Hitachi & V-TOL Execute Global Technology Agreement

Hitachi & V-TOL Aerospace have executed a Global Agreement to develop and commercialize a new generation of autonomous robotic products & services.

Designed to support Hitachi’s IoT cloud based platform Process Intelligence (HPI) an Industrial level Enterprise business solution, the collaboration is aimed at supplying the in-field robotic & Ai technologies to enable HPI to sense, process & action ‘core’ industry business requirements in real-time.

“Hitachi’s vision for HPI takes business innovation & understanding to a new level to benefit industry & society,” says V-TOL CEO Mark Xavier. He continued, “V-TOL has been offered a unique opportunity to work with a highly respected global corporate leader to deliver advanced technologies that will increase productivity & reduce waste in many of our core industries”.

Approved for release Hitachi/V-TOL 12 Sep 2017

V-TOL Attends Ag-Tech Israeli Trade Mission with QLD Govt

Queensland startups inspired by trade mission of a lifetime

Eleven Queensland AgTech startups have returned from a “life changing” Tel Aviv trade mission with key strategies to bolster Queensland’s burgeoning AgTech sector. The eleven companies, chosen from a very strong pool of applicants, represented diversity in the Queensland agricultural sector, both in the range of solutions they offer and their locations across the state with the startups coming from Cairns, Longreach, Gold Coast and Brisbane.

They have returned from the mission, which was based out of the Tel Aviv Landing Pad, motivated by the Israeli ecosystem which is second only to Silicon Valley. The businesses already report they have several strong leads to significant new business opportunities in areas including agricultural biotechnology, big data and farm management. Advance Queensland partnered with Startup Catalyst and Austrade to deliver the mission to that travelled to Israel from 5-14 August.

See More HERE.

World Bank Group Selects V-TOL Aerospace for UAV4Resilience

After an extensive global selection process, the World Bank Group (www.worldbank.org) has awarded Australian company, Queensland based, V-TOL Aerospace to deliver its UAV4Resilience Climate Change, Risk Management & Disaster Recovery UAV technology evaluation program. Designed to test how Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technology can assist in the resilience of A-PAC Coastal & Island Nations, the program is expected to run for up to 12 months with V-TOL UAS Flight Crews & Geospatial specialists conducting advanced operations in the region.

V-TOL will use multiple V-TOL manufactured UAS types (Fixed Wing, Multi-Rotor & Hybrids) fitted with various technologies including types never tested in this application before. “We are honoured to have been selected to deliver such an important initiative with global implications”, says Managing Director Mark Xavier. He continued, “V-TOL will use this opportunity to demonstrate V-TOL’s technical & Australia’s importance in delivering significant economic benefits to its region and the global community”.

New app to keep drones safe

A new Smartphone app has been released to make flying drones safer. The app clearly shows crucial drone no-fly zones and drone fly with caution zones for drones operated in the under two kilogram commercial category. This information can also be used as guide for recreational drone flyers and certified remotely piloted aircraft operators. The app uses a drone flyers location to display no-fly zones around major airports, the flight paths of smaller airports and helicopter landing areas.

Users will also see restricted and military airspace where drones must not be flown. The drone no-fly zones are shaded in red on the map. Orange shading is used to show fly with caution zones around areas where aircraft are known to operate at low altitudes. It is the first time an official app has been released in Australia to help drone flyers stay safe and abide by the safety regulations. Information is also shown for uncontrolled aerodromes and aircraft landing areas, with written advice about what to do when flying a drone in those locations.

The app has been produced with specialist drone software company Drone Complier and will be available in Android, iOS and web-based HTML5.

Get the “Can I fly there?” drone app now.

V-TOL Awarded QLD Government Ignite Ideas Grant to Develop Veuron

V-TOL is pleased to announce that it has been awarded an Ignite Ideas grant from the Advance QLD Fund, by DSITI, QLD Govt. The grant will be used to develop and field test VEURON™, a technology designed to provide the on-board computing power necessary to enable real-time data analytics for business intelligence tasks in addition to a sophisticated level of robot automation. “We expect this technology will take robotic productivity and safety to the next level”, said Mark Xavier CEO/MD of V-TOL.VEURON™ working with RelmaTech SIAM UTM will enable safer and more productive Multi-Aircraft, Multi-Task & Multi-Sensor Day/Night Operations in the National Airspace

V-TOL has commenced testing the VEURON™ capability in preparation for advanced field testing later this year. The flight program will be designed to collect the metrics required to establish the value VEURON™ equipped robots can deliver into Australia’s ‘core’ industries.

Advance Queensland is a $405 million whole-of-government initiative that aims to turn ideas into actions by investing in research and technologies, attracting new investment, building global partnerships and encouraging businesses to start and grow in Queensland.

https://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2017/3/29/business-growth-potential-ignited-by-palaszczuk-government-advance-queensland-funding

V-TOL Aerospace (www.v-tol.com), is a Queensland based Australian corporation that designs, manufactures enterprise level commercial RPAS. It is a CASA approved training organisation & focuses on advanced day & night RPAS flight operations using UTMs. V-TOL counts NGOs, Global corporations, ASX 200, Local, State & Federal Government agencies as customers.

V-TOL Conducts Multi-RPAS Multi-Task Multi-Sensor (MMM) Day/Night BVLOS Operations

Under its unique CASA & RAAF beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) permissions, and building on its remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) operational & manufacturing experience, V-TOL is now conducting day/night BVLOS multi-aircraft, multi-task, multi-sensor flight operations. The aim of this current RPAS flight program is to demonstrate the significant value RPAS can deliver into Australia’s ‘core’ industries 24/7 in a safe & compliant manner. 

V-TOL GosHawks (FW) & Seekers (MR) conduct Multi-Aircraft, Multi-Task & Multi-Sensor (3Ms) Day/Night BVLOS operations over pasture, crops, herds, roads, fence lines, creek lines, dams, buildings and other man made assets, at Marburg Farm on 9 Mar 2017

“V-TOL needs to prove the significant value-proposition RPAS can deliver into Australia’s ‘core’ economic industries,” says Mark Xavier CEO and Chief Remote Pilot of V-TOL Aerospace.

He continues, “Only by conducting safe, cost-effective, real-world demonstrations can we win over the confidence of the public & the industries that will become the main beneficiaries of this technology. The 3Ms working 24/7 is what large organisations want and we intend to deliver them.”

V-TOL Aerospace (www.v-tol.com), is a Queensland based Australian corporation that designs, manufactures enterprise level commercial RPAS. It is a CASA approved training organisation & focuses on advanced day & night RPAS flight operations using UTMs. V-TOL counts NGOs, Global corporations, ASX 200, Local, State & Federal Government agencies as customers.

NHG Environmental Monitoring Operations

New Hope Group (NHG) Chief Pilot and mine surveyor Martin Leggat prepares to conduct a fix wing training flight with AUSA RePL course 02/17 student Brad O’Reilly. Brad is an Environmental Scientist with NHG. Brad looks forward to using advanced RPA technology to closely monitor NHG revegetation projects.

CASA Sub 2kg Videos

New drone rules start today, allowing you to fly your sub 2kg drone commercially without the need to be certified, saving you both time and money. Before you take-off, you must complete an online notification form and agree to fly within the standard operating conditions to keep everyone safe. Your drone is your responsibility. Know the rules—fly safe. More information available at httpss://www.casa.gov.au/rpa

V-TOL & RelmaTech Prepare for World First at Port of Brisbane

Working with New Hope Group (NHG) staff members Martin Leggat & Tony Nielsen (on L), Mark Xavier (V-TOL) and John Thynne (RelmaTech UK), conduct the final risk assessment for RPAS survey operations over the Queensland Bulk Handling NHG facility at the Port of Brisbane.

V-TOL has achieved a world first by securing the required permissions to conduct routine RPAS operations within 3NM of major International Airport at a major Port facility. “This is a commercial operation designed to provide valuable data for the New Hope Group on a regular basis,” says Mark Xavier.”

To the best of our knowledge, this type of operation has never been permitted before and was only achieved after testing our manufactured aircraft, and operational concept using RelmaTech’s SIAM (Secure Integrated Air Management) technology with the Royal Australian Air force at RAAF Base Amberley where V-TOL has operated RPAS for over 10 years “, he continued.

V-TOL is an innovative Queensland based CASA Approved RPAS manufacturer, fight operations & training organisation that has partnered with leading global technology companies such as RelmaTech Plc, UK, to deliver advanced regulator approved RPAS operations.

RelmaTech and V-TOL claim world’s first commercial RPAS/UTM flights

Secure airspace management for small drone operations is here

RelmaTech’s SIAM system – the leader in making small drone operations safe

BRISBANE, 22 August, 2016 – Australia’s V-TOL Aerospace has partnered with UK-based RelmaTech to conduct what they claim is the world’s first commercial flight operations of a remotely piloted airborne system (RPAS) supported by an Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) system.

On Thursday 18th August, V-TOL used one of its GosHawk variant RPAS to conduct routine volumetrics survey operations for its customer, New Hope Mining Group (NHG), at NHG’s Jeebropilly Mine site located 1.5 nautical miles from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley, west of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. The GosHawk II Surveyor – an electric fixed wing aircraft weighing less than 7 kilograms – was fitted with RelmaTech’s SIAM (Secure Integrated Airspace Management) technology.

IMG_5375

A V-TOL GosHawk II Surveyor RPAS fitted with SIAM (Photo courtesy of V-TOL Aerospace)

“As part of our technology development for minimising risk to third party airspace users, we are now fitting SIAM to all our aircraft, including aircraft we build for our customers,” said Mark Xavier, Director and Chief RPAS Pilot at V-TOL. “As the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the aircraft flying within RAAF controlled airspace (CTR), we are permitted to fit such technologies to our aircraft.”

“Thursday’s RPAS operations, consisting of two flights of 2 hours and 1.5 hours duration, were carried out under V-TOL’s current Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and RAAF permissions,” Xavier added. “It was our first commercial operations using SIAM under standard operating conditions – an event we and RelmaTech believe to be a world first. That these operations took place 1.5 nautical miles from the main runway of Australia’s largest active RAAF base during normal F-18 and C-17 operations is also of significant importance.”

RelmaTech provided RAAF Amberley Air Traffic Control with a login to the SIAM portal so they could observe V-TOL’s RPAS operations in real time. Login accounts were also provided to ATC sections at RAAF Base Williamtown, north of Newcastle in New South Wales, and Oakey Army Aviation Centre, west of Toowoomba in Queensland, as V-TOL conducts RPAS operations within the Oakey CTR on a regular basis and will soon commence similar operations within the Williamtown CTR.

“Because the SIAM feed from an operating RPAS can be viewed in real-time over the web, SIAM enabled Amberley ATC to have greater situational awareness of V-TOL’s RPAS operating within their active CTR,” said Philip Hall, Founding Director and CEO of RelmaTech. “Mark, as Chief Pilot of V-TOL, was also able to monitor the flights between meetings in the Brisbane CBD, and I watched the live feed from my home office in the United States. The NHG Operations Manager for the Jeebropilly site could also observe the operations on his iPad.”

Last Thursday’s landmark flights come just a week after V-TOL demonstrated SIAM to representatives of Defence Industries and the Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, Queensland. In that demonstration, V-TOL had two RPAS flying at the same time in their training area; a V-TOL Hornet multi-rotor on a general flight test, and a V-TOL GosHawk fixed wing conducting a survey training mission. Each aircraft weigh less than 7 kilogram. The demonstration included a detailed briefing and viewing of SIAM’s composite live feed of the aircraft flying.

John Thynne, former Manager Safety Systems Office at CASA and now Manager Aviation Solutions at RelmaTech, says “SIAM offers an operative digital substitute for ADS-B and secondary radar, thus providing an effective alternate means of situational awareness in the aviation sphere. This technology will assist in allowing the aviation industry greater scope of operations into the future.”

With SIAM technology, Xavier can now monitor his company RPAS operations anywhere in the world from the Operations Room at V-TOL’s Head Office in Rocklea, Queensland – or wherever he is. “SIAM will enable safer and more advanced operations in the National Airspace, and we are excited to be able to make this capability available to our customers”, Xavier says. “As an OEM manufacturer and operator of unmanned aircraft, we believe it should be a requirement to fit all unmanned aircraft with SIAM technology.”

About SIAM

“SIAM offers a viable and robust solution to the critical issues confronting regulators and manufacturers responsible for ensuring the safety of low-flying RPAS,” Hall says. “SIAM represents an innovative integration of proven technologies and concepts used in civil aviation, online and mobile communications and information management, working in concert with existing transportation systems to ensure that small RPAS operations are safe for the full range of potential users.”

“With SIAM, RPAS and their operators can be identified and their permissions verified – and, where necessary, restricted,” Hall adds. “SIAM can determine whether the flight to be undertaken is restricted to Line of Sight or permitted for Beyond Line of Sight, and then oversee the flight accordingly. These and other capabilities, including separation assurance and collision warning, ensure that RPAS can be safely operated within an integrated managed airspace.”

About RelmaTech

RelmaTech is a UK-based company specialising in the development and operation of integrated technology-based solutions that provide for the safe and secure management of autonomous and semi-autonomous land, marine and air vehicle operations. RelmaTech also has representation in the United States and Australia. RelmaTech has lodged a world-wide patent application for SIAM.

About V-TOL Aerospace

Incorporated in 2004, V-TOL Aerospace is a Queensland-based 100% Australian owned SME and holder of CASA ARN: 750 709 and Unmanned Operator Certificate (UOC) 0074. V-TOL designs, manufactures, supplies, operates and supports fixed wing and multi-rotor RPAS for organisations and professionals from initial concept to sustainable commercial operations.

Media Contacts:

Philip Hall
Founding Director and CEO
RelmaTech Limited
London WC2H 9JQ, UK
T: UK +44 (0)20 8144 6021, USA +1 734-385-4321, Australia +61 (0)2 6100 8585
E: [email protected]
W: www.relmatech.com

Mark Xavier
Managing Director
V-TOL Aerospace
Rocklea, Queensland 4106, Australia
T: +61 7 3275 2811
E: [email protected]
W: www.v-tol.com