Quadrotor drones are pretty awesome, but we’re all pretty crappy pilots. What if we had a drone that couldn’t go wrong in mid-air, avoiding that dive back to Earth with a dream-crushing crunch? Well, scientists have invented an algorithm that can compensate a drone in mid-air to make sure it doesn’t crash due to rotor failure. Read More >>
Following the popularity of Robot Wars from a few years ago, it only makes sense that someone, somewhere, would pit quadcopters against each other in a battle to the death—or at least first crash. Read More >>
Forget concerns over surveillance and privacy when it comes to quadcopters and drones filling the skies. A member of Flite Test—a site dedicated to custom flying creations—built a quadcopter with a built-in launch pad for firing model rockets while in flight. Read More >>
It will be years before Amazon's dream of same day package deliveries via drone will ever become a reality. But you can forget about trying to shoot one down for some free electronics thanks to new software that allows a quadcopter to stay aloft—and on course—even after losing one or more of its propellers. Read More >>
Four small corner mounted rotors has become the most common configuration for autonomous hovering aircraft these days. But it turns out that if you're willing to add a few more rotors into the mix, like say 16 suddenly you've got yourself an octodecacopter that's strong enough to carry a couple of human passengers. Read More >>
It's becoming painfully aware that those involved in robotics and artificial intelligence research aren't quite thinking about the consequences of their so-called innovations. Like these researchers at ETH Zurich who've taught autonomous drones how to build and weave tensile wire structures. Or, to put it another way, DRONE WEBS OF DOOM. Read More >>
Quadcopters offer extreme precision and control in flight, not to mention the ability to take off and land vertically. But compared to the traditional plane design used for most drones, their speed and long range capabilities are limited. So an Arizona-based drone builder called Latitude Engineering hopes to capture the best of both worlds with a quadcopter and drone hybrid that doesn't need a runway, but can fly long distance missions. Read More >>
A bizarre stunt managed to combine publicity for this year's forthcoming Star Trek film with the weekend's Earth Hour awareness campaign, leading to the odd sight of a massive Star Trek badge hovering over London's City Hall for the best part of the night. Read More >>
There are plenty of quadcopters out there that you can buy if you want, but they tend to have one or more of the following downsides: They are expensive. They are fragile. They are difficult to fly. Just one can be a bummer, any pair is twice the drag, and all three just all out sucks. The pair of Arial tricksters Air Hogs rolled out for Toy Fair 2013 soar above those troubles. Read More >>
Remember the team of autonomous quadrocopters that could work cooperatively? Well they're back and upgraded with the ability to thrown and catch objects on the fly. You need to watch it to believe it. Read More >>
What's six meters tall, composed of 1,500 individual bricks and assembled with nary a human hand? This new art installation in Orléans, France—it's the handiwork of an industrious swarm of airborne robots. Read More >>
14
