Jeff Bezos is nothing if not a showman. Amazon’s CEO loves a good reveal, and took the opportunity afforded by a 60 Minutes segment to show off his company’s latest creation: drones that can deliver packages up to five pounds, to your house in less than half an hour. They’re technically octocopters, as part of a programme called “Amazon Prime Air.” Continue reading
Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS
Cloud Seeding in Sierra Could Get Boost from UAS
Efforts to coax a little extra punch out of the Sierra’s winter storms could soon involve the use of UAS, with the unmanned aircraft potentially offering significant benefits when it comes to boosting the region’s water supply and putting more snow on its ski slopes. Continue reading
UAS Technology Helps Aid Effort in Typhoon-Hit Tacloban City
UAS technology is helping the aid-effort in typhoon-hit Tacloban city, enabling relief teams to more efficiently search through debris, clear roads and assess damage. Continue reading
New Wave Energy wants to put power plants in the sky
UK-based New Wave Energy plans to build the first high altitude aerial power plant, using networks of unmanned aircraft that can harvest energy from multiple sources and transmit it wirelessly to receiving stations on the ground.
World’s Smallest QuadCopter for Under $40
The Proto X from Estes claims to be the world’s smallest quadcopter and also one of the world’s lightest. The 1.8″ x 1.8″ Proto X is tiny, ideal for indoor flying — and it weighs only four-tenths of an ounce. Continue reading
Thai Media Embrace UAS Journalism
Thai newspapers covering ongoing protests in Bangkok have adopted a new reporting tool in recent weeks: small, camera-equipped helicopters they’re using to capture images of massive crowds. Continue reading
US Coast Guard and CBP Step Up Use of Unmanned Aircraft for Drug Smuggling Surveillance
In recent testimony before the House subcommittee on border and maritime security, representatives from both the U.S. Coast Guard and CBP told of their organization’s increasing use of aerial surveillance by unmanned aircraft to assist in their battles against illegal drug smugglers. Continue reading
XFLY Systems Launches Mission Ready sUAS
XFLY Systems has announced the launch of its new XFS mission-ready sUAS. The new sUAS line is designed as a total commercial solution, suitable for both exterior and interior flights. Continue reading