Unmanned Systems Technology 017 | AAC HAMR UAV | Autopilots | Airborne surveillance | Primoco 500 two-stroke | Faro ScanBot UGV | Transponders | Intergeo, CUAV Expo and CUAV Show reports

4 There has been a lot of concern that the roll- out of driverless cars amounts to mere hype, and that they will not be a significant presence on public roads for another decade. That view seems to be uninformed, and is perhaps based on the slow development of regulations by local and national governments, and the expectations of consumers. Autonomous shuttles have been operating in several parts of the world for a while now, and after 4 million miles’ worth of testing, driverless taxis will start commercial operation in a US city early in 2018. Also, in 2019, Volvo will start shipping the first of 24,000 driverless cars, which have been converted from an existing electric vehicle, for taxi services around the world. GM will be doing the same that year. That is just the start. As we report in Platform One, French manufacturer Navya is to start mass production of a taxi that will have no human control and operate at full Level 5 autonomy. This focus on taxis rather than passenger cars is perhaps unexpected, but it comes from the currently high cost of the sensors, particularly Lidar, which are more acceptable in this kind of commercial application. We have highlighted that in the past, but again, as we report in this issue’s Platform One, Velodyne is reducing the cost of Lidar. The technology shows that driverless operation is not only possible but reliable. The regulations will change quickly, and driverless vehicles will be on the road far sooner than you may expect. Nick Flaherty | Technology Editor Oncoming traffic December/January 2018 | Unmanned Systems Technology Intro | December/January 2018 Editorial Director Ian Bamsey Assistant Editor Guy Richards Technology Editor Nick Flaherty Contributors Peter Donaldson Rory Jackson Andrew White Technical Consultants Paul Weighell Ian Williams-Wynn Dr Donough Wilson Design Andrew Metcalfe andrew@meticulousdesign.com UST Ad Sales Please direct all enquiries to Simon Moss simon@ust-media.com Subscriptions Jim Cavanagh jim@ust-media.com Publishing Director Simon Moss General Manager Chris Perry Office Administrators Frankie Robins Ellen Culliford For UST Online please contact: EchoBlue Media Online Publisher Caroline Rees caroline@echobluemedia.com Subscribe today @ www.ust-media.com Editorial opportunities Do you have a strong technical knowledge of one or more aspects of unmanned systems? As we grow we are on the lookout for experts who can contribute to these pages. If that sounds an interesting challenge then don’t hesitate to explore the possibility of writing for us by emailing: ian@ust-media.com Best of both worlds In-depth look at Advanced Aircraft Company’s novel hybrid multi-rotor UAV Sense of direction Autopilot innovations and challenges Know your position Choosing and using transponders UST 17 :DEC/JAN 2018 UK £15,USA$30,EUROPE e 22 Volume Three | Issue Seven December/January 2018 High Power Media Limited Whitfield House, Cheddar Road, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4EJ, England Tel: +44 (0)1934 713957 Fax: +44 (0)20 8497 2102 www.highpowermedia.com ISSN 2056-9823 Printed in Great Britain ©High Power Media All rights reserved. Reproduction (in whole or in part) of any article or illustration without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. While care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information herein, the publisher can accept no liability for errors or omissions. Nor can responsibility be accepted for the content of any advertisement. US COPIES ONLY Unmanned Systems Technology ISSN No: 2056-9823, is published by High Power Media in England and is distributed in the United States by SPP, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe, NJ 08831. Periodicals postage paid at New Brunswick, NJ. Postmaster please send address changes to: Unmanned Systems Technology, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe, NJ 08831. SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available from High Power Media at the address above or directly from our website. Overseas copies are sent via air mail. UST SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS 1 year subscription – 15% discount: UK – £75; Europe – e 125 USA – $150; ROW – £97.50 2 year subscription – 25% discount: UK – £135; Europe – e 225 USA – $270; ROW – £175.50 Make cheques payable to High Power Media. Visa, Mastercard, Amex and UK Maestro accepted. Quote card number and expiry date (also issue/start date for Maestro)