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The newest large Russian UAV can be clearly seen on aerospace photos of the Google Maps web mapping service application, the Military Russia informational website reported. According to the website, the photos were taken at the Kazan Aviation Factory (a branch of the Tupolev JSC). Presumably, the UAV is the Russian Altius-M (Altair) newest secret reconnaissance drone, capable to boast of its large duration of the flight. Continue reading
Sketch from Disney patent application shows airbag engulfing Disney drone. (Disney Enterprises patent application)
Disney is seeking patents for a unique new safety feature for its aerial drone light displays, according to a new patent application filed last Thursday by Disney Enterprises. An airbag has been designed to deploy around the drone, like giant bubble-wrap, if it malfunctions or if sensors detect an imminent collision with another object, the patent says. Continue reading
Agricultural efficiency is poised to take a big leap with drone technology now that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is streamlining regulations for unmanned aerial vehicles. A recent report from PwC pegs the addressable market for agricultural drones to be worth a whopping $32.4 billion, second only to infrastructure. Continue reading
What began in 2003 as the “deep black program” under the project name “Barracuda” was completed in December 2015 as the Agile UAV in NCE. The unmanned air vehicle platform was initially designed to test new technological developments with just a small number of flight trials. Following an 18-year utilisation and development phase, the Agile UAV is now one of Europe’s leading technology Demonstrator Systems. Continue reading
India quietly signed two contracts worth $1.4bn with Israel Aerospace Industries for the purchase of two additional Phalcon/IL-76 Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) valued at $1 billion and 10 Heron TP unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) during the recent visit of Israeli President Reuven Rivil to India. Continue reading
Small drones are already effective weapons for urban warfare—when armed with miniature warheads, these stealthy spies can turn into lethal assassins. So far their biggest limitation is battery life, but Boeing’s patent for a drone battle station sets out to overcome that. Continue reading
The Russian Army will be getting Advanced Stealth Drone Hunter which is capable of detecting unmanned aerial vehicles over 20 km range with radar accuracy of 10 meters. Continue reading
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a combination of software and hardware that will allow them to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and insect cyborgs, or bio-bots, to map large, unfamiliar areas – such as collapsed buildings after a disaster. Continue reading