Commercial drones have made their name by observing the world below. Now a new class of missions is moving the aircraft up into the atmosphere itself. The Utah Division of Water Resources is exploring drone-based cloud seeding to replace the crewed aircraft it tested from 2022 to 2025. That puts unmanned aircraft at the meeting point of aviation, meteorology, autonomy and water … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Why Drones May Change How We Operate in the Atmosphere
Environmental monitoring
Cat-Inspired Claws Help Ice Dart Drone Land on Steep Ice
Université de Sherbrooke researchers demonstrate a new approach to landing multirotors on steep, irregular ice surfaces Cats may seem an unlikely source of inspiration for drone landing gear. But retractable claws helped researchers at Canada’s Université de Sherbrooke address a difficult problem: landing a drone on steep, slippery ice. The result is the Ice Dart, a … [Read more...] about Cat-Inspired Claws Help Ice Dart Drone Land on Steep Ice
United Utilities Uses Thermal Drones to Find Hidden Moorland Fire Hotspots
Thermal imaging drones help crews locate underground heat pockets that could reignite after major fires in northwest England. United Utilities is using thermal imaging drones to find hidden hotspots left behind by recent moorland fires in northwest England. The water company has supported emergency services since fires broke out at the end of June. Although cooler … [Read more...] about United Utilities Uses Thermal Drones to Find Hidden Moorland Fire Hotspots
Michigan Awards $2 Million for Five Advanced Air Mobility Projects
State agencies will test drones and aerial technologies for environmental monitoring, wildfire response, infrastructure, public safety and agriculture. Michigan has selected five companies for advanced air mobility projects designed to solve real-world challenges for state agencies. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Future Mobility and … [Read more...] about Michigan Awards $2 Million for Five Advanced Air Mobility Projects
How Rural Colorado Is Putting Drones to Work for Conservation
In this guest post, Vanessa Trout, Executive Director of the White River Conservation District, describes how rural conservation districts in Colorado are using drone technology to support agriculture, watershed management, and land stewardship. Her article explores how practical drone applications can help small communities monitor and manage natural resources more … [Read more...] about How Rural Colorado Is Putting Drones to Work for Conservation
