A German company airstier is building a quadcopter powered by a combustion engine, rather than batteries. The firm has launched a Kickstarter bid for yeair, a quadcopter driven by combustion engines that has a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), which can stay airborne for up to 60 minutes and carry up to 5kg in weight. Continue reading
Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS
Drone Waiters to be Trialled in Sydney
Flying drone waiters, already a burgeoning trend in Asia and parts of the UK, could be headed to Australian restaurants as 3D robotic technology zooms into the hospitality industry.
Insurance Company Report on UAS Growth
According to a report published by Marsh, a global insurance broking and risk management company, the rapid development of the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS/drone) industry is underpinned by the insurance market’s willingness to provide cover for the deployment of the fledging technology. Continue reading
Chinese Team Flies 3D Printed Drones at South Pole
The Chinese Antarctic Expedition Team tested whether 3D printed drones can withstand extreme conditions by taking them to the South Pole to expose it to high altitude and low temperatures at the same time.
Airware Launches Drone Investment Fund
Airware is announcing the Commercial Drone Fund, which will invest $250,000 to $1 million in dozens of early stage startups that are building out other components of the enterprise drone ecosystem. The fund’s first two investments are in RedBird, a Paris-based drone data processing startup, and Sky-Futures, a London company that builds drone sensors for monitoring oil and gas infrastructure. Continue reading
DJI and Accel Announce SkyFund
Accel invested $75 million into DJI this month, sparking this new partnership. Skyfund will make $250,000-plus investments in early stage drone startups through convertible notes or traditional seed and Series A rounds. DJI and Accel will have the option to make follow-on investments. Continue reading
Flying with a FPV Racing Mini Quadcopter
The term mini drone, or mini quadcopter, is related to the size. The smaller frame of mini drones has helped their popularity. They have the ability to go through small spaces, fly through windows and gaps, and go around trees.
First Weather Observing Mission for a NOAA UAS within the Continental United States
The NOAA Air Resources Laboratory’s Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division (ATDD) has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification to fly its DJI S-1000 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) at the Knox County Radio Control Society’s model flying field near Knoxville, TN.