In an article recently published in the journal Solar Energy, researchers discussed the enhancements of photovoltaic (PV) receivers in laser wireless power transmission (LWPT) by using non-imaging optics. Continue reading
Category Archives: Research
Mapping Pedestrian Street Behaviour Using UAVs
A new study published in PLOS ONE tests the performance of UAV-based observation techniques in measuring pedestrian activity in two comparative settings in Santiago de Chile. Continue reading
New Algorithm Keeps Drones from Colliding in Midair
When multiple drones are working together in the same airspace, perhaps spraying pesticide over a field of corn, there’s a risk they might crash into each other. To help avoid these costly crashes, MIT researchers presented a system called MADER in 2020. Continue reading
Microphones as Airspeed Sensors for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Researchers at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS Delft, The Netherlands have recently published a paper proposing an airspeed instrument using microphones as airspeed sensors. Continue reading
Using Self-Rotation in UAVs to Extend the Sensor Field of View
Researchers in Hong Kong have published a paper demonstrating the utilization of self-rotation in UAVs to extend the sensor field of view (FoV) without consuming extra power. Continue reading
Propeller Advance Paves Way for Quiet, Efficient Electric Aviation
Electrification is seen as having an important role to play in the fossil-free aviation of tomorrow. But electric aviation is battling a dilemma: the more energy-efficient an electric aircraft is, the noisier it gets. Now, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have developed a propeller design optimisation method that paves the way for quiet, efficient electric aviation. Continue reading
‘Traffic Cop’ Algorithm Helps a Drone Swarm Stay on Task
How fresh are your data? For drones searching a disaster zone or robots inspecting a building, working with the freshest data is key to locating a survivor or reporting a potential hazard. But when multiple robots simultaneously relay time-sensitive information over a wireless network, a traffic jam of data can ensue. Continue reading
German Researchers Find Security Vulnerabilities in DJI Drones
Researchers from Bochum and Saarbrücken have detected security vulnerabilities, some of them serious, in several drones made by the manufacturer DJI. These enable users, for example, to change a drone’s serial number or override the mechanisms that allow security authorities to track the drones and their pilots. In special attack scenarios, the drones can even be brought down remotely in flight. Continue reading