Drones in the News

Drones and emergency situations go well together, particularly when first responders need to locate people in need despite poor visibility and challenging terrain. More often than not the applications we’ve seen involve mountain rescues, locating people who are lost, stranded or injured in the wilderness. This EENA and DJI SAR mission in …

Cutting edge aviation and painting are not two things you’d readily associate with Disney, so it’s a little strange that this week the media giant has published work outlining a combination of the two. Disney’s “system for autonomous spray painting using a UAV” has been designed to eventually be suitable …

As drones get easier to fly and aerial photography from around the world continues to go viral, more and more people want in on the action. And that means more retailers are vying to be drone distribution points, too. As we’ve seen before with the likes of Fat Lama, plenty …

Drone manufacturer DJI has appointed French aerial photographer and film director Yann Arthus-Bertrand one of three DJI ‘Masters’. The French artist, whose work includes ‘The Earth From Above’ – a United Nations-supported collection of photo essays that has sold more than 4 million copies – has been using DJI equipment while shooting his …

Drones are increasingly being adopted by public safety teams and first responders. A study out this week from DJI, the European Emergency Number Association (EENA) and Irish research firm Black Channel, shows why that trend is set to continue. And research like this is important. You’ll struggle to find an emergency service anywhere …

Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin and Drone Racing League (DRL) have announced a contest inviting teams to develop artificial intelligence (AI) systems capable of piloting racing drones and beating human pilots. Participating teams will compete in a series of challenges for their share of more than $2 million in prizes. The challenge was announced by …

A $20,000 prize has been awarded to Italian Vincenzo Navanteri by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Navanteri won the Prince Alvaro de Orleans-Borbon Grant at the FAI International Drones Conference and Expo, in Lausanne, Switzerland, for his drone ambulance concept. Switzerland, of course, is no stranger to drones transforming traditional medical services. …

In recent years there have been plenty of headlines highlighting the use of drones to smuggle drugs and other contraband into prisons. And that’s fair enough. It’s a new, interesting challenge for authorities to deal with. And fear gets clicks. Last year in the UK, for example, police monitored and …

A forestry company in Victoria, Australia, is using drones and thermal cameras to spot koalas before trees are cut down or controlled burns take place. Hazelwood Forestry, in Latrobe Valley is regularly tasked with cutting down Hancock Victoria Plantations’ eucalyptus and pine trees. One complication is that carelessly harvesting – which …

Connectivity giant AT&T has collaborated with UK pharmaceutical packaging provider Softbox to explore the potential of medical drone deliveries. AT&T’s LTE-connected drone has been ferrying Softbox’s thermal packaging system, ‘Skypod’, with medicines from healthcare provider Merck to locations across Puerto Rico. The proof of concept with Softbox aims to show …