An Indian startup, Social Drones, is using its home-grown arsenal of bi, quad, and octo-copters to survey the effects of a recent natural disaster which claimed 580 lives, and is planning to courier medicines and foods to isolated victims. Continue reading
Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS
DefiKopter Delivers Defibrillators to Emergency Responders by UAS
German non-profit group Definetz wants to make defibrillators readily available across its country so that any time someone has a heart attack, the life saving devices are within arms reach. And it’s looking to UAS to help it bring its vision to fruition. Continue reading
FAA Reminds Journalism School UAS Programmes to Request COAs for Outdoor Flights
The Federal Aviation Administration has shut down two Midwestern journalism school programmes using UAS for aerial reporting, according to the Columbia Daily Tribune. Continue reading
Ottawa Employs Goose Buster UAS to Keep Beaches Clean
Fed up with geese fouling the grass and water at its Petrie Island beaches, the City of Ottawa government is calling in UAS strikes. It’s proving amazingly effective, said Orléans Coun. Bob Monette. The place used to be haunted by as many as 140 geese, which can eat several pounds of grass in a day and poop out nearly as much in waste. Continue reading
UAS in Peru Study Ancient Ruins
In Peru, unmanned aircraft are being used to monitor crops and study ancient ruins.They are equipped with a microcomputer, a GPS tracker, a compass, cameras and an altimeter, and can be easily programmed by using Google Maps to fly autonomously and return to base with vital data. Continue reading
Burning Man Festival Issues Rules for Flying UAS at Event
Participants flying unmanned aircraft systems at the Burning Man Festival (August 26 – September 2) have developed a set of best practices for flying at Black Rock City this year. The best practices came out of a July 17 “Drone Summit” at Burning Man headquarters that had 40 in attendance and an estimated 100 on a teleconference. Continue reading
Official Launch of 3D Robotics Semi-Pro Quadcopter
3D Robotics (3DR) has announced the availability of Iris, an advanced quadcopter with full GPS-guided autonomous capabilities. Designed to provide an “out-of-the-box” flying experience, Iris aims to bring the power of professional grade aerial robotics to the mass market. Continue reading
First Civil UAS Flights will be Over Arctic Waters
A pair of UAS are expected to take to the skies over the U.S. Arctic Ocean this summer, conducting work for the oil industry. Operating the remote controls will be private companies, including ConocoPhillips, Alaska’s largest oil producer and holder of oil leases in the remote Chukchi Sea off the state’s northwest coast.