Applied Aeronautics
{{Short description|American drone manufacturer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Applied Aeronautics
| logo = Applied_Aeronautics_logo.svg
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| image = The Albatross UAV.jpg
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| type = Private
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| industry = Aerospace UAV Systems Surveying
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| founded = 2014; Santa Barbara, California
| founder = Ryan Johnston, Justin Martin, Meg Annand
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| hq_location = Austin, Texas
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| hq_location_country = United States
| num_locations = 2
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| products = Unmanned aerial vehicles
| brands = Albatross UAV
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| services = Drones, Avionics
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| website = {{URL|https://www.appliedaeronautics.com}}
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Applied Aeronautics is a commercial drone manufacturer. Founded in 2014, Applied Aeronautics is headquartered in Austin, Texas.{{cite web|url=https://www.builtinaustin.com/company/applied-aeronautics|title=Applied Aeronautics - Built In Austin|author=|date=|website=www.builtinaustin.com|accessdate=November 9, 2018}} Applied Aeronautics is a manufacturer of affordable drones and drone related accessories for commercial and government customers. Their flagship product is the Albatross, an electric, long-range, fixed wing UAV.{{Cite news|url=https://dronebelow.com/2018/04/13/aloft-with-applied-aeronautics-albatross-drone-interview-with-ryan-johnston-founder/|title=Aloft with Applied Aeronautics' Albatross Drone, Interview with Ryan Johnston, Founder|last=Smith|first=Phillip|access-date=May 16, 2018|language=en-US}}
History
Applied Aeronautics was founded by Ryan Johnston and Justin Martin with the goal of developing a UAV platform that would sit between the two extremes in the unmanned aircraft market: the low cost and high fragility of traditional hobbyist drones on one end, and the high cost of durable, professional drones on the other. Johnston and Martin were joined by Meg Annand in 2015 to lead operations.{{cite web |title=Applied Aeronautics Announces new Albatross BVLOS aircraft integrated with Iris Automation's Casia DAA solution |url=https://www.suasnews.com/2021/10/applied-aeronautics-announces-new-albatross-bvlos-aircraft-integrated-with-iris-automations-casia-daa-solution/ |website=sUAS News - The Business of Drones |language=en-gb |date=8 October 2021}} The company hoped to "swoop into the sweet spot in the middle, creating a useful tool that people could actually buy and use".{{Cite news|url=https://www.popsci.com/crowdfunded-albatross-wants-bring-quality-drones-masses|title=Crowdfunded Albatross Could Bring Quality Drones To The Masses|work=Popular Science|access-date=May 16, 2018|language=en}}
When the company launched in 2014, their UAV platform was roughly 1/10 the price of competing systems while carrying a similarly robust feature set.{{Cite news|url=https://www.popsci.com/crowdfunded-albatross-wants-bring-quality-drones-masses|title=Crowdfunded Albatross Could Bring Quality Drones To The Masses|work=Popular Science|access-date=August 28, 2018|language=en}}
Albatross UAV
The Albatross is a pusher-prop with an inverted V-tail, a {{convert|9.8|ft|m|adj=on}} wingspan, and a carbon fiber body. It looks a bit like the military RQ-7 Shadow drone but can be purchased for less than US$2,000. There are also options for a ground control station, carrying case, encrypted live HD video link {{Cite news|url=http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2017/03/applied-aeronautics-releases-upgraded-hd-video-link-uavs/|title=Applied Aeronautics Releases Upgraded HD Video Link for UAVs {{!}} Unmanned Systems Technology|date=March 21, 2017|work=Unmanned Systems Technology|access-date=May 16, 2018|language=en-US}} and a number of cameras.
- Wingspan: {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}}
- MTOW: {{convert|10|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
- Available payload: 2–4 kg (battery dependent)
- Mission planning and operations software: QGround Control
- Endurance: 2–5 hours depending on battery set up.
- Range: {{convert|150-350|km|miles|abbr=on}} depending on battery set up
- Cruise speed: {{convert|18|m/s|mph km/h|abbr=on}}
- Max Level Speed: {{convert|40|m/s|mph km/h|abbr=on}}
- Takeoff: {{cvt|50|ft|m}} (Runway, unpaved road, catapult)
- Glide Ratio (L/D): 28:1 - 30:1
- Center of Gravity: 85–95 mm from the root leading edge
- Payloads: NDVI, RGB, Thermal, EO/IR, HD Video (swappable)
Reception
Applied Aeronautics has drones in over 50 countries and on every continent.{{Cite web|url=https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence/drones-ai-companies|title=12 Companies Using AI in Drones {{!}} Built In|website=builtin.com|access-date=2018-12-13}} The company focuses on the following industries: disaster response, search and rescue, pipeline surveillance, precision agriculture, natural resources, insurance, education,{{Cite web|url=https://elpasoheraldpost.com/engineering-and-computer-science-students-develop-unmanned-systems-technology/|title=Engineering and Computer Science Students Develop Unmanned Systems Technology {{!}} El Paso Herald-Post|website=elpasoheraldpost.com|language=en-US|access-date=August 28, 2018}} conservation,{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/15/africa/atlan-space-ai-drone-morocco/index.html|title=Drones driven by AI will track illegal fishing in African waters|first=Katy |last=Scott|work=CNN|access-date=August 28, 2018}} mining and public safety. The company counts NASA among its globally recognized clients.{{Cite web|url=https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence/drones-ai-companies|title=12 Companies Using AI in Drones {{!}} Built In|website=builtin.com|access-date=2018-12-13}}
In 2019, it was announced the Albatross UAV was in use by the University of El Paso NASA MIRO Center for Space Exploration and Research with the aim of developing the country's first countywide-area operational low-altitude UAS Traffic Management (UTM) system.{{cite news |title=UAS VISION – Page 942 – a global news service for the unmanned aircraft systems community |url=https://www.uasvision.com/page/942/?iframe=true&width=100%2525&height=100%2525 |work=www.uasvision.com}}
Partnerships
In 2022, Applied Aeronautics announced a partnership with Cambium of Mojave, California, to produce high-survivability group 1, 2 and 3 UAS for military and commercial customers. These new drones will offer protection against fire and laser threats.{{Cite web |last=Press |date=2022-07-11 |title=Cambium and Applied Aeronautics Partner to Produce Low-Cost, High-Survivability Military & Commercial Drones |url=https://www.suasnews.com/2022/07/cambium-and-applied-aeronautics-partner-to-produce-low-cost-high-survivability-military-commercial-drones/ |access-date=2022-07-11 |website=sUAS News - The Business of Drones |language=en-GB}}
In 2022, the Albatross UAV was selected by the University of North Dakota, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Kansas University as the test bed for UAS right of way research. This project was sponsored by the FAA as part of the ASSURE program.{{Cite web |title=StackPath |url=https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/business-general-aviation/press-release/21279905/crossindustry-partnership-advances-uas-rightofway-testing-research |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=www.aviationpros.com|date=September 7, 2022 }}
Approvals
- The Albatross UAV is certified compliant for commercial operations by Transport Canada as of June 1, 2019.{{cite news |last1=Ball |first1=Mike |title=Albatross UAV Achieves Transport Canada Compliance |url=https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2019/04/albatross-uav-achieves-transport-canada-compliance/ |work=Unmanned Systems Technology |date=29 April 2019}}
- In March 2019, the Albatross UAV was flown by SkyQraft when they received the first drone license for BVLOS applications in Sweden.{{cite web |last1=Technologies |first1=Vertical |title=Skyqraft performs BVLOS powerline inspection over a city using VTOL UAVs |url=https://www.deltaquad.com/deltaquad-bvlos-powerline-inspection/ |website=DeltaQuad VTOL UAV |date=10 July 2020}}
- In November 2019, the Albatross UAV received approval from the FAA for the first BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) flight without ground based radar or a visual observer. This was considered a historic achievement for the group led by Iris Automation and Kansas State DOT. Iris Automations Casia detect and avoid system was on board at the time.{{cite web |title=Albatross UAV : Long Range Drone |url=https://www.appliedaeronautics.com/albatross-uav-flies-bvlos-with-kansas-dot-and-iris-automation |website=Applied Aeronautics}}
In 2022, Applied Aeronautics announced that the Albatross UAV was compliant with US NDAA Section 848.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-01 |title=NDAA-Compliant Albatross UAV Released |url=https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2022/03/ndaa-compliant-variant-of-albatross-uav-released/ |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Unmanned Systems Technology |language=en-US}}
References
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External links
- {{official|https://www.appliedaeronautics.com}}
Category:Privately held companies based in Texas
Category:American companies established in 2014
Category:2014 establishments in Texas
Category:Companies based in Austin, Texas
Category:Aerospace companies of the United States
Category:Unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturers