Work on the Project continued, through June, July, and up to where we are in August.
I was extremely fortunate to have an internship at Aurora Flight Sciences, where I was so immersed in UAS development and operations, that I am still processing all the data. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Langford, the CEO and our Project adviser. He was kind to introduce me to the Secretary of the Air Force at a National Aeronautics Association luncheon. She was so impressed with the Project, she mentioned it during her remarks to gathering.
I was also so fortunate to be a guest of our UAS regulatory legal adviser, Justine Kasznica, at her home in Pittsburg and to be introduced, by her, to Carnegie Mellon University and the legendary robotics genius, Red Whittaker, as well as to [insert]. What an experience, with application to the Project!
The Bullis School extended a formal invitation to the Kanjirowa School for a visit in October. The details are being worked out. This will be a great experience for everyone involved.
Students at Kanjirowa pursued STEM studies and worked on the two drones that were flown, in Nepal, last March. It is really cool to see what they are doing.
Our export control legal adviser, Mike Lowell, started the arduous task of applying for a license to send an advanced drone kit to Nepal. It will be several months, before that process is completed.
My science and technology adviser, William Kronmiller, took time from his busy schedule of work to do programming a Parrot drone. This exercise will provide lessons learned, for programming the operational drones.
On my brother’s advice, we took advantage of an offer of assistance by Colin Guinn, CRO of 3-D Robotics, to secure a fixed-wing Aero, on a greatly expedited basis, for programming and testing. The Pixhawk controller is on this vehicle.
The long-awaited Tarot octocopter arrived in its many pieces. It will have a Pixhawk controller, as well. It will be several weeks, at least, before that takes shape as a flying drone.
The racing drone that I have been building is close to completion, and will be used to test advanced features that can be applied to the Aero and the Tarot.
Plans continued for a further visit to Nepal, next March, to test the Aero and Tarot.
Crowdfunding preparations neared completion. Adviser Keith Cowing has kindly offered to apply his expertise to this important effort. The Project already represents an investment of about $30,000, so it will be good to have some outside funding for what remains to be accomplished.
I want to thank the Project advisers and the Kanjirowa and Bullis schools. With their enthusiastic support, the Project has made real headway.