Reliable Robotics currently operates a large Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) that has flown over populated regions in the U.S. with experimental airworthiness approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. During this Phase 1 contract, Reliable Robotics will further examine with the USAF, key areas of impact and opportunity for its dual-use flight technology, including:

-- Logistics support for facilitating greater aircraft utilization, global reach and readiness with faster aircraft availability. -- Increased mission frequency and efficiency in more operating environments with fewer crew, weather and maintenance limitations. -- Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) providing robust mission generation, dwell and collection opportunities.

The USAF can realize the benefits of this technology at reduced acquisition costs and commercially competitive operating costs due to the level of maturity and flexibility of the Reliable Robotics system.

"Our remotely operated aircraft system has application beyond civilian logistics; participating in the SBIR program validates the natural transition of our technology for defense applications," said Robert Rose, Co-Founder and CEO of Reliable Robotics. "We are looking forward to working with the Air Force and the rest of the Department of Defense."

Reliable Robotics is already gaining traction with automation of the world’s most popular cargo feeder aircraft, the Cessna 208 Caravan, and is taking active steps toward certification of its system. The company has proven to be a leader in designing, building and operating autonomous aircraft technology with successful landmark flights in the commercial aviation sector demonstrating unmanned flight of a Cessna 172 in 2019, and remote piloting of the Cessna Caravan from inside their control center over 50 miles away earlier this year.

Source:  Reliable Robotics
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"We are very pleased with the progress of the Falcon 6X test program and remain confident of meeting its target 2022 certification date," said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. "We now have two aircraft in the air. Each is performing as expected and showing a high level of systems maturity for this phase of the program."

Trappier continued, "Several of our test pilots have flown the Falcon 6X. All are extremely satisfied with its performance and handling characteristics."

Plans call for a third Falcon 6X, equipped with a finished interior, to enter the test program by this summer. This aircraft will be used to test cabin systems and amenities, galley equipment, flight entertainment systems, and options including high-speed Ka-band Internet capability.

The fourth Falcon 6X will be the first production aircraft, and is to be completed to a typical customer configuration and embark on a global demonstration tour.

Source:  Dassault Aviation

Blade will broker private air travel services through their digital platform and operators such as Wisk will be the ones in charge of the actual transportation. Blade has traditionally operated conventional rotorcraft such as helicopters and seaplanes, but these recent moves show the company's desire to capitalize on the future urban air mobility market expected to arise with the advent of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that are racing towards a 2024 launch. This is part of a larger plan by Blade to "accelerate Blade’s transition from conventional rotorcraft to safe, quiet, emission-free Electric Vertical Aircraft," according to Rob Wiesenthal, CEO of Blade.

Source:  Blade Urban Ar Mobility
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