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Explore UST’s round-up of our five most read articles in the industry this week, including new technologies, collaborations, white papers, and industry successes.
1. Heavy Lift Drones in 2025: Navigating a New Era of Innovation & Regulation
As 2025 unfolds, heavy-lift drones are on the cusp of unprecedented evolution, driven by technological breakthroughs and a shifting regulatory landscape under the new administration. Aero Systems West (ASW) is at the forefront of this transformation, leveraging its expertise to adapt and lead in this dynamic industry. From autonomous operations to enhanced regulatory compliance, the future of heavy-lift UAVs promises remarkable opportunities across multiple sectors.
ASW anticipates a future where heavy-lift drones become increasingly autonomous, with advancements in artificial intelligence enabling them to execute complex missions with minimal human intervention. This progress will revolutionize industries such as logistics, disaster response, and agriculture by boosting operational efficiency.
2. Advanced Navigation: Enhancing Precision Agriculture with Autonomous Systems & AI
Advanced Navigation plays a key role in enhancing autonomous farming by integrating cutting-edge navigation technologies with precision agriculture practices. The company specializes in providing advanced positioning and navigation systems designed to support the shift toward automation in agriculture.
These systems enable accurate positioning, reliable data collection, and precise control of autonomous farming machinery, helping farmers adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for greater efficiency and productivity. Advanced Navigation’s offerings include robust GNSS/GPS-aided inertial navigation systems (INS) and GNSS Compass solutions tailored for autonomous tractors, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other agricultural equipment.
3. Exploring Land Navigation Systems: From Inertial to Hybrid Solutions
With the invention of inertial navigation, it became possible to create navigation systems that offered position data independently of optical communications connections and GPS data/signals. This held a number of advantages for military applications in particular, since the independence of external signals and magnetic influences enabled autonomous and permanent navigation.
The US-based Litton Industries group developed this technology for use and series production and was for a long time the leading manufacturer of these systems. In the early 1960s, LITEF navigation systems were manufactured in series for the first time in Europe. The design and performance of the systems used at the time in the Starfighter (LN-3) were so successful that successor systems (LN-12) were developed and produced for the Phantom of the German Luftwaffe and later for the Tornado.
4. Product Spotlight: Ultra Motion Servo Cylinders

Ultra Motion is known for its high-precision electro-mechanical linear and rotary servo actuators, featuring integrated brushless DC motor control electronics and contactless absolute position feedback. The company’s Servo Cylinder is a leading choice for UAV control surfaces and utility linear actuator applications, offering exceptional reliability and performance.
The A-Series Servo Cylinder stands out with its brushless DC motor and contactless absolute position feedback, offering superior performance by minimizing wear compared to traditional potentiometers and brushed DC solutions. Its built-in control electronics support a range of communication interfaces, including CAN 2.0B, RS-422/485 serial, RC PWM, and 4-20 mA in/out, ensuring compatibility with various control systems.
5. Advantages of the Aerosonde® VTOL UAS for Naval Operations
As the U.S. Navy increasingly relies on uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) to expand its operational capabilities, Textron Systems‘ proven Aerosonde® 4.7 VTOL UAS is particularly well-suited to address the U.S. Navy’s needs.
Unmanned systems excel in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, delivering vital real-time data that enables military personnel to collect intelligence, track enemy activities, and evaluate potential threats from a secure location.
UAS are especially effective for extended missions requiring sustained observation of specific areas, whether on land or at sea, due to their prolonged flight endurance, advanced sensors, and real-time data transmission features.