Business
A German company airstier is building a quadcopter powered by a combustion engine, rather than batteries. The firm has launched a Kickstarter bid for yeair, a quadcopter driven by combustion engines that has a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), which can stay airborne for up to 60
Commercial
Flying drone waiters, already a burgeoning trend in Asia and parts of the UK, could be headed to Australian restaurants as 3D robotic technology zooms into the hospitality industry. Whizzing from kitchens to tables with drinks and plates of food on board, the new wave of autonomous drones are being
Commercial
According to a report published by Marsh, a global insurance broking and risk management company, the rapid development of the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS/drone) industry is underpinned by the insurance market’s willingness to provide cover for the deployment of the fledging technology. UAS usage has potentially vast economic
Testing
The Chinese Antarctic Expedition Team tested whether 3D printed drones can withstand extreme conditions by taking them to the South Pole to expose it to high altitude and low temperatures at the same time. Six drones, produced by Hunan Mengjing Three Dimensional Technology, Ltd., were taken on the trip and
Business
Airware is announcing the Commercial Drone Fund, which will invest $250,000 to $1 million in dozens of early stage startups that are building out other components of the enterprise drone ecosystem. The fund’s first two investments are in RedBird, a Paris-based drone data processing startup, and Sky-
Business
Accel invested $75 million into DJI this month, sparking this new partnership. Skyfund will make $250,000-plus investments in early stage drone startups through convertible notes or traditional seed and Series A rounds. DJI and Accel will have the option to make follow-on investments. Along with a closer
Leisure-1 unpublished list
The term mini drone, or mini quadcopter, is related to the size. The smaller frame of mini drones has helped their popularity. They have the ability to go through small spaces, fly through windows and gaps, and go around trees. Spaniard Charpu, a nickname for Carlos Puertolas, is now animation
Commercial
The NOAA Air Resources Laboratory's Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division (ATDD) has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification to fly its DJI S-1000 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) at the Knox County Radio Control Society's model flying field near Knoxville, TN.This is the first
Commercial
Thanks to the power of its rotors, this fold-up quadrotor extends its articulated arms and takes off in a fraction of a second. This prototype will be viewed by specialists on May 25 at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Seattle. Inspired by origami, the folding drone
Leisure-1 unpublished list
A mischief-making teenager has been arrested by police after posting an online video threatening to fly his drone at the jam-packed Sanja Matsuri festival in Tokyo's Asakusa district. “I will go to Sanja Matsuri. That is because it is not prohibited from shooting (scenes of the
Commercial
Researchers used an unmanned aircraft to map the sea ice north of Barrow in April as part of a cooperative effort between the Native community of Barrow and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Whaling captains want to know the safest route across the ice to reach leads where bowhead whales
Leisure-1 unpublished list
Lego bricks can be used to build a perfect symmetrical frame for a quadcopter. Instructables user Weseley used Lego Technic because it has holes in the bricks. He writes: "You can mount the motor's with tie wraps through the holes and it's an ideal weight