Autonomous Systems researchers at ETH Zurich have demonstrated another drone capable of flying and hovering in any orientation, this time with higher efficiency. It’s extraordinary to watch its 12 coaxial rotors twisting and turning in flight. Continue reading
Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS
Drones on Cables Expand the Scope of Wind Energy
By harnessing the power of strong winds at higher altitude than turbines reach, airborne wind energy could be another key source of renewable energy, but it will need a combination of successful designs, more robust software and good storytelling to really take off.
Rakuten Mobile and Rakuten AirMap to Perform Drone Mobile Base Station Inspections
Rakuten Mobile, Inc. announced that it will collaborate with Rakuten Group company Rakuten AirMap, Inc., which provides solutions supporting safe and compliant drone operations to enterprises, airspace authorities and drone operators in Japan, in using drones to conduct completion inspections of base stations for its mobile network. Continue reading
Fire Drill for High-Rise Firefighting Drones in China
Guofei General Aviation Equipment Manufacturing held a fire drill in Dazu, Chongqing. Combining the characteristics of high-rise firefighting in Chongqing, they used six high-rise fire-fighting drones to quickly put out the fire, so that guests at the scene could witness the miracle of a high-rise fire fighting UAV. Continue reading
First Responder UAS Endurance Challenge Now Open
The National Institute of Standards and Safety Public Safety Communications Research has launched the First Responder UAS Endurance Challenge with prize offerings totalling $552,000. UAS Challenge opened on April 1 for proposal submissions through the website. Continue reading
Amazon Hires ex-Boeing Exec to Run Prime Air
Amazon has hired a former Boeing executive to run its Prime Air drone delivery business, signaling the retail giant’s plans to expand the unit so that it can eventually start flying regular 30-minute shipments to customers’ homes. Continue reading
New NOAA Program to Support and Expand Use of UAS
NOAA is establishing a new Unmanned Systems Operations Program to support the rapidly expanding use of these systems across the agency. The new program will promote the safe, efficient and economical operation of unmanned systems (UxS) NOAA uses to collect high-quality environmental data for the agency’s science, products and services. Continue reading
TerraView Introduces its Second All-American UAV
TerraView, a California-based unmanned aircraft system (UAS) development and manufacturing company, has unveiled the RangePro X8P – Pixhawk, a follow-up model to last year’s RangePro X8, now with system components and options that meet federal government and Department of Defense (DoD) guidelines. Continue reading