Designed by the Dutch company Clear Flight Solutions, Robirds flap their wings and fly just like live avian predators. The “robirds” work like airborne, remote-controlled scarecrows, deterring live birds from venturing close to decidedly hazardous sites. Robirds indicate a definite shift from some of the more common methods of control—like culling wild birds near airports, placing chemicals on crops, or using loud noises to frighten flocks away. Continue reading
Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS
Matternet Tests Medecine Delivery by UAS In Bhutan
It’s one of the world’s first drone-based delivery networks, but it’s not in the Silicon Valley. It’s in Shangri-la. A Silicon Valley startup is piloting a low-cost drone-based delivery project in the remote Himalayan nation of Bhutan that could save lives in far-flung rural communities—and perhaps pioneer the system globally.
UAS Could Help Bluefin Tuna Industry
A UAS-mounted camera has been used to create a promotional video for Sekol, sparking discussions about different possible uses for UAS in the tuna industry. Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association chief executive Brian Jeffriess said the use of UAS had been suggested for aerial tuna spotting and identifying poachers.
UAS Antenna Expands Wi-Fi Range for Disaster-Struck Areas
Researchers from the University of North Texas (UNT) have demonstrated an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of supplying Wi-Fi to disaster-struck areas with a range of up to 5 km (3.1 miles). The team says these figures represent a marked improvement on existing solutions and could lead to new forms of wireless communication. Continue reading
DJI’s New Heavy-Load UAS has Retractable Landing Gear
DJI is continuing to expand its horizons into the pro market with the new Spreading Wings S900. Continue reading
More Reports of Drones Nearing Passenger Jets in New York Area
In the last 30 days, there have been 10 incidents in which drones have gotten close to passenger jetliners in the New York area, and in some cases, even forced evasive action by pilots, according to a senior aviation official. The 11th instance occurred in the last 48 hours, the official said. Continue reading
UAS as Construction Inspectors
The small craft, barely a metre across, works its way up to the 11th floor, examining the façade for such damage as chipped or crumbling concrete, defective joints and the like. Keeping about two metres from the façade, the robot is on an inspection tour of the building. It’s equipped with a high-resolution digital camera that takes detailed images of each part of the building. In this case, the work is being done in Saarbrücken, Germany, and the operator is Christian Eschmann, a researcher at the Fraunhofer Institute for Non-Destructive Testing.
Kansas City Man to use UAS for Search and Rescue
A Kansas City man plans to explore the lifesaving potential of drones. Lance Nash of Hex FX Aerials has been using unmanned aircraft to shoot video of events for the last two years. Continue reading