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This article reports that people have long dreamed of perpetual flight, and the tipping point was reached earlier this month when a solar-powered drone stayed aloft for 48 hour. It showed that enough energy could be stored during the day to fly the aircraft at night, for at least several days. AC Propulsion Inc., a small research company in San Dimas, California made the flight after several years of dedicated effort by its founder, Alan G. Cocconi. It is informed that AC Propulsion used lithium-ion laptop computer batteries for storage instead of fuel cells, as well as an overall simpler approach, to become the first to fly through two full nights under solar power.

This article reports that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency won kudos last year for the stunning success of its Grand Challenge, a race of unmanned vehicles across the Mojave Desert. The results opened the door a little wider to a future filled with advanced robots and represented a symbolic step toward the Pentagon's stated goal of having one-third of its ground vehicles unmanned by 2015. The situation in war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan, however, is more complex. The increasing use of robots for explosives disposal and reconnaissance presents a paradox to the U.S. military.

The article presents information on various developments in the aviation industry. It is reported that after several weeks of test range and technical holds, Boeing Co. flew two X-45A joint unmanned combat air systems in a coordinated simulated combat mission from Edwards AFB, California. During the test flights, the two aircraft autonomously used their on-board decision-making software to determine the best route through fixed and pop-up air defenses to position themselves for a preemptive mission against ground-based radars and missile launchers. Meanwhile, Northrop GrummanCorp. has finally received a $21-million U.S. Air Force contract that will let the service deploy two production RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned aircraft to the growing reconnaissance base in the United Arab Emirates.

The article offers information on a technology fair conducted by the U.S. House of Congress in September 2010. It notes that the video screens showing images of the earth's surface and models of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) called drones were featured in the fair. Congressman Howard McKeon of California says unmanned technology is one of the consistent and dynamic areas of growth in American industry. Furthermore, it notes that UAVs are expected to a 15 billion U.S. dollar-a year industry by 2015.

The article reports on the Urban Challenge robotic automobile racing contest in the Mojave Desert in California organized by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The main objective of the DARPA project is to develop autonomous self-driving cars that can be used in future armed clashes.

The article features the 28th annual championship of the U.S. scale masters held at the Hemet Model Airpark in Hemet, California. The event will recognize the craftsmanship and skills of the scale modelers from different states. The participants are those who joined and passed at the 23 regional qualifiers and will undergo the three classes of challenges.

The article reports on the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Urban Challenge robotic vehicle platform competition held at the former George Air Force Base in Victorville, California on November 3, 2007. The paper also provides a description of the course, race highlights and the winners.

The article discusses the views of airmen on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) following the establishment of the first Air National Guard Predator Mission at the March Air Reserve Base in California. Before the mission, Air Force pilots used to think negatively of UAV. But with advantages like freedom from flying through thunderstorms, airmen are starting to accept UAV. However, the complexity of the system used to pilot the vehicle is hard for some airmen to get used to.

The article describes the development of a robotic vehicle that can navigate autonomously through the Mojave Desert by a group of engineering students from the California Institute of Technology in 2004. The project's objective was to create a team for the Grand Challenge of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The goal of the DARPA contest was to generate the technology needed to build and program an unmanned ground vehicle that could travel through 130 miles of desert terrain autonomously in under ten hours.

Focuses on the Top Dawg 2001 scale fly-in event for remote control flyers at Johnson Field in Palomar, California. Participation of 64 planes and 51 participants from California, Arizona and Mexico; Presentation of planes from World War II; Acknowledgement of winners.

The article discusses the significant role of unmanned vehicles technology in monitoring the weather. It presents the AeroVironment of California and its project called Global Observer designed to monitor weather phenomena. It gives information on the technology used by the Global Observer. It highlights the aircraft's use of liquid hydrogen.

Focuses on the Grand Challenge of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the think-tank of the U.S. Department of Defense. Invitation for creators of autonomous motor vehicles to race their productions across the Mojave Desert; Requirement of vehicles to follow specific Global Positioning System (GPS) waypoints; Farthest distance achieved by a modified 1988 Hummer entered by Carnegie Mellon University; Basic hardware used by all the vehicles in the DARPA Grand Challenge.

Highlights the RCX 2004, a trade fair that will showcase remotely piloted vehicles on April 24 and 25 at Anaheim, California. Attendees; Schedule of activities; Remote controlled models that will be featured in the event.

The article reports on the design of the driver-less vehicles that ran in November's DARPA Grand Challenge Race. This race, sponsored by the Pentagon, is a research project set up in the Mojave Desert to test the efficiency of vehicles in suburban driving conditions. The winner of the race was a Chevy Tahoe that was refitted by a team from Carnegie Mellon University.

Presents a profile of aeronautic company AeroVironment in California. Description of the company and what it does; Creation of hand-launched drone aircraft; Use of the aircraft by the military in Afghanistan and Iraq; Plans for the future.

Reports on the launch of the unmanned surveillance plane, Predator to patrol the skies of Bosnia and Hercegovina equipped with cameras and radars from the United States' military. Details about the launch of an earlier version of the plane designed by the San Diego, California-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.; Specifications and performance of the plan; Cost of the plane.

The article focuses on the deployment of two modified Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) models from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) to the U.S. Army and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after tests were completed in California in February 2010. GA-ASI chairman Neal Blue says that weapon tests on its MQ-1C Sky Warrior for the Army found minor technical problems. He adds that MQ-1C has quick reaction capability to support soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. He notes that the first Guardian UAV for CPB will arrive on February 22.

The article offers information on unmanned air vehicle (UAV)-friendly facilities, training ranges and weapon test sites of the U.S. Navy's Weapons Division at the China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center in California. According to Elijah Soto, deputy head of the Unmanned Air Systems Program Office, the Unmanned Systems Activity was established in order to address the increase of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) in the U.S. He added that they aim to prevent small UAV projecs from spurring everywhere.

The article focuses on the military application of the hand-launched Raven unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Monrovia, California-based AeroVironment Inc. It describes the key features and capabilities of the Raven UAV. It discusses the benefits of the UAV to military operations in Iraq. It also cites some of the obstacles to weaponizing the Raven UAV.

Reports on the opportunity for defense agencies and private companies developing payloads for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) can hire a UAV from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California to test their systems and gather performance data. Aircraft available; Offer of high-altitude performance by Altus UAV developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.

The article reports on the launch of the Euro Hawk variant of the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle (UAV) from Northrop Grumman at Palmdale, California on October 8, 2009. The company also announces that it will begin acceptance tests on the UAV and is working with the U.S. Department of State for a diplomatic clearance to make a test flight of the German-owned Euro Hawk to Edward air force base (AFB) in March 2010. The statement of Jim Kohn, program manager for the Euro Hawk, about the test flight is presented.

The article reports on the unveiling of the X-47B demonstrator at Northrop Grumman's plant in Palmdale, California, in December 2008. It states that the demonstrator will enter extensive ground testing leading up to a first flight in November 2009 and a carrier suitability demonstration at sea two years later. It notes that the U.S. Navy plans to award Northrop a contract to extend the demonstration to include autonomous aerial refueling (AAR).

The article reports that the first Sky Warrior unmanned surveillance and attack aircraft, the latest product from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, has made its first flight from the company's flight facility at the El Mirage, California, airfield. The Sky Warrior block one is being built for the U.S. Army's extended range/multipurpose unmannedair system program.

The article reports on the preparations being conducted by Boeing for the first flight of the X-48B blended wing body (BWB) scaled demonstrator without fixed leading-edge slats after resuming flights following a four-month hiatus. The unmanned air vehicle took to the air on January 18, 2008 at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), California for its seventh flight to check out new flight control software. Prior to the slat-less flight, high-speed taxi tests will be undertaken.

The article announces that the Block 20 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle from Northrop Grumman flew for the first time on March 1, 2007. The unmanned aerial vehicle flew from the company's manufacturing facility in Palmdale, California to nearby Edwards air force base to begin a flight test program there.

The article presents information on events related to the aviation industry. On August 3-5 Association for Unmanned Vehicles International's Unmanned Systems North America 2004 Symposium & Exhibition will be held in California. Seventh Annual Space and Missile Defense Conference: "Missile Defense: Deployment and Beyond," conference will be held in Alabama on August 16-19. Air Line Pilots Association's Annual Air Safety Forum will be on August 18-19 in Washington. 2004 U.S. Air Force Space & Missile Pioneers Award Program will be held on August 30-September 2 in Colorado.

The challenges of detecting, seeing and avoiding other aircraft must be overcome before the FAA will permit remotely operated aircraft to fly within the National Airspace System. Toward that end, NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB, California, recently completed 20 flight tests under the Environmental Research Aircraft & Sensor Technology program, in which a remotely operated aircraft demonstrated the ability to detect "non-cooperative" aircraft flying near-collision trajectories, giving the ground operator time to make appropriate maneuvers to avoid the collision, while maintaining a minimum 500-ft. separation. This article also enlists five key objectives of the flight test program.

Reports the completion of the taxi test of the experimental unmanned combat air vehicle X-47A Pegasus by Northrop Grummans Integrated Systems in California. Suitability of the aerodynamic qualities; Integration of the navigation and control; Highlight of the steering performance.

An interview with Congressman Howard 'Buck' McKeon of California is presented. When asked about how the idea for the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Caucus originated, he refers to the ways to support their military-industrial base and their warfighters. McKeon believes that putting a time frame and having a goal would be a step in the right direction. He says the caucus has considered introducing legislation that supports unmanned aviation.

The article reports on the use of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a firefighting emergency and request for imagery from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection during the wildfires in the state. The UAV was flown by remote control from take-offs at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

The article features the crash-survivable memory units from Electrodynamics Inc., a subsidiary of L-3 Communications, for the Euro Hawk unmanned air vehicle (UAV) designed by Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems in San Diego, California. The memory is designed to store 500 megabytes of data in a crash survivability requirements under the industry standard for military and commercial aircraft.

The article reports that Carnegie Mellon University engineering students won the $2-million first prize in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Urban Challenge competition held at the Georgia Air Base in Victorville, California in November 2007. The competition is an autonomous vehicle research and development program created to help keep warfighters off the battlefield.

The article reports that military forces have conducted simulated exercises in its technologies to prepare for wartime and emergency using the commercial products developed by several firms in San Diego, California. They investigate the mariner unmanned aircraft system that integrates sensors via satellite and evaluates electro-optic infrared technology to transmit images. The soldiers also measure underwater minesweeping for near-shore activities and ability of military and civilian agencies to respond to disasters urgently.

The article presents information related to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) vehicle race. When five unmanned vehicles crossed the finish line after a 132-mile race through Mojave Desert, California, they signaled more than just a technological breakthrough. According to Tony Tether, director of the DARPA, the vehicles have not only achieved world records but also they have made the history. In the DARPA Grand Challenge, autonomous ground vehicles used onboard sensors and navigation equipment to steer themselves along the desert course in under 10 hours.