A study by composites manufacturer Quickstep Technologies and RMIT University has concluded that braiding technology offers an opportunity to enhance the production rate of composite structures for eVTOL UAS applications. Continue reading
Category Archives: Research
CNAS Releases Open Source Dataset on Drone Proliferation
The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Drone Proliferation Dataset tracks global transfers of military-grade aerial drones, regardless of size and capability, between 1995 and September 1, 2023. It was created as part of a larger research project by the CNAS Defense Program that examined trends in drone proliferation and drone use in recent conflicts, as well as their likely effect on a potential future conflict over Taiwan. Continue reading
Structural Batteries Pave Way for Light, Energy-Efficient Vehicles
When cars, planes, ships or computers are built from a material that functions as both a battery and a load-bearing structure, the weight and energy consumption are radically reduced. A research group at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden is now presenting a world-leading advance in so-called massless energy storage – a structural battery that could halve the weight of a laptop, make the mobile phone as thin as a credit card or increase the driving range of an electric car by up to 70 percent on a single charge. Continue reading
NASA Develops Pod to Help Autonomous Aircraft Operators
For self-flying aircraft to take to the skies, they need to learn about their environments to avoid hazards. NASA aeronautics researchers recently developed a camera pod with sensors to help with this challenge by advancing computer vision for autonomous aviation. Continue reading
Drones will Revolutionize the Inspection of Remote Runways in Canada
With weather, limited flights and long distances, gravel runways at remote airports — particularly in Northern Canada — are difficult to get to, let alone to inspect for safety. Continue reading
Kinematics of Kestrel Wing and Tail Morphing During Hovering Flights
A new joint study by RMIT and the University of Bristol has revealed secrets to the remarkably steady flight of kestrels and could inform future drone designs and flight control strategies. Continue reading
An Improved Wireless Power Transmission System for Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
A team of Chinese researchers from the School of Information and Communication Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, China, has just published a paper on how to improve wireless power transmission system for micro unmanned aerial vehicles. Continue reading
Tiny Solar-Powered Drones Could Stay Aloft Forever
An aerial robot weighing 4 grams is powered by tiny solar panels that produce extremely high voltages – an approach that could enable drones to fly indefinitely Continue reading