) and we’re convinced this simple approach is an answer.’ Blue force tracking is a satellite based ID system in which objects carry transponders. ‘The UAVs can be tagged so you can ID them individually,’ he said, and targets show altitudes so ground commanders can see where they are and, more importantly, where they went. (Source: David Harvey, Shepherd Press)