Drone pilot races a roller coaster for awesome action footage
Watch this amazing drone pilot skillfully keep up with a roller coaster, weaving in and out of its supporting structure while somehow managing not to crash. The stunt took place recently at the Liseberg amusement park in Gothenburg, Sweden, with the full co-operation of the park’s operator.
Austrian Airlines is flying a drone around its planes for a good reason
Austrian Airlines is using an advanced drone to inspect its passenger aircraft for structural issues and paint damage. The drone reduces the workload for the airline’s technicians and speeds up the inspection process dramatically. If the current trial is successful, the system could be used on a permanent basis.
5 awesome pieces of new tech we saw on display at IFA 2019
It's not just consumer electronics on show at IFA 2019 -- it's also a great place to get a glimpse of emerging technologies which could change the way we live in the future. Here are 5 awesome pieces of new technology we spotted on the show floor this year, from exoskeletons to hydroponic gardening pods.
Parrot’s Anafi drone now includes an FPV headset for more thrilling flights
French drone firm Parrot has added a smartphone-powered FPV headset to its Anafi drone package to offer pilots a more thrilling flight experience. The Anafi drone launched last year and offers 4K video, 21-megapixel stills, a top speed of 34 mph, a range of more than two miles, and 26 minutes of flight time.
Watch this huge autonomous cargo drone complete its maiden flight
This huge delivery drone is 180-cm tall and can carry cargo weighing up to 70 pounds. Built by aerospace manufacturer Bell, the APT 70 recently took to the skies for the very first time. The company is eyeing a number of uses that include package delivery, critical medical transport, and disaster relief.
You can get your hands on the Drone Racing League’s latest aerial speedster
The Drone Racing League has unleashed its latest aerial speedster, the next-generation DRL Racer4. Capable of accelerating from 0 to 90 mph in less than a second, this may be the zippiest drone yet. Here's how can get your hands on a consumer version to put through its paces.
NEC’s passenger drone takes to the skies in somewhat cautious test flight
More and more companies are developing battery-powered vertical take-off and landing aircraft, with the latest effort shown off this week by Japanese tech firm NEC. The pilotless test flight, which took place inside a cage-like structure for safety purposes, saw the machine stay airborne for about 40 seconds.
Digital Trends Live: Galaxy Note 10 loses headphone jack, and more
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, we dive into the biggest trending stories in tech, including leaked images of the Galaxy Note 10 showing no headphone jack, a malfunctioning postal drone crashes, solar powered and autonomous aircraft flies in China, tires that generate electricity, and more.
B4UFLY app for drone pilots gets overhaul, so it should actually work now
The FAA's original B4UFLY app for drone pilots was roundly lambasted for being confusing, slow, and glitchy when it launched in 2016. On Wednesday the FAA rolled out an improved version to help drone owners fly safely. The app was knocked into shape by drone fleet management software firm Kittyhawk.
UPS sees a way forward for drone delivery and is going for it
UPS is getting serious about drone deliveries. The shipping giant has been exploring the idea for several years, and has even been testing a service delivering medical samples across a hospital campus in North Carolina. Now it has set up a new drone subsidiary called Flight Forward to take its plans to the next level.
Parrot retires its mini-drones to focus on its Anafi quadcopter
Parrot is retiring its mini-drones to focus on developing its more advanced Anafi quadcopter for the commercial market. The decision means an end to sales of devices such as the Mambo and Swing. The company recently won a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop a drone for soldiers.
It sounds like utter madness, but you can now buy a flamethrower drone
The TF-19 WASP Flamethrower Drone is a quadcopter attachment for commercially available drones which, according to its creators, 'allows users to ignite aerial and ground targets from miles away.' It's available to buy starting tomorrow. Now what could possibly go awry?
MIT’s new drone can hover like a quadcopter, soar like a plane
Researchers at MIT have developed a new type of drone which can turn on a dime from hovering like an ordinary quadcopter to swooping and gliding like a fixed-wing airplane. In doing so, it could solve some of the biggest challenges which exist with modern drones. Here's how.
This compact drone gun can down a rogue quadcopter at 500 meters
The latest drone gun from DroneShield is its most compact yet and can be comfortably operated with one hand. The DroneGun MkIII can tackle rogue drones up to 500 meters away, using jamming technology to take control of the machine before landing it safely. Target customers include operators of airports and prisons.
Moment Air brings an anamorphic lens to DJI’s drones for cinematic flair
Moment Air is the latest project from Moment, which includes an anamorphic lens for the DJI Mavic 2 Pro and the Mavic 2 Zoom. It also includes ND and CPL filters for the camera on the drones and the lens, as well as an ultrathin iPhone case that works with Moment's M-series mount.
The best drones under $100
You don’t need to empty your wallet to get into flying drones. As the hobby has gotten more popular, manufacturers have started producing more budget-friendly models, and while they don’t always have the fanciest bells and whistles, they get the job done. Here are some of the best drones under $100.
U.S. Army takes its pocket-sized reconnaissance drone to Afghanistan
The Black Hornet drone from Oregon-based FLIR Systems is a pocket-sized flying machine with advanced features designed to assist soldiers' reconnaissance missions. Having already undergone extensive testing, the twin-rotor, camera-equipped device is about to make its debut in Afghanistan.
NASA’s eight-rotor Dragonfly drone is heading to Saturn’s largest moon
NASA is sending a drone to Titan, Saturn's largest moon, in an ambitious mission that could unlock the mystery of how life began on Earth. Launching in 2026, the dual-quadcopter will reach Titan eight years later, whereupon it’ll spend several years gathering data from locations of interest.
Crawler robots and imaging drones will monitor wind turbine blades for damage
By spotting signs of damage early, wind turbine blades can be kept in service for longer. To assist with this task, researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed special blade-crawling robots and flying inspection drones. Here's how they could be used to help.
Drone delivery services may prove too noisy for some in Australia
Numerous companies are lining up to deliver stuff by drone, but the machines still make quite a racket when they fly nearby. In Australia, where Google sister company Wing recently launched a drone delivery service, locals complained about the noise. And now the government is getting involved.
This drone with hands looks like a nightmare straight out of Black Mirror
This unlikely drone-with-hands creation is the work of Federico Ciccarese, the brains behind YouBionic, a bionic hand project that has evolved far beyond its original remit of offering a pair of 3D-printable robot hands. Check it out in all its slightly unnerving glory.
Sloshed drone pilots in Japan can now be punished with jail time
If you're flying a drone in Japan, better not be sloshed when you send your bird skyward. A new law passed this week could see drunk drone pilots sent to jail for up to a year or hit with a hefty fine. New Jersey brought in a similar rule last year threatening a six-month prison sentence or a $1,000 fine.
Watch Amazon’s all-new delivery drone zipping through the sky
Amazon has taken the wraps off its newly-designed delivery drone, a machine that takes off like a helicopter and flies like a plane. Able to fly 15 miles and carry packages weighing up to 5 pounds, Amazon made the bold claim that it may be just a few months from launching a delivery service using the aircraft.
Mud-spraying drones could be used to build homes in disasters areas
Drones are finding more and more uses beyond just capturing gorgeous footage from up high. Check out this effort, for example, where a flying machine has been modified so that it can help build emergency shelters. The drone performs multiple tasks that include lifting, spraying, and drying.
Parrot to build small surveillance drones for U.S. soldiers on the battlefield
Quadcopters are set to play an increasing role on the battlefield after French drone maker Parrot and five other firms were selected by U.S. officials to develop compact aircraft for soldiers' reconnaissance missions. Ongoing issues between the U.S. government and China likely led to drone giant DJI being overlooked.
Digital Trends Live: Google and Huawei, Alphabet’s meatball drones, and more
On Monday's episode of Digital Trends Live, we discuss today’s top trending tech news, including updates on the dissolving relationship between Google and Huawei, Alphabet’s drones deliver meatballs, Facebook’s secret robot division, fines for crossing the street while texting, deepfake Joe Rogan, and more.
Meatballs and pastries offered by Wing’s first European drone delivery service
Having recently launched a limited service in Canberra, Australia, Alphabet's Wing is getting ready to begin testing its drone delivery technology in Helsinki, Finland. Customers will be able to order a variety of food and drinks, with delivery promised within about 10 minutes.
Soaring on air currents like birds could let drones fly for significantly longer
Birds are sometimes able to glide by catching rising air currents, known as thermals. Thanks to U.S. Navy research, this energy-saving technique could also be used by drones to allow them to remain airborne for longer. It could soon be available to regular customers, too.
Tiny drone uses A.I. to learn from nature’s best pilot, the hummingbird
One of nature's most remarkable creations is the hummingbird, which flaps its wings up to 80 times per second and which can hover in place and fly in any direction. Now scientists have used machine learning algorithms to study the way these birds fly in order to replicate their abilities in drones.
Digital Trends Live: Spotify vs. Apple, kamikaze drones, and more
On today’s Digital Trends Live, we discuss Spotify’s accusation that Apple monopolizes streaming music, Uber and Lyft drivers' strike, bounty hunters buying wireless location data, Volkswagen’s EV record attempt, QR codes during TV shows, kamikaze drones, a robotic farm sells produce, and more.
DroneBullet is a kamikaze drone missile that knocks enemy UAVs out of the sky
How do you get an enemy drone out of the sky as quickly as possible? According to anti-drone tech company AerialX, the answer involves a cross between a missile and a quadcopter. Meet DroneBullet. Here's how it works -- and why technology such as this is crucial in today's world.
New task force to take on rogue drone pilots flying near airports
A new task force has been set up to tackle the problem of drone incursions at U.S. airports, with the Federal Aviation Administration saying it now receives as many as 100 such reports a month. Up to now, rogue drone flights have forced a number of airports to suspend operations over safety fears.
DJI tries to debunk rumors that Phantom drones are discontinued
DJI denied reports that it is ending its Phantom line of drones, blaming the unavailability of the Phantom 4 on a parts shortage and claiming that images of a Phantom 5 prototype was a one-off design for a customer. The future of the company's drone business, meanwhile, remains unclear.
Alphabet’s Wing drones now have FAA approval to deliver packages in the U.S.
Alphabet Wing, the drone delivery startup owned by Google’s parent company, announced that it has become the first company to receive Air Carrier Certification from the FAA. This means that Wing can begin commercial deliveries from local businesses to homes in the U.S.