3D Robotics co-founder Chris Anderson is probably the closest thing the drone world has to a prophet. Back in September, the former WIRED editor lambasted the “mass jackassery” of reckless flying and predicted such antics would hurt the industry. Sure enough, more than a month later, the FAA announced a crackdown on drones with a new registry. “[It’s] bad and it’s going to … [Read more...] about Chris Anderson Graphs Drone Difficulties
Industries
Fortune: DJI to Open West Coast R&D Center
DJI is coming to California. According to an exclusive report in Fortune, the world’s largest drone company is building a new research and development facility in Palo Alto. Citing as a source “several job listings posted in recent weeks,” Fortune writer Signe Brewster says the 12,000-square-foot building is located east of Stanford and currently houses DJI’s VP of … [Read more...] about Fortune: DJI to Open West Coast R&D Center
Miners Strike Drone Gold Down Under
One of Australia’s largest mining and metal companies is digging into drone use as a viable means of information gathering and the results may be a virtual gold mine of data for the industry. According to a recent company press release, Rio Tinto -- a British-Australian multinational -- is using drones to monitor its coal and iron ore facilities in Western Australia and … [Read more...] about Miners Strike Drone Gold Down Under
Drone Firm xCraft Faces Funding Shark Tank
An up-and-coming drone company is proving it can swim with the sharks after earning a double punch funding opportunity on a popular VC reality show. The ABC hit show Shark Tank invited xCraft to pitch both of the firm’s Kickstarter darlings -- Phone Drone and the X PlusOne -- on an episode that aired Friday, Oct. 23. After the xPlusOne reached 300 percent of its … [Read more...] about Drone Firm xCraft Faces Funding Shark Tank
Google X Registers Delivery Drones with FAA
Google X has registered designs for two new delivery drones with the FAA. The drone codenamed M2 was registered on October 2, and a separate drone named B3 was registered October 7. Each weighing less than 55 pounds, both drones are fixed wing aircraft with two electric motors. The new drones follow Google X's announcement in March that the "Project Wing" delivery drone … [Read more...] about Google X Registers Delivery Drones with FAA
