Industry News
Look here to find articles and citings in the press about AV, our people, our products and topics that relate to us. If you find something elsewhere that we have not posted, then let us know by sending us an email at info@avinc.com.MSNBC: Electric Vehicle Range: What, Me Worry?
March 04, 2010
Studies show ‘range anxiety’ may be low hurdle for EV acceptance
To all those cities worrying about how they are going to get wired for electric vehicles: Fret not. "Range anxiety" may not be as acute as you think.
Studies of drivers who already have electric cars are finding that they prefer the convenience of charging at home, and despite their vehicles’ limited range, most are able to avoid public charging.
Popular Science Features Raven, Wasp And Global Observer in ‘UAV Field Guide”
February 23, 2010
RQ-11B Raven
Habitat: As the most prevalent UAV on the planet, with more than 7,000 units in service, you’d be hard pressed to find any Army combat brigade in Afghanistan or Iraq that doesn’t have one. Behavior: Three feet long and 4.2 pounds, the Raven is typically fitted with an electronically stabilized color video camera or an infrared video camera for night missions, which pan, tilt and zoom digitally to provide ground troops with “situational awareness.” The fleet is getting a digital upgrade that turns each one into a comm relay, effectively extending its six-mile range. Notable Feature: Light and durable, if it crashes, the wings just pop off, and are easily replaced.
The Networked EV: Smart Grids and Electric Vehicles: First Step, CA
February 22, 2010
Cities Prepare for Life With the Electric Car
February 14, 2010
The Association of the U.S. Army: Unmanned Aircraft add Versatility
February 08, 2010
The Association of the United States Army issued the following newsletter article:
In late 2008, Sgt. Michael Arons was operating an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) during a routine route scan in Afghanistan. Monitoring live video that the camera on the UAS was providing, Arons spotted three people placing improvised explosive devices. He called in for air support, and an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle soon flew to the area and hit the target.
Unmanned Aircraft Program Grows To Support Demand
January 21, 2010
WASHINGTON – Discussions about the Army’s use of unmanned systems in the combat theater are likely to focus on bomb-detecting robots and ground vehicles able to navigate through hazardous terrain.
Chances are the discussion won’t immediately go to one of the fast-growing fields in the Army: unmanned aircraft systems.
These systems, operated at the tactical level by troops on the ground, are bringing warfighters unprecedented intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability, said Army Col. Christopher Carlile, director of the Army Unmanned Aerial System Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Ala
Unmanned Aircraft Changing Soldiers’ Battlefield Perspective
January 13, 2010
Soldiers need the tactical advantages their unmanned aircraft systems provide to be integrated into their units, so they aren't forced to endure lengthy approval chains that can cost lives, according to UAS experts.
"Most of the living and dying is going on in squad, platoon and company level in this fight. So you have to give those Soldiers what they need, when they need it. And they need it all the time," said Glenn A. Rizzi, deputy director and senior technical advisor of the United States Army Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Ala.
US To Expand Eyes In The Sky Over Afghanistan
December 16, 2009
WASHINGTON – The U.S. military is adding more drones and expanding its video surveillance in the skies over Afghanistan to meet the needs of American forces as 30,000 more troops head into the war zone, a top Air Force general said Wednesday.
AV’s Small UAS Profiled In Machine Design Magazine
December 16, 2009
Every military leader facing hostile forces wants to know what's over the horizon, the location of enemy forces, and what they're up to. In the past, a trooper or two would venture out as scouts on an incredibly dangerous mission in the hopes of returning with useful information. These days, well-equipped armies no longer rely on humans scouts. Instead, they send up small unmanned aircraft, micro-air vehicles (MAVs), that can remain almost invisible to the enemy, stay on station for a few hours monitoring enemy forces or specific areas, and send back video images with GPS precision about where the action is - all without risking a life.
Size Matters in the Surveillance World
November 17, 2009
Size matters. (Well, at least in the surveillance world.) And three projects under way take dimensions to whole new lengths. On one end of the spectrum is AeroVironment’s NAV (Nano Air Vehicle) “Mercury,” which weighs less than an ounce. Mercury mimics a bird in flight with its ability to climb and descend vertically—as well as fly sideways and backwards—and is part of a new class of small remote-controlled gadgets able to fly indoors and gather intelligence in urban settings.
Electric-Car Target of 200 Million Urged by Nissan, FedEx
November 16, 2009
Nov. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Electric vehicles should provide three-fourths of U.S. driving needs by 2040, with oil imports effectively “reduced to zero,” executives from companies including Nissan Motor Co., PG&E Corp. and FedEx Corp. said.
Meeting the goal for more than 200 million electric vehicles would require $130 billion in spending on efforts such as building battery-charging stations, according to a report today by the Electrification Coalition, a Washington-based group led by transportation and energy industry executives.
“Heavy reliance on petroleum has created unsustainable risks to American economic and national security,” the group said. “Electrified transportation has clear advantages.”
U.S. Army + U.S.A.F. Urgently Need More UAV Pilots
November 12, 2009
While the U.S. Air Force struggles to train 400 UAV operators a year, the U.S. Army is training 1,400, and is increasing that to 2,300 by next year. Most of the army operators use the small (five pound) Raven UAV, which provides platoons, companies, and vehicle convoys with aerial reconnaissance. Interestingly, UAV operators spend about 1,200 hours a year controlling UAVs in the air, versus 450 hours for army helicopter pilots and even less for air force pilots in the combat zone. Most army UAV operators are enlisted troops, while all USAF operators are officers. The Raven training lasts approximately 80 hours, but this tiny UAV was designed for ease of use. It takes about five times longer to train operators for larger UAVs such as the Shadow and Predator.
Companies in Electric Transportation Value Chain to Form Electrification Coalition
November 11, 2009
Business leaders representing the entire value chain of an electrified transportation system will hold a press conference on Monday, 16 November to announce the formation of the Electrification Coalition and the release of its Electrification Roadmap, a report outlining a vision for the deployment of electric vehicles and infrastructure on a mass scale.
US Army Eyes STUAS Drones For Battalions
October 15, 2009
US Army officials have identified a gap for a battalion-level unmanned aircraft system that could be addressed by platforms such as the Boeing/Insitu Scan Eagle or AAI Aerosonde.
In the interim, the army is fielding a family of Wasp, Puma and Raven micro-unmanned systems - all made by Aerovironment - for platoon- and company-level operations and an extended-range version of the AAI RQ-7C Shadow for brigades.
More Unmanned Aircraft Striving To Eliminate IEDs
October 08, 2009
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Oct. 7, 2009) -- The Army trained more than 1,400 Soldiers, Marines and civilians to fly unmanned aircraft systems in 2009, and expects to train more than 2,300 in 2010. A group of aviators at the Association of the United States Army's annual meeting Tuesday discussed the use of unmanned aircraft systems for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Human-Powered Helicopters Get a Bigger Carrot
September 02, 2009
Inventors and engineers love a prize. Dangle a big enough carrot in front of them and you’re likely to get results. This has been especially true in aviation. In the early days there was the $25,000 Orteig Prize, which Charles Lindbergh claimed when he flew the Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic Ocean to Paris in 33-1/2 hours. More recently, the $10 million Ansari X-Prize spurred a private space race.
Firms Vie For Share Of Growing Unmanned Plane Market
August 12, 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A drawdown of U.S. troops in Iraq may slow sales of some unmanned aerial vehicles after years of exponential growth, but demand from civilian agencies and foreign countries will underpin the market for years to come, industry and defense officials said on Tuesday.
Drone Aircraft Market Surges In U.S.
July 30, 2009
The U.S. Air Force on July 23 released a report detailing the potential future use of unmanned drones as bombers, cargo transports and in attacking "swarms." The market for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) has surged over the last decade, driven by proven operational successes in Iraq and Afghanistan and by Israel's extensive usage. The total UAS market (air vehicles, ground control equipment and payloads) is expected to be worth $55 billion through 2020.
How Robot Drones Revolutionized The Face Of Warfare
July 23, 2009
Barely an hour's drive from the casinos of Las Vegas, a group of unassuming buildings have become as important as the trenches were to WWI. The big difference? Today's warriors are fighting without getting in harm's way, using drones to attack targets in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Fleet Of Spy Planes Gives U.S. ‘An Edge’ In Afghan Mission
July 22, 2009
U.S. forces in Afghanistan are relying more than ever on surveillance aircraft as they seek out insurgents, from cutting-edge drone technology to the venerable U-2 spy plane, according to interviews and information released at USA TODAY's request.
Betting Big - And Small - On Electric Cars
July 14, 2009
The cars of the future will run on electricity, most major automakers agree on that. What they don't agree on is how soon drivers will be ready to fully embrace electric power and how aggressively to push electric cars.
Vancouver Council Considers Mandatory Installation of Electric Car Chargers
July 08, 2009
City could require 10 per cent of new condo parking spots to include electric car chargers.
New Satellite Co. Seeks to Address U.S. Military's Unmet Demand for Communications & Data Relay Capacity
July 02, 2009
A clutch of former Pentagon brass is helping to start a company that offers a new service: satellites intended solely for military communications that would be built, launched and owned by private investors.
Inside the Pentagon's New Plans for Lethal Drones
June 18, 2009
Esquire.com gets an advanced look at the Air Force roadmap to better robots – flying multi-missile hitmen, floating multi-target guidance systems, flapping suicide bombers – and how they can zero in on Al Qaeda without costing Hillary her job.
UAS Market Challenges Traditional Aerospace
June 15, 2009
With armed forces taking unmanned aircraft more seriously, is the aerospace industrial base ready to meet the emerging requirements? The answer is yes, and no.
Gates says Next-Generation Bomber Might Fly Without Pilot
May 27, 2009
Defense Secretary Robert Gates told lawmakers Thursday he is considering making the Air Force's next-generation long-range bomber a pilotless aircraft -- an ambitious undertaking that would put unmanned technologies at the forefront of U.S. offensive military capabilities.
Visualizing the Grid
April 27, 2009
The U.S. electric grid is a complex network of independently owned and operated power plants and transmission lines. Aging infrastructure, combined with a rise in domestic electricity consumption, has forced experts to critically examine the status and health of the nation's electrical systems.
An Aged Electric Grid Looks to a Brighter Future
April 27, 2009
The nation's electricity grid is facing some huge challenges — it's outdated and unprepared for increasing demand and a future that includes more renewable sources of energy. In a weeklong series, NPR is examining the state of the nation's electricity infrastructure.
Military Embraces Green Energy
April 26, 2009
Reporting from Ft. Irwin, Calif. -- Inside a futuristic-looking dome that rises from the sandy wasteland of the high Mojave Desert, soldiers in plywood cubicles work at computers powered by solar panels and a towering wind turbine.
The ‘Eye in the Sky’ Keeps Soldiers Out of Harm’s Way
April 25, 2009
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Kirkuk, Iraq – A group of insurgents wait in the dark to ambush a convoy. They sit patiently, eager, having planned the attack and thinking they know what to expect. A few minutes pass and then –suddenly – they are inexplicably blinded by spotlights as Soldiers seemingly from nowhere take advantage of their disorientation and safely disarm them. There was one thing that the attackers did not consider; the "eye in sky" that can see in the dark.
Learning green: Manufacturers go eco?
April 16, 2009
When we look out across the business landscape today, we can see a number of things looming that might make profitability difficult. A contracting economy is right up top as a primary concern, and that makes every new decision increasingly important. A wrong step is magnified when times are tough. So what are we to make of "Green Business"? It's a concept bouncing around the media and the internet that purports to improve the efficiency of workplace operations while minimizing the impact of productivity on the local (and some say "global") environment.
Unmanned Plane to Inspect Inland Powerlines - ABC Online (Australia)
April 15, 2009
Ergon Energy and the Australian Research Centre for Aerospace (ARCA) are studying the feasibility of using UAS instead of manned helicopters to inspect Queensland's inland electricity network. ARCA Director Rod Walker says his organization has already used UAS in the past to check powerlines between Wondai and Murgon in the South Burnett. "It all comes down to cost benefit-what UAVs can do is fly for extremely long periods of time...They can fly at quite low altitudes-lower than you want to routinely fly in a fixed-wing aeroplane."
San Francisco’s Hybrid Taxis Prove Their Worth
March 30, 2009
Reporting from San Francisco - Even here, in the capital of true believers in one thing or another, Paul Gillespie stands out. The veteran cabby and former president of the San Francisco Taxicab Commission is one of the reasons this city's taxi fleet is vying to be the most environmentally correct in the country. After years of advocating for hybrid taxis, Gillespie, who says he has "the carbon footprint of an Ethiopian child," now has proof that they are green in more ways than one.
ISR Operations: ‘Eye in the Sky’
March 23, 2009
"Clearly, airborne ISR capability has become indispensible to successful ground and air combat operations, and the U.S. Air Force brings the lion's share to the battle," said Col. Eric Holdaway, director of intelligence for Air Force forces in the Middle East and Central Asia. With respect to combat operations, the ISR mission provides a level of planning, analysis and targeting support never seen before in the history of warfare.
Demand Grows for More Remote-Controlled Drones on the Front Line
May 23, 2008
WASHINGTON (CNN) - The demands of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are behind a new push by the Pentagon to increase the ranks of one of its most tireless fighting machines: remote-controlled attack aircraft called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAVs.
Secretary of Defense Gates Calls for More Unmanned Aircraft
May 23, 2008
Unmanned aerial vehicles, Defense Secretary Gates said, can give ground commanders instantaneous information about what they're facing - such as a live look at someone planting an improvised explosive device miles down the road a convoy is using - without putting pilots or ground-based scouts at risk.
Some Defense Companies Could Benefit from Obama Presidency
May 14, 2008
Goldman Sachs said Tuesday they expect a Barack Obama presidency would cut into earnings for many military contractors by reducing funding for large weapon platforms in favor of increasing soldier recruitment.
