Skip to main content

Aerotain’s blimp-inspired Skye drone won’t injure people if it crash lands

Drone technology is progressing at a rapid rate, but at least one company is looking to the past for innovation in the future. To address the perplexing issue of how to protect people and property from drones that get out of control and fall to the ground, Swiss company Aerotain is seeking inspiration from blimps, creating a modern drone using an inflated balloon.

When flying under the control of an experienced operator, a remote-controlled drone provides a unique angle to any event, whether it be a family backyard barbecue or a major public event. Drones can be beneficial, but their location in the sky also makes them inherently dangerous, especially if their flight is disrupted and they come crashing to the ground. Companies have been developing a variety of solutions to protect people from falling drones. These ideas include auto-hovering features that stabilize a falling drone and even a mini-parachute that slows a drone during a fall. Not to be outdone, Aerotain’s inflatable drone concept is among the most unique ideas being proposed for the safe operations of a drone in a crowded public area.

Recommended Videos

The company’s Skye drone is comprised of an inflatable balloon that is filled with helium to help the device stay aloft. This assisted lift makes it possible for the drone to fly for more than two hours, eclipsing most modern drones which have significantly shorter flight times.

The Skye is highly customizable and can be inflated to different sizes, with the largest version measuring 3 meters in diameter. This supersized, blimp-style drone is eye-catching, making it perfect for companies that want to advertise their brand on the sides of the UAV. The Skye also can carry up to 4 pounds of broadcast-quality camera equipment that can be used to stream photos and videos to a remote operator.

Because it is a balloon, the Skye drone is a soft platform that will cause only minor injury if an error in its flight causes it to collide with people who are on they ground. It also is safe to touch since its propulsion system is enclosed within the unit. This design provides a significant advantage over existing quadcopters that are made of a hard plastic and have external blades capable of inflicting damage on people and animals when they accidentally collide.

Aerotain is marketing its drone to event organizers looking for a safe alternative to conventional drones for aerial photography. The company believes its technology is perfect for large gatherings such as concerts and sporting events where the Skye drone’s safety features are paramount and its presence will attract attention for a brand. A smaller version of the Skye drone also can be used in compact public spaces, such as the interior of a building, where the potential for a collision with people and objects is high. Aerotain is heavily promoting its solution, recently demoing its Skye drone at the NAB Show in Las Vegas.

Kelly Hodgkins
Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more