New Atlas

Aircraft Audio available

Intelligent Energy claims new endurance record for hydrogen-powered multicopters

Loz Blain January 10, 2019

This fuel cell-powered coaxial octacopter just stayed aloft for 70 minutes of continuous flight, while carrying a 5kg (11-pound) weight. The record demonstrates the flight endurance capabilities of hydrogen-powered electric aircraft.

Intelligent Energy's drone, powered by 6 liters of compressed hydrogen and a fuel cell, flew for ...

Drones

DJI's smart new drone controller sports a built-in, HD, ultra-bright screen

Michael Irving January 9, 2019

DJI’s controllers normally need a phone or tablet, but that can be a drain on your battery, fiddly to set up and hard to see in the bright light of day. At CES this week, the company has unveiled a new controller with its own display built in, designed for use in direct sunlight.

DJi has unveiled a new Smart Controller with a built-in display

Children

Robots, drones and AR: The best tech toys of 2018

Michael Irving December 13, 2018

Toys today include robots, drones and AR, and if you’re lucky you can trick the kids into learning some useful skills along the way. New Atlas rounds up the best tech toys of 2018, which could make for some great last-minute gift ideas for the young’un in your life.

New Atlas rounds up the best tech toys of 2018

Electronics Audio available

Swarms of bionic bees could monitor farms with electronic backpacks

Michael Irving December 11, 2018

Our drones are pretty handy, but nature’s drones – bees – are far more efficient. Rather than building our own from scratch, researchers at the University of Washington have created tiny suites of sensors that bees can wear like backpacks, to help gather data from their environment.

Researchers have fitted bees with electronic backpacks that can sense their surroundings and collect data

Aircraft Audio available

The Hexa manned multirotor: It’s real, and you can fly it

Loz Blain December 11, 2018

Flying taxi services may take some time to arrive, but if you want to be among the first to pilot a manned multicopter, you'll have the chance in 2019. Lift Aircraft is preparing to debut a personal flight experience in an 18-prop electric VTOL aircraft for about the price of a skydive.

The Hexa will land on four large floats, suitable for ground or water landings

Environment

Scientists track sharks with everyday drones

James Holloway November 28, 2018

Small consumer drones can be used to detect and monitor big sea animals in shallow waters, according to new research from North Carolina State University. The team has shown that a quadcopter drone can be an easy means to collect reliable data.

Enie Hensel launches a DJI Phantom Vision+ 2 to observe marine fauna

Drones

DJI drops Black Friday deals

Michael Irving November 18, 2018

For Black Friday this year, DJI has focused its deals on its more accessible drones, like the Spark and Mavic Air, as well as various accessories. The deals below will be available between November 18 and 27, but keep an eye out during that time for shorter flash sales on different items.

For Black Friday, the DJI Spark Controller Combo is on sale for $359, or $459 for ...

Drones

Second-gen folding, flying selfie-cam gets more drone-like

Michael Irving November 14, 2018

Two years ago, start-up ZeroZero Robotics launched the Hover Camera, a device that was more flying camera than drone, and now the Hover 2 is about to take flight on Kickstarter, aiming to keep it simple while opening up the options to be more drone-like.

The Hover 2 is a new flying camera from ZeroZero Robotics that's designed to be simple ...

Drones Audio available

Former NASA astronaut debuts joystick drone controller

Michael Irving November 13, 2018

Helicopters and planes are steered by joystick-like controllers, so why aren’t drones? Fluidity Technologies is working on just such a controller, with the FT Aviator now on Kickstarter.

Fluidity Technologies has unveiled the FT Aviator, a joystick for drones, on Kickstarter

Drones Audio available

Vanuatu to trial drone delivery of vaccines to remote islands

Nick Lavars October 31, 2018

Of all the potential uses for drones, using them to deliver life-saving medicines in developing countries is one of the most promising. The government of Vanuatu is now set to see what all the buzz about, announcing plans to trial vaccine-carrying drones before the year is out.

Vanuatu's trials of vaccine-carrying drones will kick off in December