The aim of these flights is to collect critical data. This will optimise the performance and reliability of the Eagle Hawk system. So our training exercises are paramount. We will soon have all the skills required to safely navigate the vehicles to the intended altitude. Mark Xavier Chief Remote PilotSo V-TOL’s team of engineers and pilots are hastily processing the enormous amounts of data gathered from these test flights. See what’s happening with the NearSat team at their website.
NearSat and V-TOL have commenced flight trials of the Eagle Hawk III, an above 25kg capable fixed wing remotely piloted aircraft.
NearSat, the developer of the High Altitude (HALE) RPAS platform technology, has been collaborating with V-TOL on this project.
The Hawk II had conducted critical flight trials to 8000ft AMSL within CRT of Amberley.
We are preparing for new flight operations, so we expect to see the Hawk III operate well beyond it’s predecessor.Chief Remote Pilot Mark Xavier
The flight data collected from these trials will be used for high altitude research. NearSat continues to collaborate with us on this project. As a result we are expecting to see near space flights shortly!
Checkout what’s going on with the NearSat team by vising their website!
With the help of NearSat Engineers, our team is currently conducting simulated missions. Our goal is to get the best understanding of how the NearSat Eagle Hawk will function at altitudes up to 60,000ft.
We are more focused than ever, since news that the QLD Government Cloncurry Drone testing facility will come online this year.
So we expect the 60,0000ft altitude challenge should become a near term and routine reality.Chief Remote Pilot Mark Xavier
Our team has completed dozens of missions. These were achieved using a scale proto-type NS Eagle Hawk in RAAF Airspace.
We will soon be testing a full scale Hawk 18,000ft and beyond!
Find out more about this at the Australian Aviation Website!
Listen to Mark Xavier, Chief Pilot of V-TOL Aerospace speak on drones on ABC’s “The Money”:
Also watch:
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Cameron Dick
Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development and Minister for the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Kate Jones
As part of the government’s strategy to make Queensland the drone capital of Australia, the world’s leading minds in drone technology will converge on Brisbane for one of the largest unmanned automated vehicle conferences on the globe.
Innovation Minister Kate Jones said the World of Drones Congress at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre this week played an important part in the government’s plan to diversify Queensland’s economy.
“Through our half-a-billion-dollar Advance Queensland fund, we’re investing in sectors like drone technology because we know this is the way of the future,” she said.
“We’re committed to diversifying Queensland’s economy to create the jobs of the future in this state. That’s exactly what we’re doing by supporting this conference.
“Queensland has some of the world’s foremost experts on drone technology. We’re working hard to position Queensland as the drone capital of Australia.
“Our work is helping us to build critical mass in artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous vehicles and will allow us to capitalise on a global industry which Goldman Sachs expects to be worth more than US$100 million by 2020.
“Collaboration is important in innovation. To have the world’s best minds in drone technology in the one place, working together with Queenslanders is invaluable.”
State Development Minister Cameron Dick said the recent release of the Palaszczuk Government’s Drones Strategy – the first of its kind in Australia – would help ensure Queensland has the right policies and programs in place to back future technologies, regulate their use and create jobs.
“We’re the only state in Australia with a strategy to capitalise on the growth of this sector,” he said.
“Our highly-skilled workforce and support for platform technologies through programs like our $15 million Industry Tech Fund puts us in a very strong position.
“Local drone businesses cover a range of sectors – everything from accident investigations to surveying and farming and international companies like Terra Drone and Trumbull Unmanned.
“The Palaszczuk Government is forging ahead in this space by investing in new technology that we know will create jobs in Queensland and support our growing tech economy.”
Ms Jones said Queensland was a leader in the development and application of drone technology.
“The World of Drones Congress creates international trade opportunities for its host. For this reason, the Palaszczuk Government is providing up to $350,000 to host the Congress in Brisbane in 2018 and 2019,” she said.
“Through a new Artificial Intelligence Hub at The Precinct in Fortitude Valley and various Advance Queensland grants, we’re helping local startups like InFarm from Goondiwindi, Fly Freely from Townsville and Brisbane companies V-TOL Aerospace and Immersive Robotics to develop their technology.”
World of Drones Congress Convenor Catherine Ball said about 500 delegates would visit the conference, many from other countries, which was another sign of Queensland’s reputation in the Asia–Pacific region as a leader in drones.
“Drone technology is here and the possibilities are endless for businesses going forward, from the delivery of goods to giving the movie industry a new look, and helping our Queensland lifesavers patrol our beaches,” Dr Ball said.
“Through this conference and the innovative work of drone companies around Queensland, we can take drone applications to the next level and help many sectors explore the capabilities of these machines.”
Renowned drone experts like futurist Professor Genevieve Bell from the Australian National University and Professor Gordon Wyeth from Queensland University of Technology will lead keynote addresses across the two-day conference.
The World of Drones Congress is being held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from August 9-10 2018.
Media contact: Jack Harbour 0419 620 447
The Financial Review in association Deloitte held the Australian Innovation Summit 2018 from 30-31 July at the Sofitel Sydney, Wentworth. Sitting to the far right, V-TOL CEO Mark Xavier participated as a guest speaker at the Summit providing personal insights addressing the topic, “Israel the Innovation Nation – what Australia should take on board”. “It was an honour to be invited by the AFR to contribute to the discussion on Israeli & Australian innovation”, says Mark. “Israel is a unique test case that leads the innovation world in many ways. Australia can learn much from the mindset of its people,” he continued.
Operating in RAAF Amberley controlled airspace under NOTAM, a V-TOL Seeker WeatherSat™ Multi-Rotor (MR) RPAS platform has been successfully flight tested to 8,000ft AMSL. The WeatherSat™ is a reusable scientific instrument designed to capture real-time weather modelling information that will be used for enabling NearSat HALE operations. CEO of V-TOL, Mark Xavier says, “The WeatherSat™ sensor designed by NearSat will provide V-TOL & NearSat critical weather information required to conduct safe & efficient high altitude RPAS operations. V-TOL & NearSat look forward to further testing the WeatherSat™ capability in our efforts to reach near-space with a NearSat fixed wing platform.
Mounted to a V-TOL Seeker II Multi-Rotor (MR) RPAS platform, a NearSat proto-type WeatherSat™ has been successfully flight tested. The WeatherSat™ Seeker is a reusable scientific instrument designed to capture real-time weather modelling information. CEO of V-TOL, Mark Xavier says, “The Seeker WeatherSat™ will provide V-TOL & NearSat critical weather information required to conduct safe & efficient high altitude NearSat RPAS operations. We look forward to testing the WeatherSat™ capability to altitude shortly”.
The Financial Review in association Deloitte will be holding the Australian Innovation Summit 2018 from 30-31 July at the Sofitel Sydney, Wentworth. A copy of the Agenda is attached. CEO/MD of V-TOL, Mark Xavier, has been invited to be a panel member on Insights & Interview addressing the topic, “Israel the Innovation Nation – what Australia should take on board”. “I look forward to participating on the Summit panel and sharing my experiences and opinions on why the Israelis have excelled in technological innovation”, says Mark.
Working for the World Bank on Project UAV4Resilience and with the assistance of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT), V-TOL Aerospace was placed in a unique position to conduct advanced hi-resolution survey operations using V-TOL designed & manufactured GosHawk II drone technology over the Kingdom of Tonga before (2017) and after the category 4 cyclone Gita event (Feb 18). The Gita survey was safely completed in 5 days resulting in 300km² of hi-resolution survey data while operating in integrated/shared airspace. The World Bank has reported that this type of drone operation has never been conducted to this extent under these conditions before.
The following provides a sample and insight into what can now be provided as a disaster management & recovery “tool” for first responders in the field, NGOs, Government Agencies, the public, Insurance & Banking organisations, etc, in a matter of days:
*Please note, you will need Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge to enable your browser to operate the interactive map slider
V-TOL VEURON™, a technology developed with the support of the QLD Government’s Advance QLD initiative, is V-TOL’s onboard robot machine vision & learning Aa (Advanced Automation) & Ai (Artificial Intelligence) capability. An example of how the VEURON™ technology will automate damage assessment reporting will be made available shortly.
V-TOL’s air deployable survey teams have demonstrated how an effective Disaster Management & Recovery capability can now be delivered in a matter of days in most locations globally. In collaboration with technology partner NearSat, V-TOL believes this capability can potentially be delivered anywhere within hours.
For Further information please contact us at [email protected]