Tag: drone

Zomato Successfully Tests Aerial Food Delivery

Indian food search and delivery startup Zomato have successfully tested aerial food delivery by using a drone. In a blog post by a senior company executive, it has been revealed that the test was conducted using a hybrid drone. It was conducted as a part of Zomato’s attempt at reducing the time taken to deliver food to customers. While in its initial stage, the service is expected to be more mainstream and may roll out in the following months.

Zomato Aerial Food Delivery

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As mentioned above, Zomato has successfully tested food delivery via a drone. The news arrives a few months after the company acquired the Indian drone startup called TechEagle. In the blog post, it is claimed the teams of both companies worked together for the test. The drone covered a distance of 5kms in a time period of 10 minutes; with a peak speed of 80kmph while carrying a payload of 5kgs. As it was a non-commercial delivery, it is not known where the drone dropped off the package. According to Zomato, when the service is ready, the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) will pick up the food package from the restaurant hub; and drop the package at a customer hub, which will be a landing station close to dense communities. To fly back, the drone will use a mix of various flight modes to navigate to the dispatch site.

Also read: Pixel 4 Design Revealed By Google

To fly a drone in India currently, a slew of permissions from the government is required. Zomato claims it is forming a consortium as per the guidelines of the DGCA (Director General of Civil Aviation); to carry out remote drone operations in India. The company is also looking forward to solving issues like pollution and traffic by using a drone for food delivery. Unfortunately, it is not known when the service will start rolling out commercially, but the successful test insinuates it may be introduced soon.

June 13, 2019
World’s First Organ Delivery Via A Drone Carried Out In The US

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), commonly known as drones have become very popular lately. Since their inception, they have been used for going into places where it is not feasible for a human to reach. In a recent breakthrough, a drone was used to deliver a kidney for a transplant in the University of Maryland (UMD) medical centre, USA. It is the first time in the world a feat like this has been achieved and it is said to have groundbreaking implications once it becomes mainstream.

What Happened?

On the 26th of April, 2019, a University of Maryland unmanned aircraft has delivered a donor kidney to surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center for successful transplantation into a patient with kidney failure. This flight was a result of a collaboration between the transplant physicians, researchers, and aviation engineers at the university. It was also collaborated on by the people at the living legacy Foundation of Maryland (LLF). The patient was a 44-year-old woman from Baltimore who had spent eight years on dialysis. She was noted saying the whole thing would not have been possible a few years ago.

Also Read: Sonic The Hedgehog Trailer Released, Sonic’s Appearance Leaves Fans Disappointed

The University of Maryland (UMD) claims it carried out around 44 test flights over the course of 700 hours. To ensure maximum success rates, every possible precaution was taken and many redundancies were built into the system to protect the payload. After the drone successfully completed the required number of test flights, it was only then it was allowed to do a demo with a live organ. The new way of organ delivery through an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or drone is expected to be a revolutionary step in organ transplants. If found mainstream acceptance, it will cut travel time significantly because of not facing traffic like done in roads.

May 1, 2019
UK Readies Itself With Military-Grade Protection From Drones
After a few disastrous incidents of flight delays, cancellations and near misses, UK is all set to put regulations in place for drone flights near airports. It is also reported that all major UK airports now have or will soon have military grade anti-drone equipment.

UK’s Drone Regulations

Very recently the military were called in to help when drone sightings causing massive delays at Heathrow Airport. Another such incident involved Gatwick airport when drone flights caused major disruption affecting 140,000 passengers just before Christmas. UK government wishes to or already has technology installed at other critical infrastructure such as prisons, power stations and military sites. Gatwick Airport in a statement said that it had spent £5m to prevent future attacks.

The current drone regulations in UK suggests:
- Drone must be in line of sight at all times
- Not within 50m of people, vehicles or buildings
- No higher than 120m
The government in UK are also said to expand technology to detect and repel drones from sites like airports and prisons. A new legislation will reportedly give police additional powers to land drones. They will also be granted the power to require users to produce the appropriate documentation if they deem it necessary.

India’s Drone Regulations

On the other hand, India lifted the blanket ban that it had put in place for a long time, in December 2018. However, this has been lifted partially and will now allow commercial activities and drone flights. Drone Regulation 1.0 is a step to open up the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs) for commercial activities.

The regulation is formulated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and it has created a huge base for a drone ecosystem in the country. Under this regulation the airspace has been partitioned into Red Zone (flying not permitted), Yellow Zone (controlled) and Green Zone (automatic permission). Permission to fly a drone can be taken using an App. The app is called Digital Sky.

The current regulations for a drone flight in India are:
- During day light (except those flying in enclosed spaces)
- Within visual line of sight (VLoS)
- A maximum height of 400 feet above ground limit (AGL)
Drones will not be able to take flight in “no drone zones”. These include areas close to airports, international borders, State Secretariat Complex in state capitals, strategic locations/vital and military installations. If your drone flight causes damage or injury, you might face penalties under the Aircraft Act 1934, and charged under the IPC sections 287, 336, 337, and 338 which can include anything between Rs 250 fine to two years in jail.
January 12, 2019
DJI Spark Drone is the Size of a Small Phone and Costs US $ 500

DJI has launched a brand new compact drone called the Spark, the drone had leaked in images earlier this year. The new drone has some interesting features and may be great drone for first time drone owners.

The Spark has a 2 axis gimbal and shoots video at 1080p resolutions, in comparison with the DJI Mavic the drone has lesser resolution. However, the drone can be controlled with hand gestures and also features the ability to be flown directly from the DJI app on your smartphone, without the need of a controller.

The DJI Spark has a 1/2.3” CMOS sensor that captures 12 megapixel photos, and most of the fight systems are controlled by the forward-facing 3D Sensing System, dual-band GPS and GLONASS, a high-precision inertial measurement unit, and 24 powerful computing cores built into the tiny Spark .

The spark offers 16 minutes of flight time with Lithium polymer battery, and can be flown with the Remote controller accessory. While the Spark starts at US $500 in the United States and other markets, in India, the retail price of a DJI Spark, including an aircraft, a battery, a USB charger and three pairs of propellers, is INR 43,000.

The Spark Fly More Combo includes an aircraft, two batteries, four pairs of propellers, a remote controller, propeller guards, a charging hub, a shoulder bag and all necessary cables, with a retail price of INR 60,000.

May 25, 2017
DJI’s new Drone The Spark is 50% Smaller Than The Mavic

While the Mavic is just about launching in India (our video will be out shortly), A new DJI drone seems to have leaked which is more than 50% smaller than the DJI Mavic. The drone will apparently be called the Spark and images seems to be floating on the Chinese forums.

Unlike the Mavic the Spark seems to have fixed arms and may aim to take on the beginner drone market at a relatively budget price. The camera shown on the Spark also seems to be different from the Mavic, to the extent that it does not Pan left to right, but only tilts up or down. Due to the compact nature of the drone, panning could be achieved by simply rotating the drone.

Could this simply be a selfie drone, or something that could be gesture controlled like the Phantom pro or Mavic pro? While details for the drone remain sketchy a whole host of video and images have leaked for the DJI Spark. Also unknown is whether the drone will use a controller or simply be controlled by WiFi using a smartphone or a tablet.

April 7, 2017
DJI Mavic, One Ups The GoPro Karma in Size and Portability

DJI has just launched the Mavic, a personal drone with 4k video capabilities. The drone folds down into a very compact size and can be flown for as long as 27 minutes, The DJI Mavic also has some of the features we saw with the DJI Phantom 4, including follow mode and obstacle avoidance.

What DJI has managed to achieve with the Mavic is pretty interesting, a stabilized 4K camera and a visual navigation system, with a 4.3 mile (7 km) range and 27 minute flight time.

Mavic Pro can be switched to Sport Mode, which allows speeds of up to 40 mph (64.8 kph),which is crazy fast for what aims to be a personal drone.

You also get, auto takeoff and land features along with return to home system based on GPS, similar to previous drones from DJI.

The DJI Mavic Pro can be flown with it’s time remote, which can operate with or without an attached phone as a display or simply using a phone and or tablet over WiFi.

The new Terrain Follow mode on the DJI Mavic Pro allows you to race up a slope behind a subject while remaining at a constant height between 1 ft (0.3 m) and 33 ft (10 m). The new Tripod Mode is designed for indoor use, slowing and fine-tuning Mavic Pro’s position and angle based on controller movement inputs.

The Mavic will be sold for US $ 999 for the Drone and Remote, if you want you can purchase just the Mavic Pro, without a remote, for $749. DJI Mavic Pro Fly More Combo, which includes a Mavic Pro, two extra Intelligent Flight Batteries, extra propellers, a charging hub, an adapter, a car charger and a shoulder bag, will be available for $1,299. The DJI Mavic Pro goes on Sale Oct 15th, and you can pre-order it on DJI’s website today

September 28, 2016
Xiaomi Mi Drone launched For RMB 2499

Xiaomi has launched two drones to cater to the young video enthusiast market. Mi Drone comes in two variants, the 4K version retails at RMB 2999, while the 1080P one is priced at RMB 2499. Mi Drone (1080P) will be crowdfunded on the Mi Home app starting 26 May 2016, and Mi Drone (4K) will be available for testing via an open beta programme in late July.

The camera on the drones is mounted on a three-axis gimbal for stability, and the drones feature new technologies like auto pilot, GPS, and Vision positioning. The Mi Drone has a 15.2V battery with a capacity of 5100mAh promising flight times of up to 27 minutes .

Due to the nature of Drone laws in India, the Mi-Drone will not be officially launching in India, and will be difficult to import and buy for this region.

May 26, 2016
DJI Phantom 4; An Evolution In Drone Tech

One of the biggest names in drone manufacturing, DJI, has taken the veil off the Phantom 4, and it brings with it a host of cool features to make it a consumer favorite. The China-based company already controls 70% of the drone market, and with this new autonomous drone that will retail for $1399(Approx Rs 95,000) DJI only expects its market position to grow only stronger.

The Phantom 4 houses within its body 4 new sensors that allow it to detect objects up to 50 feet away, and makes it capable of being aware of its surroundings and avoid crashes by stopping before impact. The DJI Phantom 4 can also be programmed to stick to a particular path without input from the pilot.

New modes such as the “Tap Fly” provides the user with the functionality to send destination directions to the drone by tapping on the live view display. Another amazing feature added to the Phantom 4 is “Active Track.” Using this feature, the pilot can touch on a target upon which the drone will recognize the person or object and track it in flight using the camera automatically.

The Phantom 4 also comes with an improved design which helps it go faster without the rotors getting in the shot and a sport mode that allows the drone to move at faster speeds.

With the Phantom 4, DJI has tried to create a drone that learns from its predecessors and comes to the market as a product which with the use of its computerized vision software and onboard sensors tries to minimize the chance of human error from the equation. The Phantom 4 can essentially pilot itself, rather than being dependent on the user for every single action and hence makes for a brilliant choice if you’re looking to get yourself a new drone.

March 7, 2016
This Drone Can Carry a Man

If you’re looking for little man-made contraptions humans could fly in, seek no more. A Chinese company, Ehang Inc., unveiled what is being touted as the first ever drone capable of carrying a human being, on Wednesday at CES .

The Ehang 184 was unveiled yesterday as an electric-power drone that can carry up to 220 pounds and is capable of flying for 23 minutes. It looks like a small helicopter, but of course, along with the four doubled propellers of a drone. The air-conditioned cabin has room for one person and is capable of being charged fully in only two hours. It also has a reading light and space for a back-pack, just because.

The passenger is required to give two commands “take off” and “land” once the flight plan has been put in order; both these commands are taken care of using the Microsoft Surface tablet. The drone is designed to fly 1,000 to 1,650 feet off the ground with a maximum altitude of 11, 500 feet. The highest speed it can reach is 63 miles per hour.

Shang Hsiao, co-founder and Chief Financial Officer for Ehang aims to sell the drone at $200,000-$300,000. However it seems there will be a while before the drone is declared legally safe in all aspects. The Federal Aviation Administration is already trying to regulate America’s sudden increased interest in drones. It would be interesting to see them tackle another addition to the territory.

January 7, 2016
GoPro’s First Ever Drone to be Called ‘Karma’

GoPro has revealed that its camera equipped drone, all set to arrive in early 2016, would be called ‘Karma’. It was first teased in October using camera footage recorded at 2.5K resolution, as could be made out by YouTube viewing option of 1440p. The same footage was used in the latest tease. GoPro claims that the video was not stabilised in post-production, thereby suggesting a decent camera capability of the drone.

If sources like Forbes are to be believed, GoPro ventured out to make its own drone once a partnership for the same with DJI fell apart. Karma is rumoured to be priced somewhere between $500-$1000. Signing up for the news could help you win a GoPro Karma in the company’s official giveaway.

December 12, 2015
This Badass Drone Can Carry a Man

Essentially, a drone is an aircraft without a pilot which is also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs.) A drone can be remotely controlled or can fly autonomously by onboard computers. Drones were seen to have a wide range of purpose. From delivering goods and products to your doorstep to aiding during a natural disaster.

Drones were used in search missions in inaccessible locations and were equipped with thermal cameras to locate people trapped under rubble or snow. However, the Nepal government later banned the use of drones as they were concerned over illegally leaking images of national heritage sites.

Last year in October, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) prohibited the use of unmanned drones citing safety reasons. Drones had made headlines when a pizza outlet used the device for one of its deliveries. Soon after that many commercial organizations started showing interest in using drones.

The DGCA, however, stated in a circular that “the UAS (unmanned aerial system) has potential for a large number of civil applications. However, its use, besides being a safety issue, also poses a security threat. The airspace over cities in India has high density of manned aircraft traffic. Due to lack of regulation, operating procedures/ standards and uncertainty of the technology, UAS poses threat for air collisions and accidents,”

But the DGCA never mentioned anything about manned drones. In a recent video posted on YouTube, a man is found standing on top of a drone, which seems to be the first ever manned drone to take flight, and it is indeed a spectacle.

The video shows a man hovering well above water and controlling the drone with ease. Though this drone seems to be only a one-off at the moment, chances are this could be approved for the masses. The quad copter shows it is powerful enough to carry a man.

Unless the DGCA announces new rules and regulations for drone flying (which it had planned to do since October last year), even if a manned drone such as the one in the above video were to be mass produced, it would not be seen hovering over India any time soon.

September 24, 2015
Facebook Reveals Aquila, the Drone That Will Provide Internet

A few months after Facebook declared its plans to provide internet access to the remote areas around the world via drones, the social media giant has revealed its first solar powered drone, Aquila. Developed under Facebook’s Connectivity Lab, the drone is part of Mark Zuckerberg’s ambition to connect the world to the internet through “drones, satellites and lasers”.

The drone, which has a wingspan of a Boeing 737, can fly at an altitude of between 60,000ft (18 km) and 90,000ft (27 km), higher than any commercial airliner. The solar powered drone can fly without landing for a three months at a time. The drone will fly at the highest altitude during the day and at lowest at night to conserve power.

https://www.facebook.com/zuck/videos/10102274951725301/

Mark Zuckerberg also announced that a new breakthrough in laser technology that would allow the company to transmit internet upto a 10 gigabit per second. The drone, combined with the laser technology, will deliver wireless internet over rural areas. The laser technology was mentioned by Zuckerberg a few weeks ago.

Aquila, the mother drone will receive the signal from ground and will then transmit the signal to the other drones in the sky through lasers. It is to be noted that even though Facebook will provide internet access through the drones, it won’t become an ISP. The company is looking for telecom carriers to partner with in providing affordable internet to remote areas.

Facebook is not the only company venturing into wireless internet. Google’s Project Loon aims to provide internet through balloons and Elon Musk is teaming up with Google to put internet beaming satellites in space.

July 31, 2015
New Delhi From the Sky

With a lot of smartphones now showcasing their 4K video recording capabilities, we decided to evaluate the best for 4k video. After extensive testing, we chose the Motorola Moto Turbo for our video.

The Moto Turbo has a high speed 64 GB inbuilt storage which lets you capture 4K footage non stop vs most of the other devices which have a maximum peak of 5 minutes or so and are prone to over heating.

We took the Moto Turbo and retro fitted it on to a drone , a DIY hack of massive proportions. Before we proceed with the details further, Flying a Drone in India without permissions is punishable by law and get you jail time or large fines. Now that we have the disclaimers out of the way, We took the drone out in New Delhi and took it to the Sky.

The Ballistic Nylon back of the Moto Turbo gave us a hope that if the phone did fall from our Zip-tie DIY hack, it would land on the back and be safe (although, that did not happen). What happened next simply blew us away. Check the video below.

Note: The Video has been post-processed, sped up, stabilized in certain places and the night shots have been enhanced.

Also if you liked this project, leave your feedback below and share.

Buy the Turbo:

July 4, 2015
5 Amazing Ways Drones Are Helping Out

Slowly and steadily, drones are finding their space across several kinds of industries in this world. Some companies use it to provide WiFi signals to remote places, while some high-end resorts use it to follow skiers and videotape them as they come downslope.

Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), are aerial vehicles that do not need to be piloted by any person on board. Drones are scaled up functionality model aircrafts that serve more of purpose than the enjoyment of flying a remote-controlled aircraft.

They are remotely controlled by a pilot or a computer, which means that some drones are pre-programmed to carry out actions without direct human piloting.

Here are some amazing examples of how this tech is making our lives easier:

Saving Lives

Drones were used during the Nepal earthquake to search for survivors under the debris of buildings.

From firefighters to rescue personnel, a drone can be used to fly over hard-to-reach areas to check for survivors before rescuers risk their lives through the thick bush. Rescue drones are equipped with infra-red cameras that can help in search-and-rescue efforts. They also help determine the hottest area during a house fire. In the recent chain of earthquakes in Nepal, drones were put to use to search for survivors.

Supporting law enforcement

Police forces around the world are slowing starting to see the advantages of UAVs to aid them in their work. Drones are now being used to give the cops a wide range of view and to provide quick and accurate information. If used on a regular basis, drones will soon revolutionize the way police force operates.

Safe Infrastructure Management

Across countries, drones are already being used on a considerable scale for the betterment of the society and community. Considering the difficulty to inspect the top of a skyscraper or under a bridge, drones can help in minimizing the risks taken to otherwise examine such areas. These UAVs can just be deployed to assess a structure’s condition remotely, thus reducing the need for cranes or harnesses, along with the associated risks.

Agriculture Management

Using drones, farmers can target areas that need special attention. Most of the farms are acres in size, and it is not viable for a farmer to access far ends of the farm every day. By working in those areas, farmers can improve their yield and avoid wastage of resources.

Media Access for Hard-to-Reach Places

While we can already understand how this power might be abused by the media, if utilised cautiously, photography for a news channel can easily be taken using drones without risking the lives of the media person.

Some of the other potential uses where drones can be utilized are earth and climate monitoring, mapping, wildlife research and anti-poaching, temporary communications, etc. Besides in Disaster Management, India should soon start using UAVs for other purposes as well as its usage is almost endless and will prove to be beneficial for the nation.

June 10, 2015
Thanks to Tech, Military Warfare is Now Invincible

Technology plays a crucial role in today’s military weapons and is advancing at a good speed. Military weapons are not only limited to lightweight uniforms, arms and night goggles, mind blowing advancements today in military tech has produced products that we thought to be as fiction ten years ago.

We will look at some of the greatest improvements that today’s military warfare has adopted and can change the face of war:

Wearable Robots

In 2014, DARPA (Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency), an agency of the U.S. Department of Defence responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military, developed wearable robots. A wearable robot is a mechatronic system that is designed to the shape and function of the human body, with segments and joints corresponding to those of the person it is externally coupled with. This exoskeleton enables a soldier to carry heavy objects weighing more than 100 kgs while running or climbing stairs, with ease. It also allows the wearer to wield heavier weaponry. The exoskeletons use a hydraulic system that is controlled by an on-board computer.

Smart Bullets

Very soon, the phrase ‘dodging the bullet’ will be termed as void, as the US military has made significant progress in its effort to develop self-guiding missiles. Initially, the program, Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance program, known as EXACTO, was started by DARPA that worked on the continuous guidance of a bullet to its target.

.50 caliber bullets were fitted with optical sensors and were able to hit moving targets with extreme accuracy during a live-fire demonstration. DARPA says the goal of the EXACTO program is to give shooters accuracy for hitting their mark at greater distances and engaging the targets sooner, thus enhancing the safety of its troops.

Phantom Drone

The Phantom Eye drone, developed by Boeing, is a liquid hydrogen-fueled aircraft system that is capable of staying 65,000 feet up in the air for four days and carries a weight of 450 pounds. Boeing also released a larger version of the Phantom Eye that can stay up in the air for ten days and ship 2,000 pounds.

The Phantom Eye first completed its 80-hour test flight on March 2010. Its primary role is providing airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to support a variety of missions. But, lately, it is being used by the US Navy as a communications relay.

Fly-by-wire technology

Fly-by-wire technology is a technology that allows the plane to go to ‘Auto-Pilot’ mode. In simple words, the pilot’s instructions or inputs from the cockpit are relayed by an electric wire to an electric motor that moves the control surface. Major advantages of the electrical systems are lighter weight, less complexity, and easier maintenance, all of which ultimately reduced the airplane’s operating costs. Many catastrophic accidents throughout aviation history resulted from the lack of safeguards ready for any situation, and today’s effective safety and reliability statistics are proof of the advanced technology represented in fly-by-wire digital flight control systems.

Electronic Warfare

Electromagnetic Pulse Grenade

Communication plays the greatest role during a war. To weaken your enemy, you must first take down their eyes and ears, that is, communication servers and relays. The US army is on its way to developing the technology that can target specific areas and knock out enemy communication. The best example for this is electromagnetic pulse grenades and small signal jammers used by various military aircrafts.

June 1, 2015