Using quadrocopters and some rope, researchers have woven together a bridge strong enough to walk across. Made at the ETH Zurich Flying Machine Arena in Switzerland, the bridge joins two scaffolds, and is the first full-scale load-bearing structure autonomously built by flying machines. The feat represents one more step in the field of robotic aerial construction. Continue reading
Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS
NASA Grant Supports Wildfire Research
Two Northwest Nazarene University assistant professors have been awarded a NASA grant to support their research on wildfire monitoring and assessment technology. Continue reading NFL Gets FAA Exemption to Fly Over Empty Stadiums
The National Football League can use drones to shoot films, documentaries and television segments, becoming the first major sports league to receive such permission from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Aerial Survey of California Gold Rush Town
Monarch, Inc completed the first stage of a project this week to aerially survey and 3D map the 19th-century ghost mining town of Bodie, California. Part of the California State Parks system, Bodie is an original California Gold Rush town. In its heyday during the 1880s, Bodie was a vibrant and volatile gem of the Wild West, and is now kept in a state of ‘arrested decay’.
Skyward Launches Information Management Solution
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Skyward introduced its information management solution, the first designed for commercial drone operators. By providing this critical business infrastructure, Skyward is powering a global aerial robotics network. The cloud-based solution integrates a drone airspace map with flight planning tools and a digital system of record, supported by a team of regulatory and operational experts.
New Zealand Drone Takes Out Powerlines
A Whangarei drone operator is being investigated by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority after his machine hit powerlines, causing a power cut to about 200 properties and the loss of at least 1000 man-hours of productivity for the businesses affected. Continue reading
Magnetically-Connected Snap Pops Apart if Crashed
Vantage Robotics‘ Snap quadcopter’s main body is attached to the folding propeller assembly by magnets, allowing it to come off under impact without incurring any lasting damage.
Successful UAV Anti Poaching Trials in Tanzania
Bathawk Recon, a Tanzanian UAV Anti Poaching surveillance company, has hosted UAV trials at Mkomazi National Park. The trials featured the American made Super Bat DA-50 and were held 12th to 16th September. They were set up to determine if the gas powered long endurance drone could meet Bathawk’s anti-poaching concept requirements. After 5 days of flights the Super Bat has hit all the targets. Continue reading