Drones

Building structures in difficult-to-reach locations is a daunting task, as bringing in the cranes, scaffolding and whatnot can be difficult. That's why scientists are creating a bee-inspired system, which uses flying 3D-printing drones to do the job.

Florida's "silent" flying dish-rack, powered by ionic propulsion, is on track for commercial rollout in 2024, according to Undefined Technologies, which has released new outdoor flight test video. We remain curious, but unconvinced it'll be viable.

Ordinarily, quadcopter drones have to tilt their front end downward when flying forward, increasing their frontal area and thus increasing drag. An experimental new drone gets around this problem, by only tilting its rotors.

Matternet M2 drone has received a Type Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, the first non-military drone to do so, which should help streamline its efforts to make drone delivery an accessible and everyday service.

DJI has launched its own cinewhoop-style drone, a stabilized flyer designed to capture crisp video footage indoors or out. The Avata boasts a 4K camera, shielded props, and ease of use with the new headset and controller.

Scientists working to expand the potential landing zones for drones have demonstrated a novel approach, which could enable drones to touch down on one of the more common surfaces in the urban environments – sloping roofs.

In most delivery-by-drone systems, cargo has to be packed into system-specific containers, or must fit inside a designated onboard compartment. The new RDS2 setup, however, can transport almost any shape or size of parcel, weighing as much as 10 kg (22 lb).

As any viewer of the Discovery Channel will know, the search for sunken treasure typically involves sifting through the sand, just hoping to find gold or silver. The SeaSearcher underwater drone, however, may soon point clients right to the booty.

There are now a number of systems in which "good" drones are used to disable "enemy" drones, such as those conducting spying missions. A new system takes a safer approach to the task, in that the captured drones don't simply plummet to the ground.

VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft are a popular choice for passenger-carrying "air taxis," but it's easy to forget that they also make for quite versatile consumer drones. One such beast, the Swan Voyageur, could be yours for US$1,299.

Counter-drone systems typically attack a UAV's radio control or GPS systems, disabling pilot control as well as pre-programmed missions. But British defense tech company QinetiQ has now demonstrated a laser-controlled drone these systems can't stop.

A stretch of airspace spanning 165 miles (265 km) across England is set to become the world's longest dedicated drone corridor, with the UK government approving plans for the initiative as part of a wider push into next-generation aviation.

In an effort to get chemotherapy treatment to patients in a more timely manner, the UK's National Health Service is embarking on a new drone delivery trial for the Isle of Wight, billed as the first of its kind.

German company Wingcopter has signed a deal to roll out 12,000 of its long-range, triple-drop delivery drones across Africa over the next five years, in what promises to be the largest commercial drone deployment ever attempted.

Aerial drones are much more useful if they can grasp and carry objects, plus they use much less power if they can perch on stationary objects instead of hovering. A new attachment allows drones to do both, without using any electricity.