Wind-cheating Morpho combines qualities of copters and fixed-wing drones

Both multicopter and fixed-wing drones use up a lot of battery power when fighting the wind. The Morpho VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) drone addresses this problem with morphing wings that adapt to lessen its wind resistance. In fact, they can eve… Continue reading Wind-cheating Morpho combines qualities of copters and fixed-wing drones

Video: Airbus launches loyal wingman combat drone out of a carrier

Next-generation fighter jets will go into combat with semi-autonomous wingman drones designed to act as force multipliers. Here’s one in development: Airbus has just dropped its Remote Carrier demonstrator out of a cargo plane, for a mid-air launch.Con… Continue reading Video: Airbus launches loyal wingman combat drone out of a carrier

Chalmers team working on tri-drone autonomous search and rescue system

Researchers from Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology are working on a new autonomous search and rescue system made up of a marine vessel that can launch a fleet of fixed-wing drones to scout a predefined area, along with live-feed quadcopters.Co… Continue reading Chalmers team working on tri-drone autonomous search and rescue system

Wacky-winged drones may have a flying ace up their sleeve

There are now a lot of fixed-wing drones on the market, and most of them look pretty similar. FLY-R’s aircraft are different, though, in that they incorporate a rhomboidal wing design – it’s claimed to offer some distinct advantages.Continue ReadingCat… Continue reading Wacky-winged drones may have a flying ace up their sleeve

Autonomous electric crop duster gets approval for US demos

Although there are now a few different crop-spraying multicopter drones, fixed-wing drones are faster and have a longer battery range. That’s where the recently US-certified autonomous electric Pelican crop duster comes into the picture.Continue Readin… Continue reading Autonomous electric crop duster gets approval for US demos

Dronevolt's multi-mode Heliplane transitions from VTOL to winged flight for 60-minute endurance

Drone Volt's Heliplane is a multi-mode unmanned aircraft for industrial use

One of the best ways to extend the range of a VTOL aircraft is to add wings for horizontal flight, and Drone Volt’s Heliplane brings this kind of thinking to the industrial drone market, offering long flight endurance times, 1.6-kg (3.5-lb) payload capacity and VTOL/hover capabilities.

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Continue Reading Dronevolt’s multi-mode Heliplane transitions from VTOL to winged flight for 60-minute endurance

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Continue reading Dronevolt's multi-mode Heliplane transitions from VTOL to winged flight for 60-minute endurance

Fixed wing drones not quite taking off in commercial market, a new DroneDeploy study finds

dji-phantom-3-pro-drone DroneDeploy released a new study of the commercial and industrial drones market this week, revealing bad news for the makers of fixed wing drones– quadcopters are far outpacing this type of unmanned aerial vehicle in every industry. Fixed wing drones, like the SenseFly eBee Ag, 3DR Aero-M and PrecisionHawk Lancaster, promise performance benefits including endurance and ruggedness. A… Read More Continue reading Fixed wing drones not quite taking off in commercial market, a new DroneDeploy study finds