In one of the first autonomous demonstrations, the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) has successfully commanded three fully autonomous, collaborating UAVs. The machines flew in close formation at the same altitude, separated by approximately 50 meters as they executed figure-eight patterns.
Category Archives: Applications & Testing & Experience
Robirds Scare Away Real Birds
Designed by the Dutch company Clear Flight Solutions, Robirds flap their wings and fly just like live avian predators. The “robirds” work like airborne, remote-controlled scarecrows, deterring live birds from venturing close to decidedly hazardous sites. Robirds indicate a definite shift from some of the more common methods of control—like culling wild birds near airports, placing chemicals on crops, or using loud noises to frighten flocks away. Continue reading
Matternet Tests Medecine Delivery by UAS In Bhutan
It’s one of the world’s first drone-based delivery networks, but it’s not in the Silicon Valley. It’s in Shangri-la. A Silicon Valley startup is piloting a low-cost drone-based delivery project in the remote Himalayan nation of Bhutan that could save lives in far-flung rural communities—and perhaps pioneer the system globally.
UAS Searches for Rare Mistletoe in Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands Department of Environment (DOE) recently collaborated on a project with longtime partner Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (RGB Kew), UK, to locate a mysterious Mistletoe species Dendropemon caymanensis known to be located only on Little Cayman. Continue reading
Five Hobby Drones Tested
Drones are the highly evolved descendants of the RC helicopters and model planes that hobbyists have been flying for decades. What changed? Basically, the rise of smartphones meant a lot of important components — magnetometers, gyros, batteries, cameras, accelerometers, radios, GPS modules, and processors — got a lot smaller and cheaper. Continue reading
Grand Forks AFB Hosts First Integrated UAV Flight
The 319th Operations Support Squadron supported a milestone in unmanned aerial vehicle aviation Aug. 1. For the first time, the Federal Aviation Administration authorized two UAVs to operate simultaneously in a traffic pattern of unrestricted airspace.
Seeker 400 Completes Second Round of Flight Tests
The Denel Dynamics Seeker 400 unmanned aerial vehicle has successfully completed a second round of flights tests at Alkantpan in the Northern Cape as part of its development process, Denel has announced. The tests included an evaluation of the system for range and performance with full payload on board.
Hummingbirds Hover Better than Black Hornet
When it comes to flight, nature just has the edge on engineers. This is according to a study comparing hummingbirds with one of the world’s most advanced micro-helicopters. Researchers found that – in terms of the power they require to lift their weight – the best hummingbird was over 20% more efficient than the helicopter.