Drones

NUAIR is pioneering the protected operation of drones above folks

NUAIR and the New York UAS Test Site show a way for safe drone operations over humans: The latest collaboration with Workhorse and Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions (AVSS) is the fifth drone parachute validation for NUAIR, enabling scalable and economically viable advanced unmanned aerial operations.

The FAA’s rules for drone operations over people require operators to verify that they can meet impact thresholds in order to limit the potential damage that could result from a drone crash. Attaching a drone parachute enables operators to adhere to these impact thresholds. Recently published ASTM International standards for drone parachutes make it easier for operators and manufacturers to evaluate parachute solutions: however, recovery systems must demonstrate rigorous tests in order to demonstrate compliance.

As the FAA UAS Test Site, NUAIR and the New York UAS Test Site can act as an external validation service for drone companies that exceed the limits of current regulations. NUAIR recently partnered with AVSS and drone manufacturer Workhorse to test the AVSS parachute recovery system for ASTM standards – and enable Workhorse to expedite its durability and reliability testing requirements for drone operations over people.

“The AVSS drone parachute tests being conducted at the Oneida County’s UAS proving ground in Griffiss are critical to ensuring safe commercial drone operations,” said Anthony J. Picente Jr., Executive of Oneida County. “Our proving ground continues to lead the way in drone development, and this latest standard validation will take the entire industry to new heights. With our partners at NUAIR, Oneida County is thriving as a world-renowned center for UAS innovation. “

From the NUAIR press release:

NUAIR has now carried out three successful validations for AVSS, the first of which was completed in 2020. Because drones come in many shapes and sizes, parachute validation is specifically tied to the type of drone that was used during the tests. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bans most drones from flying over people. New rules recently released by the FAA have simplified the process of legally overflying people, one of which eliminates the need to apply for a person overfly exemption if the drone pilot can demonstrate he has robust security measures in place that conform to an FAA-Recognized Compliance Method (MOC). The MOC is still being completed, which includes the parameters of a validated parachute rescue system.

“The collaboration with AVSS has been great again and I am delighted that we were able to successfully validate your product on two additional platforms,” ​​said Tony Basile, Chief Operations Officer of NUAIR. “Our crew at the New York UAS Test Site have these validation tests under control, making the entire process effortless and inexpensive for our customers.”

“When AVSS had to meet the ASTM standard with Workhorse, a partner for drone deliveries, NUAIR was an obvious choice to partner again,” said Josh Ogden, CEO of AVSS. “Working with the NUAIR team ensures that our customers know that we have worked with the leading FAA testing facility and that our parachute recovery system is properly validated. As we continue to integrate our various PRS models with commercial drones and drone delivery platforms, we look forward to continuing this partnership. “

The validation of AVSS’s PRS product on the Horsefly enables Workhorse and its partner United Parcel Service (UPS) to advance the reality of economically viable routine parcel delivery via drones. The Horsefly is a bespoke, US-made drone designed to be safe and efficient, capable of flying autonomously, and withstanding the rigors of daily deliveries. Workhorse has developed electric delivery vans that are coupled to the Horsefly and offer a take-off and landing area on the roof with charging functions and a control center for the driver to program the delivery route of the drone.

“We are very pleased with the performance of our team,” said John Graber, President of Workhorse Aerospace. “You have worked for months preparing yourself for the rigors of ASTM qualification, and it speaks well for our team and our product that we passed 45 out of 45 test events without errors. We couldn’t be more proud of our employees and their work. And that includes the AVSS and NUAIR teams. They are demanding professionals who meet very high standards. We look forward to using our unmanned flight systems with ASTM-approved AVSS parachute systems. “

Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional marketplace for drone services, and a passionate observer of the emerging drone industry and regulatory environment for drones. Author of over 3,000 articles focusing on the commercial drone space, Miriam is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam graduated from the University of Chicago and has over 20 years experience in high-tech sales and marketing for emerging technologies.
For advice or writing on the drone industry, email Miriam

TWITTER: @spaldingbarker

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