Joby Energy is developing airborne wind turbines which will operate in the upper boundary layer and the upper troposphere. While knowledge of the tremendous energy in high-altitude wind is not new, recent advances in power electronics, sensors, and control systems now make our technology practical. Multi-wing structure supports an array of turbines. The turbines connect to motor-generators which produce...
The Parrot ARdrone campaign has been pulled together, just in time for Christmas. Interesting that they use the term attack and mention several cities. Perhaps its something that is lost in translation. Bookmark It Hide Sites
Flight Global reports that IAI are seeking partners to help develop the Tri Rotor/glider Panther. The airframe seems to be a mashup of several amateur designs. IAI failed to extend a tender deadline imposed by the Israeli defence ministry for a new brigade level UAS. They are now looking for overseas investors to help fund development. High speed forward...
The GRASP Lab at University of Pennsylvania highlighted again this week the ever closing gap between science fiction and technical reality in yet another alarmingly impressive demonstration of Autonomous Quadrotor Flight in a restrictive environment. Amongst other developments shown in the video titled “Aggressive Quadrotor Part II” (revenge of the rotor) the quadrocopter is show to be “capable of...
A new multicopter control board comes to market this week for $360. The Hoverfly PRO employs two Parallax processors,the same as used in the AttoPilot autopilot. It just requires motors, speed controllers and a receiver to stabilize platforms with four to eight motors. The computing power available allows for real time roll and pitch correction. With a built in...
Developers at the Open Source UAV autopilot, OpenPilot this week announced their intention to make the board a straight replacement for the Mikrocopter control board. This then removes the current 250m waypoint distance restriction and of course provides free navigation software for MK multicopters. Read more here http://wiki.openpilot.org/OP-Navi Bookmark It Hide Sites
On Tuesday 8st June, 2010 ZALA AERO officially launched its new VTOL ZALA 421-21 with its unique six rotor design. The unmanned complex based on the helicopter UAV ZALA 421-21 is designed for remote landing and monitoring at altitude 10-1000m at a distance of 5km from the ground control station with maximum endurance of 25 minutes. The unique design...
From the Liverpool Echo http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/02/11/merseyside-police-make-uk-s-first-ever-flying-drone-arrest-in-litherland-100252-25810555/ MERSEYSIDE police made the first ever arrest in the UK using a flying drone to catch a suspected car thief in thick fog. It swooped into action in Litherland to find a suspect who was hiding at night in poor visibility. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) acts as a flying CCTV and thermal imaging...
In what may be a UK first an sUAS has been lost in the centre of a major city within Class A airspace. John Wallbank, who owns photocopying and design company, Copycat based in Edinburgh is offering a £500 pound reward for the return of the X6. No doubt the after recent changes to UK airlaw the CAA will...
