Technology

With the steady improvement of autonomous flight modes and safety features from DJI and futuristic computer vision from the likes of Skydio, you might think that the way we pilot drones is only heading one way: to true autonomy. Also known as not really needing to pilot them at all. …

Swiss drone manufacturer Flyability has made a name for itself with its rugged Elios drone, which flies in an insect-inspired frame and effectively bounces off obstacles. This kind of capability has obvious applications in public safety and industries such as construction and mining, where the working environment isn’t always friendly. …

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 …

Amid the avalanche of product and service launches, partnership announcements and general industry news at Interdrone earlier this month, senseFly, a division of French drone manufacturer Parrot, unveiled a new modular drone for aerial mapping and surveying. On paper, the eBee X looks like a useful fixed-wing aircraft that should …

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 …

When Skydio launched the long-awaited R1 in February, it was clear that we were dealing with something special. The Skydio team had set out to build a drone that could build a picture of its environment and fly as intelligently as a human pilot as a result. And they appear to …

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. …

The risks that come with flying in wet conditions have long held back drone pilots and aerial photographers. Most drone owners find that frustrating: A bit of rain doesn’t always mean a scene isn’t worth shooting. Watersports, for example, are another possible subject often seen as not worth the risks …

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 …

There are two universal truths in the drone industry. The first is that technology companies will file rafts of drone-related patents in an attempt to score easy PR and cover even the most obscure bases for the future. The second is that tech workers need the occasional caffeine hit from …