Drones

In 2017, we heard how artist Katsu was using a modified DJI quadcopter to spray-paint graffiti on high surfaces. In a move that likely won't be welcomed by everyone, he's now developed a consumer graffiti drone, that's available to the public.

While propeller planes certainly do have their place, sometimes the extra speed and thrust of a jet engine is what's really needed. Dallas-based FusionFlight has applied that sort of thinking to quadcopter-style drones, resulting in the AB5 JetQuad.

Although multicopter drones now are being used to transport medical samples and supplies, their 30-minute (or so) battery life limits their range. This week, however, a hydrogen-powered delivery drone managed a one-hour, 43-minute ocean crossing.

DroneShield's latest offering takes the mobility factor up a notch with a system that can be mounted to the top of almost any vehicle, equipping it with the tools to dismantle suspicious drones coming from all directions.

Glass-clad skyscrapers need to be inspected on a regular basis, in order to ensure that the glass panes are securely attached and undamaged. Doing so might soon become much quicker and safer, with a little help from a special drone.

Although there are many possible uses for multicopter drones, one thing that's holding the tech back is battery life – the aircraft can't fly for more than half an hour. According to TerraView, however, its new RangePro X8 runs for over 70 minutes.

While quadcopters may provide photographers with a great way of getting aerial shots, sometimes a ground-based approach to the subject is what's required. That's why Vanora Robots has developed a four-wheeled camera platform known simply as Steve.

Announced today, the Volodrone is cut from the same cloth as Volocopter's electric passenger aircraft that sports 18 rotors and is electric-powered, but sports an attachment system underneath to carry heavy loads of all shapes and sizes.

DJI has announced the latest member of its Mavic family of folding drones. The Mavic Mini folds up to palm-sized proportions, can capture 2.7K video when in flight and is reported to have one of the longest flight times for a drone this size.

Hazardous places such as burning buildings can be dangerous to explore, which is why scientists are increasingly looking at using swarms of tiny drones to do the job. A bioinspired navigation system could help make such life-saving swarms a reality.

Among the proposed uses for drones, one of the most compelling is the search for survivors at disaster sites. That process could soon be more efficient, thanks to a system that allows drone cameras to differentiate between living and dead bodies.

Logistics giant UPS has high hopes for its delivery drones and has today announced a number of new business partners in pursuit of this vision, with massive pharmacy chain CVS among them.