X-37B Spacecraft’s Microwave Power Beam Experiment Could Power UAVs

The shadowy X-37B, the Air Force’s unmanned, reusable spacecraft, is set to launch for its sixth flight on May 16 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. While most of the payloads set for the flight are standard fare for space experiments, at least the ones that are disclosed, one of them has immense potential implications for the future of remote power generation and especially long-endurance unmanned aircraft propulsion. Continue reading →

Autel Progresses with Patent Claim Against DJI

Autel EVO

Steptoe has secured a significant trial victory for Autel Robotics USA at the US International Trade Commission (ITC). On March 2, the chief administrative law judge of the ITC found that SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd. and seven related entities (together known as “DJI”) violated Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, by importing and selling drones that infringe US Patent No. 9, 260,184 belonging to Autel. Continue reading →

Drone Swarm Stars in Magic Act on Britain’s Got Talent

Marco Tempest introduced a swarm of drones in his magic act by on Britain’s Got Talent: Unseen. He claimed that 15 drones are able to pick up micro facial expression to guess the number in a subject’s mind. Continue reading →