All posts by Jeff Salmon
Laser-powered UAS
As noted in our latest issue about tethered drones, the ability to power UAS from the ground exponentially increases flight times and allows the use of heavier sensor payloads. Tethering accomplishes this at the cost of range, however: generally 200-400’ with commercially available tethering systems. What if a system had the advantages of tethering and...
The Power of Tethered Drones
Before the FAA’s Rule 107 allowing UAS use for commercial work, we waited patiently (and often impatiently) for the day when UAS would be “unleashed.” Ironically, now a new class of UAS gets its power from actually being on a leash. Tethered drones use a hardware tether (as thin as a headphone cord) from the...
Straight on to Mars (and Beyond)
In the last issue we raised the question of whether mankind should go back to the Moon as a way to fuel future space exploration. While that article states the many salient reasons to take this path, many people feel we should aim higher and go straight on to Mars. (For insights on what geospatial...
Aerial Data Collection: Little Drone Takes on Big Airport
In a first-of-its-kind project, a UAS is tasked to collect aerial data of an international airport. By Jeff Salmon Normally when you add the words “drone” and “airport” to a sentence, it classifies as cringe-inducing. Just the opposite is true with this ground-breaking UAS project. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, usually abbreviated...
UAS: From FUD to FOMO
By Jeff Salmon Welcome to our semi-annual UAS-focused issue. Looking back over the last six years of UAS development, I am struck by how far the technology has progressed. Right before our eyes a new industry has developed, one that promises to bring far-reaching changes to our profession and indeed to the whole world. And...
Back to the Moon? Or—Straight on to Mars?
Editor’s note: at xyHt and Pangaea we’ve been adding “geo-space-al” content into our geospatial mix, and readers have been responding positively. Surveying on Mars is a great example. When you think about it, geospatial technology and space are inextricably intertwined; from GNSS to satellite-based remote sensing, we rely on space-based technology to tackle almost every...
