Drones

In recent years, we've seen a few folding-wing drones that can be quickly and easily launched from a tube. The WASP M4-TL tactical UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) takes that same concept and applies it to a military-spec quadcopter.

High-speed drone racing has just had a shocking "Deep Blue" moment, as an autonomous AI designed by University of Zurich researchers repeatedly forced three world champion-level pilots to eat its dust, showing uncanny precision in dynamic flight.

Three years ago we told you about the Chasing F1 Fish Finder Drone, which is basically a little remote-control boat with a lowerable underwater video camera. Well, it now has a more capable younger sibling, in the form of the F1 Pro.

Back in 2019, Chinese manufacturer Youcan Robotics brought us the prosumer-oriented BW Space Pro underwater drone. Well, the company is back with its much higher-spec'd OceanEye model, which is aimed squarely at industrial use.

DJI has announced the follow up to 2021's Air 2S folding camera drone, doubling the cameras up front, extending flight time and video transmission range, and the Air 3 is the first in the series to feature omnidirectional obstacle detection.

Just like their field-dwelling counterparts, plants grown in greenhouses are preyed upon by flying insects. The Dutch-designed PATS system is designed to help, by sending tiny drones to chop those insects up in mid-air.

Firefighters have a dangerous job at the best of times, but especially so when they're first entering burning buildings. A new flame-resistant drone could help, by scouting structures to let firefighters know what they'll be up against.

Most folks aren't big-time aerial cinematographers, so they don't need a $1,000-plus drone – what they do need is something small, inexpensive and easy to use, that still shoots great video. As I discovered, the Hover Camera X1 fits that bill to a T.

Searching for human bodies or other submerged items can be dangerous for divers due to factors such as strong currents, deep waters and low visibility. That's where the Tethys One underwater drone comes in, as it's designed to do the job itself.

Robotic versions of flying insects hold a lot of promise for numerous applications, but controlling their yaw axis while in flight has proven challenging. A new bee robot, however, addresses that problem with a clever design.

Perhaps you like the idea of using a drone to take selfies, but you don't want a big, expensive 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.

Imagine an army of flying drones focused on detecting building issues before they become serious and carrying out repairs autonomously. It sounds like science fiction, but researchers aim to explore whether it could indeed be realized at the DroneHub.

Multicopter and fixed-wing drones use up a lot of power fighting the wind. The Morpho VTOL drone addresses this problem with morphing wings that adapt to lessen its wind resistance. In fact, they can even use the wind to the aircraft's advantage.

DJI has announced a new addition to its Mavic 3 camera drone series. The Mavic 3 Pro flies out with the world's first triple camera system, comprising a Hasselblad main and two telephoto modules.

If you've ever tried piloting a drone, you'll know that they end up running into walls, trees or whatnot … often getting damaged in the process. An experimental inflatable-body drone, however, just bounces off obstacles – plus it can grasp onto them.