South African defence and off-road specialist, Desert Wolf has unveiled the Skunk Riot Control Copter, which is designed to control unruly crowds without endangering the lives of security staff. The Skunk is equipped with 4 high-capacity paint ball barrels firing at up to 20 bullets per second each, with 80 Pepper bullets per second stopping any crowd in its tracks.
Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS
Travel by Drone Interactive Web Site
Launched back in April by Switzerland-based Jan Hiersemenzel, Travel By Drone is a site that harnesses the power of YouTube and Google Maps to allow you to explore the planet via recorded drone footage.
Amazon Hires Lobbyists for UAS Programme
Online retailer Amazon has brought on a major K Street firm to lobby on its proposed UAS delivery programme. Amazon Prime Air has hired Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to work on “federal advocacy with regard to testing and operation of [unmanned aerial vehicles] in the US,” according to a new lobbying registration.
Twitter Creates ‘Dronies’ at Cannes Advertising Event
Twitter is seeking to take the selfie social media phenomenon to new heights after unveiling the newest weapon in its arsenal, a camera equipped DJI Phantom which took its maiden flight at Cannes during the Lions Advertising Industry Festival.
Solar Installer to Use UAS for Rooftop Inspections
Sol-Up USA has announced the use of a UAS to assess roof spaces, revolutionising photovoltaic (pv) system design and allowing for more optimised and precise calculations and measurements. The engineering and design process for solar pv systems often rely on satellite images. Newly constructed homes do not appear on satellite images until many months later – hence the needs for aerial views in these situations.
UAS Tracks Down Brazilian Drug Baron in Rio
Police intelligence officer Adriano Barbosa tracked the drug gang leader known as “Little P” for almost a month as part of Brazil’s push to curb violence in Rio de Janeiro’s slums before the World Cup.
Vancouver Reviews Film Industry UAS Use After Crash
A crash in downtown Vancouver last month has triggered a review by the city on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the film industry. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was being used to shoot a commercial near the intersection of Hastings and Hornby streets when it hit a building and crashed to the ground. No one was injured and Transport Canada says no one will be charged. Continue reading
San Francisco Startup Wants to Deliver Medecine by UAS
A San Francisco start-up is developing a UAS delivery service that promises to drug store items hovering outside of addresses in the Mission District in under 15 minutes. QuiQui hopes to start deliveries in July, taking advantage of a recent court decision that struck down Federal Aviation Administration guidelines barring UAS for commercial use.