Drones & UAVs News & Discussions

[raklian]

[weatheriscool]

Airbus' autonomous rotor drone aces flight trials in gale conditions
By David Szondy
May 22, 2023
https://newatlas.com/military/airbus-vs ... tor-drone/

Airbus' VSR700 robotic helicopter has successfully completed sea tests under operational conditions, including fully autonomous take-offs and landings in strong gale force wind conditions, from a civilian ship's helicopter deck.

UAV helicopters may look like strange toys, but they play a very serious and increasingly important military role, especially at sea. While many fixed-wing drones can be launched from aircraft carrier decks or from catapults, smaller ships in rough seas don't have this option, though decades of experience have proven how rotorcraft can be a real force multiplier for frigates and similar vessels.

[weatheriscool]

Hover Camera X1 drone can be used without an app or a remote
By Ben Coxworth
May 29, 2023
ZeroZero Robotics

Perhaps you like the idea of using a drone to take aerial selfies, but you don't want to buy a big, expensive, complex quadcopter. That's where ZeroZero Robotics' Hover Camera drone comes in, and the latest version – the X1 – is claimed to be easier than ever to use.

Like its predecessors, namely the original Hover Camera and the Hover 2, the X1 features a hinged body that allows it to be folded down to a 125-g (4.4-oz) package measuring 127 by 86 by 31 mm (5 by 3.38 by 1.22 in) when not in use. Additionally, thanks to protective caging around the propellers, it's able to take off from the user's hand without any risk of injury.

The X1 can be remotely controlled or set to preprogrammed flight modes via an accompanying iOS/Android app. Setting it apart from the previous models, however, is the fact that it can also be used without a smartphone or a remote. Instead, by pushing a button on the drone itself, users can select one of five flight modes.

https://newatlas.com/drones/hover-camera-x1-drone/

[wjfox]

[weatheriscool]

New Heat-Resistant Drone Can Enter Burning Buildings
FireDrone could someday help firefighters locate survivors or gather intel to aid an investigation.

By Adrianna Nine June 28, 2023

Emergency response agencies constantly seek ways to rescue survivors without putting more people in danger. To that end, we now use technology to help us find people under earthquake rubble and in deep water—why not in burning buildings? Engineers at Imperial College London and Empa (a materials science and technology research center in Switzerland) have developed a drone prototype that can withstand extreme heat, making it a potential life-saver for victims of structural fires.

The aptly-named FireDrone owes its heat resistance to two major components. The first is its insulation, part of which comes from the polyimide aerogel that makes up much of the drone’s body. Glass fiber studded with silica particles reinforces the aerogel, reducing any shrinkage that might occur in high temperatures. These two materials combine to create what’s referred to as a GFRPI (short for glass-fiber reinforced polyimide) protective shell, which houses the drone’s robotic bits. The arms contain an insulating foam, while an external aluminum coating helps reflect heat.

https://www.extremetech.com/science/new ... -buildings

[raklian]

[Vector]

I wonder when will appear autonomy reusable drones with AI which can overcome jam systems

[Vector]

I wonder when will appear autonomy reusable drones with AI which can overcome jam systems

As it turns out, they already exist.

[wjfox]

UK's first drone mail service begins in Orkney

2 days ago

Orkney has become the first location in the UK to have mail delivered by drone.

The Orkney I-Port operation has been launched by Royal Mail and drone firm Skyports to distribute letters and parcels between the islands.

[...]

While the service will initially operate for three months, it could be continued on a permanent basis under existing regulatory frameworks due to Orkney's unique landscape and the proximity of the islands to one another.

The drone service is expected to significantly improve service levels and delivery times to Graemsay and Hoy, as weather and geography can cause disruption to delivery services.

The use of electric drones for inter-island delivery will also bring significant safety improvements by ensuring postal workers can deliver between ports without risk.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... d-66340600

[wjfox]