Large scale VTOL aircraft have very different capabilities than large drones: they can carry up to 6,000 pounds of cargo. On the military field, that cargo may include Warfighters and military supplies: in the commercial arena, that could mean urban air mobility (UAM) or heavy cargo delivery. Automated aerial vehicles (AAV) don't generally have that size or heft: but … [Read more...] about Helicopter Drones: Near Earth Brings Autonomy to Large Scale VTOL Aircraft [VIDEO]
VTOL
Ambulance Drones: EHang Joins Ambular
EHang Holdings has announced that it has been selected to join Ambular, an international project to design the ultimate emergency vehicles: ambulance drones. "Supported by the International Civil Aviation Organization (“ICAO”), the project also seeks to inspire the global aviation community to unleash the potential of eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft," … [Read more...] about Ambulance Drones: EHang Joins Ambular
AeroVironment’s VAPOR Helicopter Drones Offer Endless Possibilities
AeroVironment acquired Pulse Aerospace earlier this year for $25.7 million - and acquired the VAPOR Helicopter UAS series with it. At last month's Commercial UAV Expo, DRONELIFE got to see it up close - and talk to AeroVironment about what VAPOR can do. AeroVironment has long been an industry leader in the military space, but they are moving into enterprise - and the VAPOR … [Read more...] about AeroVironment’s VAPOR Helicopter Drones Offer Endless Possibilities
Anyone Can Design a Hybrid Drone With MIT CSAIL’s AI Platform
Researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) have developed an AI simulation platform that allows users to design and iterate hybrid drones in a matter of hours. Hybrid drones offer an interesting and potentially highly capable blend of aviation approaches. A hybrid drone can switch between flying like a fixed-wing aircraft and hovering like … [Read more...] about Anyone Can Design a Hybrid Drone With MIT CSAIL’s AI Platform
Is it a Fixed Wing or a VTOL Drone? The BIRDIE is the Best of Both
Depending upon the terrain and conditions, there are times when a fixed-wing drone is the best tool for the job - and times when a vertical take off and landing (VTOL) drone is the only way to navigate the terrain. Polish drone manufacturers FlyTech UAV have addressed that problem for their customers - introducing detachable extension modules that convert their flagship … [Read more...] about Is it a Fixed Wing or a VTOL Drone? The BIRDIE is the Best of Both
