drones

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Swarm Robotics: Call for Research Papers

This is an invitation to all those interested or working in the field of swarm robotics to submit a paper to Nature.

Guest Editors: Dr Antonio Tsourdos of Cranfield University and Dr Henry Leung of Calgary University, Canada.

Submission deadline: 29 May 2025

Inspired by the collective behaviour of social insects, swarm robotics involves the coordination of large numbers of relatively simple robots, often relying on local interactions and decentralised control, to perform tasks that would be difficult or impossible for a single robot to accomplish. Potential applications of swarm robotics are diverse, including environmental monitoring, search and rescue, and medical applications.

This Collection welcomes original research from the fields of robotic and software engineering, as well as complex systems and network theory.

For More Info & Submission Info

9 October 2024

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Drone Industry Insights release their report Global State of Drones 2024

Here are the key insights from DII’s report on the Global State of Drones 2024 :

  • Global Representation: The survey collected 964 responses from 94 countries, with a decreasing concentration from the top 10 countries, indicating broader global participation.
  • Industry Trends: The service sector remains the largest, with mapping and surveying as the most common drone applications. Improving work safety is the top reason for adopting drone technology.
  • Market Expectations: Post-pandemic, the industry shows cautious optimism with steadily improving expectations and perceived reality.
  • Challenges: Regulatory obstacles remain the top challenge, followed by client acquisition and domestic politics. Inflation and public acceptance have decreased in importance.
For further information & to read the report

1 October 2024

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Protected: Tips about NOTAMS – MEMBERS ONLY

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Protected: DASA: Early Market Engager for Uncrewed Systems

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CAP3035: 2947 Drone Operational Authorisation holders

The CAA published CAP3035, its 2023 Annual Safety Review on 19 Sep 2024. Of course, the key piece of information is about incidents for aviation as a whole, including for RPAS. But what attracted our attention first was the updated numbers on the drone community, including the number of Operational Authorisation holders, representing the Specific category in the UK.

As of 30th June 2024, there are 601,980 active registered drone flyers and operators (a 17.1% increase on 2023) which consists of:
# 236,709 Active Operators: of which 7,569 are Organisations and 229,140 are Individuals
# 365,271 Active Flyers: of which 7,441 are under 13 and 357,830 are aged 13+

The CAA also has current authorisations for:
# Approximately 18,500 Active Remote Pilot Competency Qualification Holders
# 2947 Active Specific Category Operational Authorisation Holders (as of 19 Sep 2024)
# 26 Active Recognised Assessment Entities
# 4 Independent Flying Associations.

Checking odd data – Operational Authorisation holders

Upon reviewing the recently published CAP3035, ARPAS-UK noticed an inconsistency in the figure of Operational Authorisation holders, which appeared at odds with data from previous years. It was so low that it was either really bad news or an error. We promptly raised the issue with the CAA, they confirmed the error within 30 minutes and have since corrected the document.

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Protected: ARPAS-UK Keynote Presentation at DroneX 2024: MEMBERS ONLY

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Great engagement at DroneX 2024 – ARPAS-UK’s Debrief

What a show! The quality of conversations at DroneX 2024 was high with what felt like more attendees than in previous years. We certainly barely stopped, to the extent that the only photo we took of the team at the show was taken at the end of the two days and after we’d packed up!

That includes our new member of staff, Annabel, who was thrown in at the deep end somewhat, having only joined us two weeks ago. However, her background in ROV-supported subsea inspection in the oil and gas industry combined with her natural curiosity about the drone industry are already proving that she will be an asset to ARPAS-UK and our membership. Welcome on board, Annabel!

ARPAS-UK taking part in CAA and DFT Panel

Highlights included the panel discussion moderated by Amanda Smith, Sellafield, with Sophie O’Sullivan, CAA, Vickie Murdy, UKRI, Anne-Lise Scaillierez, ARPAS-UK, and Louisa Smith, Apian, on “Unlocking Drones for UK industry: what can innovators, the regulator and government do to help?”. There was more audience than chairs in the theatre! Anne-Lise had the challenging task of sharing industry concerns

Our Keynote Presentation

Graham Brown, Chair, and Anne-Lise Scaillierez, CEO delivered a keynote address on industry updates and ARPAS-UK activities to support the industry. Their presentation can be accessed in this password protected post – MEMBERS ONLY

Part of the Jury for the AAM Innovation Award

Finally, Anne-Lise had the honour to be a judge together with Nicola Ridd, DfT, and Gary Smith, CAA, for the DroneX Advanced Air Mobility AAM Award. The jury delivered the AAM Award to Inteliports. 

In addition, don’t forget to:

So good to meet in person!

DroneX 2024 – the ARPAS-UK Team

26 September 2024

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Protected: Our response to CAA’s consultation on Detect and Avoid policy – MEMBERS ONLY

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ARPAS-UK Launches Membership Survey – Have Your Say!

ARPAS-UK is thrilled to announce the launch of a new survey aimed at its members and the wider drone industry. This is your chance to provide valuable feedback on ARPAS-UK membership and help shape the future of the trade association.


Why Participate?
Your insights are crucial in helping ARPAS-UK understand the needs and expectations of its members. By sharing your thoughts, you can influence the direction of the association and contribute to the growth and development of the UK drone industry.


How to Participate & Make Your Voice Heard!
The survey is now live and will only take a few minutes to complete.

Access the Survey Here

19 September 2024

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Just Culture in UAS: Lessons from Experience in Aviation: WATCH AGAIN

Join us as we discuss Just Culture in UAS. This webinar is part of ARPAS-UK’s commitment to professionalising the drone industry.

In this webinar, we explore how the principles of Just Culture, widely adopted in the aviation industry, can be effectively applied to the rapidly growing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) sector.

Drawing on over 30 years of experience in aviation, including 27 years as an airline pilot and leader, we will discuss how fostering a culture of accountability and learning, rather than blame, can improve safety, operational efficiency, and incident management in UAS operations. Whether you’re a UAS operator, manager, or safety professional, this session will provide valuable insights into building a resilient and safety-focused organisational culture.

Register

About the Speaker:

David Thurston Director ARPAS, A320 Captain, UAS Operator Carrot Drone Services

With 30 years of experience in the aviation industry, including 27 years as an airline pilot, I have extensive expertise in airline operations and management. My career highlights include promoting a ‘Just Culture’ within the industry and managing pilots involved in operational incidents. I also run a successful Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) business, specialising in inspections and mapping services.

Carrot Drone Services

View other ARPAS-UK webinars/cpds.