The mention of drones, two things came to mind: vertically take-off aircraft, often in the form of multi-rotor configuration (or in rare occasion, dual rotor, like a helicopter) or a fixed wing aircraft that pretty much designed to destroy. Both have its short falls. A multi-rotor aircraft sacrifices speed and payload for convenient take-off and landing, while a fixed wing has to put up with need for runways for speed and heavier payload. Many drone makers knew this and while some stick to their guns, some opted to go the hybrid route with a VTOL setup. Continue reading Drone With Jumping Legs Will Revolutionize The Drone Industry
Category Archives: AIRCRAFT
Aircraft is basically all things that flies, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Toys & Hobbies not included.
Bell Helicopter Show Off Air Taxi, Bell Nexus, At CES 2019
The race to develop a viable on-demand air transportation is on. At last year’s CES, Bell Helicopter revealed the cabin of its vision of air taxi and at this year’s CES, the Texas helicopter maker follow up with a full-scale Bell Nexus prototype. Ermmm. OK. It is more like a full-scale model than a prototype with tilting and rotating rotors. If you really look at it, the Bell Nexus is really just another helicopter, but with six titling ducted fans instead of the usual main and tail rotor combo found on traditional helicopter. But hey, if they say it is an air taxi, then an air taxi it is then. Continue reading Bell Helicopter Show Off Air Taxi, Bell Nexus, At CES 2019
ICON A5 Light Sport Aircraft Is Taking Pre-order, Again
Wait. What? The spectacular personal air transport ICON A5 that we featured years ago wasn’t delivered? Well, that is news to us. Apparently, not only has not been delivered, it now cost three times more over the original quoted price? Oh, wow. You see. That’s the problem with a blog like us. We have too much trust in humanity, but time and time again, humanity failed us (and crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter sure have an impressive portfolio of such examples). Continue reading ICON A5 Light Sport Aircraft Is Taking Pre-order, Again
Russia’s Giant Drone Lifted 220 LBS, Wrote A New World Record
Now, here’s a drone that blurs the line between an aircraft and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It is called SKYF Cargo, a purposed built cargo drone that is now staking claim as Guinness World Record for the heaviest weight to be lifted by a remote-controlled multicopter. Built by Russian drone maker SKYF Technology, this drone so enormous that dwarfs every other non-military drones out there. Moreover, what makes this heavy-lifting drone ticks is very unique. Continue reading Russia’s Giant Drone Lifted 220 LBS, Wrote A New World Record
This Is It, Virgin Galactic VSS Unity Has Made Its First Space Flight
The biggest story today belongs to Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, a company dedicated to bring space travel to everyday people (who have the money to drop). In between the unveiling of the Spaceship Two VSS Unity a couple of years ago, they have several incremental test flights, but today, at Mojave, CA, Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip Two, VSS Unity, made history when it successfully completed her maiden spaceflight. Yes. VSS Unity has touched space! Continue reading This Is It, Virgin Galactic VSS Unity Has Made Its First Space Flight
This Drone Splits Into Four To Rescue People Trapped In High Rise Fires
As the population in city centers grow, buildings become taller in order to accommodate more people in the same square area. In times of emergency, such as an outbreak of fire, towering skyscrapers present a new challenge for first responder like fire fighters. Fighting fire is one thing; retrieving people trapped in high rise buildings that are beyond the reach of fireman ladder is another major issue. Enters Net Guard UAV Concept. Continue reading This Drone Splits Into Four To Rescue People Trapped In High Rise Fires
Sorry To Disappoint…But Diamond-encrusted Emirates Isn’t Real
Recently, Dubai-based airliner Emirates have created quite some attention when it posted an image, on Twitter, of an Emirates Boeing 777 that appeared to be covered in diamonds with the caption “Presenting the Emirates ‘Bling’ 777. Image created by Sara Shakeel.” It appears that some people has taken the image at face value (and failing to note the “image created by Sara Shakeel”) and got all excited about it. However, Emirates have since clarify it is not real. Continue reading Sorry To Disappoint…But Diamond-encrusted Emirates Isn’t Real
Future Autonomous Taxi Is A Car That Is Also A Drone, But Not A Flying Car
Now this something we considered thinking out-of-the-box. When we think autonomous public transport, we often think self-driving car, self-driving bus, and autonomous drone. But Airbus, together with design studio Italdesign and Audi have come together to dream up a concept that is definitely not inside the box. The concept, called Pop.Up Next, can travel on regular roads and also take to the skies, but no, it is not quite a flying car. Continue reading Future Autonomous Taxi Is A Car That Is Also A Drone, But Not A Flying Car
Alphabet’s Drone Delivery Service To Go On Trial In Finland Next Year
If you are wondering what Google’s parent company Alphabet is or has been doing, well, this is one of the many things the company is doing: delivery using drone. The idea is not new, though. Amazon is among the the first to propose this seemingly audacious idea, but soon the idea caught up with the rest, including the likes of Swiss Post, Domino’s, and more recently, Flytrex – just to name a few. In fact, Alphabet has already started trialing delivery of a range of food and convenience items to customers in Australia for more than year now. Continue reading Alphabet’s Drone Delivery Service To Go On Trial In Finland Next Year
Window-Washing Drone Gets The Jobs Done Without Risking Human Lives
We are familiar with what drones can do. It can do aerial imaging, topography surveillance, building inspection, and even delivery of critical cargo like kidneys, and now, it is being used as an alternative to the dangerous job of skyscraper window-washing. At least, it is in Latvia where a company called Aerones is pioneering tall building washing using custom built, giant-ass drones. And how big are we talking about? Well, we are looking at about three-freaking-meter (nearly 10 feet!) in width – which is likely the largest drone outside of the military. Continue reading Window-Washing Drone Gets The Jobs Done Without Risking Human Lives