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.Foothill Transit Will Unveil Ecoliner and AeroVironment’s EV Charging Systems On Friday
September 02, 2010
WEST COVINA - Foothill Transit is about to get greener.
On Friday, the West Covina-based company will unveil three heavy duty, fast-charging electric buses that will serve Line 291 between La Verne and Pomona. The new Ecoliner vehicles will be able to travel 30 miles without a charge and can be recharged in less than 10 minutes.
"The Ecoliner name is intended to indicate to passengers that they are riding on a zero-emissions bus," said Doran Barnes, Foothill's executive director. "We're excited about this. This is huge, not just for us, but for the entire industry. This goes to our core mission of getting people out of their cars."
A View Of Afghanistan From A Forward Operating Base
July 29, 2010
Hot, dirty and looking for a fight
July 22, 2010 - Kevin Sites
Local legend has it that Alexander the Great built this mound of dirt in the remote western region of Afghanistan’s Zhari District as his command post in his failed effort to conquer this land.
Whether true or not, Ghundy Ghar, a winding, dusty hill — easily the highest point for miles in either direction — is now a combat outpost for another army — U.S. soldiers waiting for what could be a final showdown with Taliban insurgents on their own turf.
Electric Car Blowing In To Isles
July 20, 2010
Excited by potential savings, Hawaii drivers pile on a waiting list for the Nissan Leaf.
Hawaii motorists are getting charged up over the impending arrival of the Nissan Leaf, the first electric vehicle to be mass-marketed in Hawaii.
Nissan dealers say about 1,000 people in Hawaii have expressed an interest in buying the car. About a quarter of those put down a $99 refundable deposit. Nationally, there are about 14,000 people on the waiting list, according to Nissan.
Nissan LEAF Moving Closer to Launch
July 20, 2010
Leaf Coveters Lean Toward Leasing
Nissan North America Inc. expects the majority of its U.S.-market Leaf electric vehicles will be leased rather than bought, according to anecdotes from those placing reservations for the car.
“We know there’s a lot of interest in lease because consumers see the value receiving the tax credit up front,” NNA spokeswoman Katherine Zachary tells Ward’s. “But enough are expected to buy that we want to be able to offer both.”
EV Charging Basics
July 20, 2010
When Is A Charging Station Not A Charger? Not all charging stations are created equal, neither are electric cars.
With the help of governments around the world, literally tens of thousands of electric car charging stations are slated to be installed in public locations from New Castle to New York. The U.S. Energy Department estimates that by December of 2013 some 20,000 residential, commercial and public charging stations will be in operation in the United States. Some 1,300 charging stations will be installed in North East England, with another 25,000 more in and around London, itself, by 2015.
US Army Reveals Plans For UAS Operations
June 30, 2010
The US Army unveiled a 'new roadmap' for its future unmanned aircraft system (UAS) strategy at UV Europe in Brussels on 29 June.
Centred around a ’universal operator’, the army wants all of its seven UAS assets and accompanying unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to be operated from either the universal ground control station (UGCS) or ‘Mobile or Manned’ UGCS (M-UGCS), a senior officer revealed.
TechNewsDaily: 7 Unmanned Airborne Warriors
June 24, 2010
Army’s Futuristic Plan Features Drones That Need No Human Help
June 22, 2010
GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — Swarms of flying robots, pilotless helicopters that can swoop into hot landing zones to rescue wounded soldiers and drones that fire weapons without human intervention are some of the futuristic goals the Army is shooting for in the next 25 years.
The plans for such unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS, are outlined in a recent report, “Eyes of the Army – U.S. Army Roadmap for UAS – 2010-2035.”
Army Celebrates One Million Flight Hours for UAS
May 27, 2010
Pentagon UAS Display Celebrates Army Milestone
by Staff Sgt. Matthew Clifton
Secretary of the Army John McHugh visited the Army Unmanned Aircraft System interactive display at the Pentagon, May 25. The outdoor display in the courtyard celebrated the surpassing of one million flight hours of Army Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Army Lays Out Ambitious Plans to Expand Unmanned Aircraft Fleet
May 20, 2010
In coming decades, unmanned aerial vehicles will expand their role in warfare beyond intelligence gathering to become a vital component of attack, transport and resupply missions, said Army officials.
“Unmanned aerial systems must provide the ability not only to see, but to shape, the battlefield,” Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli said in a keynote address at the Army Aviation Association of America conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
Popular Mechanics: 10 Cars That Will Define the Electric Market-By Being First
April 15, 2010
Here are the 10 all-electric cars (with no gas engine whatsoever) that will define the EV market-by simple virtue of being the first to market.
The electric-vehicle hype continues, but very soon, there will be no more smoke and mirrors, performance promises and untested infrastructure challenges (Where do apartment dwellers plug in again?). That's right, EVs you can drive-and buy-are coming. The following is a compilation of EVs that are now or will soon be available for sale or lease in the United States and Europe. According to manufacturer claims, each is capable of attaining highway speeds of at least 65 mph and can travel a minimum of 75 miles between recharges. Please note that many of the prices listed are still early estimates (some won't go on sale until 2012), although it is important to keep in mind that in most cases, the batteries are included.
Saving Soldier Lives With Unmanned Systems
April 06, 2010
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- When it comes to unmanned systems, the Army's scientists and engineers along with program managers and contractors have given Soldiers on the battlefield tools designed to save lives and complete the mission against ever-changing threats.
And those systems are keeping the U.S. one step ahead of the enemy, said Maj. Gen. Jim Myles, commander of the Aviation and Missile Command and Redstone Arsenal.
"This is a war of adaptation," Myles said. "They counter. We counter. I've watched what you did to be an integral part of countering what the enemy wanted to do to us. Unmanned systems save lives. Soldiers are able to learn how to use these systems on the battlefield. You gave them the tools."
Official Hails Effect of Unmanned Aircraft on Warfare
March 25, 2010
(Washington, March 25, 2010) -- Perhaps no other weapon platform has more significantly transformed the way the U.S. military wages war in recent years than unmanned aerial aircraft, a senior defense official told Congress yesterday.
Study Says 1 Million Plug-in Electric Vehicles on the Roads by 2020
March 24, 2010
As automakers ramp up production of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), a group of U.S. and Canadian power grid operators who manage most of the North American bulk electric grid collectively studied the effect that PEVs would have on the electric power grid.
Unmanned Aircraft Hit Military Milestone
March 18, 2010
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 Global Observer, Raven and Wasp in ‘UAV Field Guide”
February 23, 2010
Global Observer
Habitat: Made by Monrovia, California’s AeroVironment, Global Observer will circle up to 65,000 feet above battlefields, disaster sites, borders—any locale in need of aerial surveillance or a wireless data link Notable Feature: Liquid hydrogen powers an electric generator, which drives four propellors.
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.
