Prox Dynamics Newsletter Q2-2009
New members in the Prox Dynamics team
Prox Dynamics is happy to announce that we have expanded our team with seven new members starting this summer. In total we will be 12 people dedicated to the development of our Nano Unmanned Aircraft Systems, which makes Prox Dynamics the largest UAS company in Norway. We are very proud to have been able to attract top scientists and engineers from near and far, forming what will be a formidable development team. The following is a short presentation of our newcomers:
Ottar Røed (50) is our VP Operations as of June 1st. His main task will be to establish the production line, logistics systems and all services associated with customer support. He is an engineer with a broad experience from several high level positions in the electronics and telecom industry.
Anders Rønningen (30) will join the Software department in August, primarily focusing on the GCS software. He has a MSc in signal processing from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) with seven years experience in DSP and software engineering.
Torgeir Grothe Lien (30) will start September 1st as our VP Software. He will have main responsibility for software in both the UAVs and in the Ground Control Station. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 2003 with a MSc and has experience in both engineering and management.
Tom-Ivar Johansen (44) is a world class specialist in video compression software with many years of experience. He will be responsible for all video in both the UAV and in the GCS. Tom-Ivar holds an MSc and will join Prox Dynamics in August.
Alexander Hall (26) is from Australia and holds a PhD in Aerodynamics from the University of Sydney. He will settle in Norway in the beginning of August and focus on optimizing aero dynamical performance of our UAVs.
Jørgen Syvertsen (24) has a MSc from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Engineering Cybernetics and finished top in his class this spring. He joins the company after the summer break to work on the autopilot and control software.
Erik Falk-Petersen (24) is doing his final year at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design and will work with us on his MSc in Industry Design. He is very talented, has won several design competitions and has also seen his designs go into production.
Hornet-3b made its first flight 22nd May
The Hornet-3b is our sixth prototype to have taken to the skies. It proved itself by staying airborne for more than 20 minutes on the first flight. Main difference is an improved rotor mechanism and enhanced sensor suite. It will join the Hornet-3a and will be used for systems integration and flight envelope expansion. “Testing the Hornet-3 outdoors is a special challenge” says Pål Sandberg, the company test pilot, “not because it is hard to fly manually, but because at maximum speed it gets out of visual range after just a second or two”.
EuroCAE Work Group 73 SG4
Prox Dynamics has been involved in the EuroCAE Work Group 73 SG4 that deals with regulations for small UAS (below 150 kg). As UAS evolve into smaller and smaller systems it is evident that, at some point, the inherent risk of these systems will be negligible, and it is important that the set of rules reflects this fact. This is important for both the developers and for the operators of such systems.
Prox Dynamics at the Conferences
Prox Dynamics has participated in several conferences this spring, contributing with both talks and flight demonstrations. In March we gave a lecture on Nano UAS at the 24th International UAV Systems Conference in Bristol, UK. In June we took part in the IMAV’09 as observers held at the University of West Florida, Pensacola.
Lastly Petter Muren gave a speech at the UVS 2009 in Paris backed up by Hornet-3 flight demonstrations in the coffee breaks (to the amusement of the participants).
Petter Muren
CEO
Prox Dynamics AS
(+47) 47 39 59 18
Please download the Newsletter in PDF version here: PD-Q2-2009-Newsletter.pdf