Billionaire entrepreneur and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson just made it official on Monday that he became the latest investor in 3D Robotics, a commercial drone company founded by ex-Wired Magazine chief editor Chris Anderson. Continue reading
Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS
UAS Can Greatly Aid Framers
When Steve Morris began building unmanned aerial systems in the late 1990s, he envisioned flying them over fields and collecting data that would be useful to farmers. But after the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, drones became largely associated with military strikes and surveillance operations. Morris said the technology became the subject of contentious political debates and public paranoia. Continue reading
Pipeline Security in Nigeria
As Nigeria, with a total estimated GDP of $522.4 billion at purchasing power parity, seeks to diversify its internally generated revenue through the active maximisation of its gas resource, calls for the installation and safeguarding of modern infrastructure has been on the rise.
Namibia Deploys UAS for Anti-Poaching Operations
The Namibian government has deployed three Falcon Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in conservancies to support the anti-poaching operations by the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) as part of a new ‘aggressive’ strategy to combat an upsurge in the poaching of elephants and rhinos.
UAS Could Limit Fertilizer Flow into Lake Erie
A toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie this summer left the city of Toledo, Ohio, without drinking water for three days. Now environmentalists and farmers are working to prevent future blooms by evaluating fertilizer use in hopes of cutting excess runoff. In the aftermath of the water quality emergency that plagued Lake Erie last month, some residents who live along its shores are calling for solutions. And they are looking outward, to the countryside.
City of Cape Town to Test UAS
Last week, JP Smith, the City of Cape Town’s Mayco Member for Safety and Security, said in a meeting with the police that the City aims to test drones within the next two months. He said that different departments within the City – Metro Police, Disaster Management, Fire and Rescue and Engineering departments – have had to spend money on hiring helicopters for aerial surveillance. The acquisition of a drone (for around R600 000) could be more cost-effective. Continue reading
Aerial Cinematography – Drones Do It Better
Aerial MOB is one of a growing number of aerial cinematography companies utilizing drones for filming in commercials, TV shows and feature films. It has done work for shoe companies, car companies, Ivy League universities and even MTV, but a major part of its current focus isn’t on the next high-profile client. It’s on the Federal Aviation Administration. Continue reading
UAE Students Build UAS for Ajman Civil Defence
Ajman University of Science & Technology and Ajman Civil Defence signed an agreement for a unique initiative. ACF called for 5 selected students of AUST Engineering College to design and build a drone. The successful handover of the “Civil Defence Support Drone” to Ajman Civil Defence was completed recently.