Upper Airspace Working Group (UAWG) Alta Devices and other leaders in high altitude technology have initiated the Upper Airspace Working Group (UAWG). This exciting group will work to tackle the challenges and opportunities associated with high altitude missions. The UAWG’s founding members are Facebook, Boeing, Google, Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrup [...]

Many aircraft companies are incorporating solar into their initial UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) or drone design or retrofitting it to their UAV wings by customer request. Why add solar to a UAV? The benefits include increased endurance, increased power and greater capabilities. This translates to the ability to fly longer [...]

One of the most exciting policy changes currently being discussed in the UAV industry is the extension of flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). BVLOS flights are important because they can allow UAVs to cover much greater distances thereby improving the economics and feasibility of most commercial operations. These [...]

Last night Alta Devices hosted the February meeting of the Silicon Valley Chapter of AUVSI. AUVSI is the Association of Unmanned Vehicles and the largest body representing the UAS industry. Bob Parks, Sr. Technical Fellow at Aurora Flight Sciences, gave a fascinating talk as the night’s guest presenter. Beginning as a [...]

Alta Devices and C-Astral announced that Alta’s world-record-breaking solar technology is going to be powering C-Astral’s next generation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Alta devices produces the world’s thinnest, lightest, and most efficient single and dual junction solar material in the world. When incorporated into C-Astral’s newest UAV, this technology [...]

The FAA has announced new rules for the small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) industry that will go into effect in August 2016. These regulations (Part 107) apply to non-hobbyist drones that weigh less than 55kg, fly below 400 feet and at speeds below 100mph. Under the new rules, UAS pilots [...]