Category Archives: News

MIT Swarms of Tiny Robotic Insect Drones Could Aid in Mechanical Pollination

With a more efficient method for artificial pollination, farmers in the future could grow fruits and vegetables inside multilevel warehouses, boosting yields while mitigating some of agriculture’s harmful impacts on the environment. To help make this idea a reality, MIT researchers are developing robotic insects that could someday swarm out of mechanical hives to rapidly perform precise pollination. However, even the best bug-sized robots are no match for natural pollinators like bees when it comes to endurance, speed, and maneuverability. Continue reading →

ZeroAvia Flexible Fuel Cell Test Shows Expanded UAV & VTOL Capabilities

— ZeroAvia has announced that its SuperStack Flex highly-customizable LTPEM fuel cell architecture has achieved over 1.0kW/kg specific net power at a full system level, including thermal management system, and has been successfully demonstrated in a 150kW net power configuration for a major customer. Continue reading →

Sikorsky Flies Rotor Blown Wing UAS in Helicopter and Airplane Modes

– Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has successfully validated the advanced control laws to successfully fly a ‘rotor blown wing’ uncrewed aerial system (UAS) in both helicopter and airplane modes. Powered by batteries, the 115 pounds (52kg) twin prop-rotor prototype has demonstrated operational stability and maneuverability across all flight regimes, and the potential to scale the unique vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) design to larger sizes requiring hybrid-electric propulsion. Continue reading →

General Atomics Ready to Produce up to 18 CCAs per Month

– General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. will be ready to mass-produce its collaborative combat aircraft prototype after first flight this summer, its president said – soon after Air Force leaders debuted a new designation for such robot wingmen. Continue reading →

Man Jailed for Flying Drugs and Phones into UK Prisons by Drone

A man who used drones to fly drugs, tobacco and phones into prisons has been jailed for nearly seven years. Mahamood Diallo Blin, from southeast London, had been “prolifically using drones to fly prohibited items” into prisons based in London and the South East. Continue reading →

Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100 Selected for UK Police Trials

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) has selected global manufacturer Schiebel to support its most ambitious trial so far of ‘Beyond the Visual Line of Sight’ (BVLOS) uncrewed aircraft operations. Continue reading →

Pierce Aerospace B1 Remote ID Beacon Selected for DIU’s Blue UAS Framework

– Pierce Aerospace, a dual-use aerospace technology firm and global supplier of UAS Remote Identification technologies, announced that DIU selected the company’s B1 Remote ID Beacon for the Blue UAS Framework. The B1 will begin the NDAA and cyber security verification process required to join the Blue UAS Framework Authority to Operate (ATO). Continue reading →

BYD and DJI Offer Vehicle-Mounted Drone System

EV maker BYD unveiled ‘Lingyuan,’ a vehicle-mounted drone launching system developed in collaboration with DJI that is available for all of the company’s vehicles, reports Chinese state media outlet Xinhua. The system is only available in China, like BYD’s vehicles, and costs 16,000 yuan (or about $2,197). Continue reading →