The remote controlled systems – developed by Cardiff based BCB International can land on water with a ‘fly and dip’ system – will be used in a research programme by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s SENSEable City Lab to collect water samples for analysis.
Skunk Riot Control Copter from South Africa
South African defence and off-road specialist, Desert Wolf has unveiled the Skunk Riot Control Copter, which is designed to control unruly crowds without endangering the lives of security staff. The Skunk is equipped with 4 high-capacity paint ball barrels firing at up to 20 bullets per second each, with 80 Pepper bullets per second stopping any crowd in its tracks.
Can Europe Ever Build a Workable UAS ?
There’s great interest in Europe developing a homegrown UAS-building programme “to add reconnaissance and strike capability at lesser cost and risk to service members.”
French National Aerobatics Team at St-Jean-de-Luz
A local web TV station in the south of France put together this 18-minute video of the French National Aerobatics Team, the ‘Patrouille de France‘ which put on this impressive demonstration over the Bay of St-Jean-de-Luz in October last year. It features both ground shots and onboard footage from ‘Athos 8’ the plane situated just behind the leader. Continue reading
Travel by Drone Interactive Web Site
Launched back in April by Switzerland-based Jan Hiersemenzel, Travel By Drone is a site that harnesses the power of YouTube and Google Maps to allow you to explore the planet via recorded drone footage.
Romania Opens Up Airspace to UAS
Romanian deputies adopted on Wednesday a law that allows unmanned aerial vehicles to operate in national airspace. The law passed with 311 votes “for” and no votes “against”. The project modifies ordinance 29/1997 regarding the Aerial Civil Code and it was initiated by PNL members George Scutaru, Ion Mocioalca, Mihai Weber and Corneliu Cozmanciuc in 2013. The law already passed through the Lower House of the Parliament.
Amazon Hires Lobbyists for UAS Programme
Online retailer Amazon has brought on a major K Street firm to lobby on its proposed UAS delivery programme. Amazon Prime Air has hired Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to work on “federal advocacy with regard to testing and operation of [unmanned aerial vehicles] in the US,” according to a new lobbying registration.
Airbus to Team with Textron on French Tactical UAS
Airbus Group is in discussions to team with US firm Textron Systems for a forthcoming unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) requirement, Airbus revealed on 17 June.