An autonomous flying ambulance has successfully completed its first solo test flight, offering a potential solution for challenging search and rescue missions. Completing such missions in rough terrain or combat zones can be tricky, with helicopters currently offering the best transportation option in most cases. However, these vehicles need clear areas to land, and in the case of war zones, helic...
Facebook's drive to digitally connect the whole world may have hit a road bump. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is reportedly investigating a June accident involving one of Facebook's massive drones. Known as Aquila, the unmanned aircraft is part of Internet.org, Facebook's at times controversial project to bring internet to remote communities....
Agriculture could be one of the biggest drone markets. You might be familiar with the idea of drones delivering consumer packages or monitoring security areas, but did you know that drones were first used commercially in Japan for agricultural purposes? In fact, agricultural efficiency is poised to take a big leap with drone technology now that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is stream...
The fledgling drone industry is in the throes of change as weak consumer demand and falling prices drive startups to shift their focus to specialized business applications. 3D Robotics - an early drone startup that raised more than$125 million from investors - has seen its consumer business all but crash. This week, it unveiled a new commercial strategy, announcing a camera-equipped drone...
Germany's Deutsche Telekom plans to launch a drone defense system this year designed to guard airports, stadiums, car test tracks and critical infrastructure, German weekly Welt am Sonntag reported on Sunday. The increasing use of drones for commercial and leisure purposes has led to a rise in the number of near-misses with aircraft and infringements into no-fly zones, prompting companies a...
China's military drone industry, already one of the world's largest, is on full display at the Zhuhai 2016 Airshow. The airshow has featured some of China's high tech attack and surveillance drones for the first time, as well as provided glimpses of the future, with stealthy UAVs, 'marsupial drones', supersonic robot planes, and drone swarms. One of the most prominent on...
A drone has taken to the skies around a city football ground to catch hooligans and identify flashpoints at a derby clash between rival clubs. Its video camera captured high-definition images of the streets around Birmingham City's ground for the game against Aston Villa earlier. It was the first time West Midlands Police had used a drone to police a football match. Aviation rule...
Drones are taking off – but, as the most recent shutdown of Dubai airspace shows, the rise of the technology is causing considerable turbulence. Aside from recreational use, there are numerous commercial applications for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ranging from infrastructure inspections to document deliveries. But some specialist UAE drone consultancies have a warning for busines...
Avianca is internally developing an autonomous drone to inspect grounded aircraft for damage caused by lightning and bird strikes, the low-cost Latin American carrier says. Unlike other airlines that have partnered with drone makers, Avianca plans to develop the drone and navigation system internally with a provisional schedule of launching operations next year, says Jose Ospin...
So many people are registering drones and applying for drone pilot licenses that federal aviation officials said Friday they are contemplating the possibility of millions of unmanned aircraft crowding the nation's skies in the not-too-distant future. In the nine months since the Federal Aviation Administration created a drone registration system, more than 550,000 unmanned aircraft have bee...
A WestJet pilot sought medical attention after a laser strike during a flight to Fort McMurray last month, airline officials say. The laser was shone into the cockpit of a WestJet aircraft on Aug. 22, WestJet spokeswoman Lauren Stewart said in an email. The flight landed safely in Fort McMurray, but the next flight was cancelled until a replacement co-pilot could be brought in. Pil...
Cable television news organization CNN has launched CNN Aerial Imagery and Reporting (CNN Air), its first dedicated drone unit. CNN Air will employ two full-time unmanned aircraft systems operators “to fully integrate aerial imagery and reporting across all CNN networks and platforms, along with Turner Broadcasting and Time Warner entities,”...
