Tag: drones

DJI Uncovers Employee Fraud, May Cost The Company $ 150 Million

DJI, a drone manufacturing company recently uncovered an employee fraud that could very well have cost the organization $150 Million. The company released a statement that said that DJI holds their employees to strict ethical standards and takes any violation of their code of conduct very seriously.

Statement By DJI

During a recent investigation, DJI found out that some employees inflated the cost of parts and materials for certain products. They, according to DJI, pocketed the profits themselves. The company estimates the damages to be around RMB 1 billion which is around $150 Million. DJI, to address this issue, dismissed a number of employees who violated company policies. Law enforcement officials were also contacted to report the fraud. The company in their statement also said that they continue to investigate the situation. They are cooperating fully with law enforcement’s own investigation.

The drone manufacturer, who made a mark in CES with their range of new products just a few weeks back, also said that such actions do not represent the company. The statement further said that the 14,000 employees working for the company work hard every day to serve customers and develop cutting-edge technologies. DJI has become one of the biggest players in the drone market. Forbes recently named the company’s CEO Frank Wang the first “drone billionaire”.

DJI is taking steps to strengthen internal controls after the incident. They have established new channels for employees to submit confidential reports. The reports relating to any violations of the company’s workplace conduct policies will be completely anonymous.

Also Read: DJI Announces A $650 Smart Controller At CES

The company has in recent years faced various issues including different drone flying regulations in different countries and battery problems in their drones. Their latest product, a Smart Remote Controller With Built-In Display was widely appreciated in CES. However, DJI said in their statement that despite of the heavy losses, the company did not incur a full year loss in 2018.

January 22, 2019
The New DJI Mavic Air Is Foldable And Costs US $799

DJI has launched yet another product in the every increasing drone market. The new DJI Mavic Air is a foldable drone and costs US $799 (Rs 51.000 approx.) At this price, the Mavic Air sits right between the company’s cheapest offering, the Mavic Spark (US $499) and the priciest offering, the Mavic Pro (US $999). There’s also a US $999 combo pack that includes two additional batteries and propellers, a charging hub and a travel bag. The new DJI Mavic Air is up for pre-order starting today from DJI’s site and is set to start shipping from January 28.

The DJI Mavic Air folds up to fit in a pocket and to show off the feature, company’s director of North America actually stuffed two of the “smartphone-size” drones into his vest pocket at the launch event. It’s roughly half the size of the Pro and weighs around 41% of its predecessor.

The Mavic Air has a 1/2.3-inch wide-angle lens with an f/2.8 aperture that shoots 3840 x 2160 px videos at 24 or 30 frames per second or 12MP photos. It has a top speed of 42.5 miles per hour, can withstand winds of up to 22 miles per hour, and has a 2.5 mile range thanks to a new antenna design.

DJI claims that the new ventilation system in the DJI Mavic Air will help tackle overheating in a better way. It also has a 3-axis gimbal casing for the camera and thanks to a new even-camera obstacle avoidance system, it should be relatively easier and safer to fly. A new remote control with an integrated screen also comes bundled with the DJI Mavic Air.

There are new shooting modes, better gesture controls, and the company claims it’s improved its image processing in order to maximise the result out of its relatively small sensor. The flying time of 21 minutes of the DJI Mavic Air, just like the price, sits right between the flying time of the DJI Mavic Spark (16 minutes) and DJI Mavic Pro (27 minutes).

The DJI Mavic Air will be available in Onyx Black, Arctic White, and Flame Red, either as the drone itself or with a “Fly More” accessory pack.

January 23, 2018
You May Soon Be Able To Legally Fly A Drone In India
Unmanned Aerial Systems, or commonly known as Drones, have been around for a long time now. A lot of countries have tight regulations around the usage of drones but, getting access to drones and permissions to use it are easily available in such countries. In India, selling and purchasing drones is restricted.

Although it is used by the Army, getting permissions if you are a civilian are cumbersome and if you get permissions, it comes with a set of rigid regulations. However, it appears that the Indian government has identified the advantages of drone usage if conducted with fair and safe regulations. The Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju presented the first draft of regulations for drone usage in India and also announced that the final regulations will be presented on the 31st of December. This means that flying drones in India could be legal in 2018.

Civil Aviation SecretaryR N Choubey said, “We are making rules that are very user friendly.” At the press briefing on the regulations, Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju said the drone industry could help India’s development in several sectors such as agriculture and oil and gas. He also added that the government intends to make India the world’s leader in the use of drones. He also expressed hope that the draft norms would encourage genuine and “discourage nefarious activities”.

The draft regulations firstly identifies the type of drones that exist and then categorises it in terms of the weight of the drones. Depending on the size and weight of the drone a person intends to fly, they will have to accordingly get the permissions and the time taken to to get such permissions will also vary. Here are the key points from the draft regulation for usage of drones in India:
- There are five types of drones – nano, micro, mini, small and large.
- The weight of these drones range anything from 250 grams to 150 kilograms.
- Drones that weight under 250 grams do not need any security clearance
- Micro category (250 grams to 2 kilograms) will get approvals in 2 days.
- Most of the commercial drones will come in the ‘Micro’ category
- Whenever someone has to operate a drone, they will need a different approval. Apart from nano drones, all other categories will need an air defence clearance so that aviation as well as security authorities are aware of the flight path.
- Drones can be used for photography, medical uses, ad film making and so on. E-commerce companies should be able to use drones as well.
- Air rickshaws and passenger drones can also be considered in this policy.
- Drones that weigh under 2 kilograms and operating under 200ft above ground, once registered, can be flown without a nod.
- There will be no-drone zones such as above operational aerodromes and within 5 km of Vijay Chowk in Delhi, within 500 metres from strategic locations, from mobile platforms such as car, ship or air craft, over eco-sensitive zones like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries (unless approved by Environment Ministry).
As announced, the final regulatory framework can be expected by the 31st of December. The policy-making process will not just include inputs from government officials but, also the stakeholders. Drone makers, companies that will primarily use drones and other stakeholders will be invites for inputs and at the end of it, a final framework for the usage of drones will be announced.
November 2, 2017
Drone Racing: The Sport of the Future is Here!

In the past year, the tech industry has grown leaps and bounds when it comes to advancements in Artificial Intelligence and drone engineering. Use of drones for day to day activities has been explored, and companies like Google, Amazon and even Domino’s have spent millions on research which would enable self-driven drones to help humans with tasks like delivering packages and pizzas.

But to be fair such mundanity is not befitting of cool creatures of metal such as the drones which can fly at speeds exceeding the fastest Formula One cars. To right these wrongs, the Drone Racing League has announced its first season which will look to restore some of the lost pride of drones around the world, and let the best face off against each other in a high-speed 3-dimensional environment.

In the latest teaser video released by the Drone Racing League, earthlings get a sneak peak into the latest track that will test these drones. The organizers have aptly named it the “Gates of Hell” and a look at the video would explain why.

The track promises a challenging environment for these drones to race in, and will test not just the engineering behind them, but will also be a test of the reflexes of the drivers of these drones who will control the drones with VR goggles and remote control steering based on a live video feed from a camera on the drone’s nose. Well, all we can say is that if this is the future then we want it now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvgdLjOExNs&list=PLj8kmZ6kpXqhkZuFD2qZozG8H6Myc94Lm&index=19

February 15, 2016
Coolest Tech at CES 2016 So Far

CES 2016 kicked off in the most spectacular way possible. The technological fest had everything a tech junkie could ask for. While drones and hover boards were the ones that stole the spotlight, there were some others that just inspired awe. Here are some of our favorites so far.

Razor Blade Stealth

Razer – maker of the coolest and most badass gadgets around – unveiled its 12.5-inch Razer Blade Stealth with Super HD 2,560×1,440-pixel resolution touchscreen display, a Core i7 processor, 8GB of memory and 128GB of solid-state storage. And since the laptop is a Razer product, the device comes with RGB backlit keyboard that lets you program every key to light up in individual colors.

Saving the best for last, the laptop also features Razer Core, an external graphics docking station which will arrive for an undisclosed price in the first half of this year.

Intel RealSense Technology

Intel reminded everyone that the future is indeed here. The chipmaker showed off its RealSense sensor technology, which allows computers to map an environment in real time and react to it. Intel used this technology in three different products – a helmet, a car, and a robot.

The Daqri is a smart helet that is aimed at construction workers and athletes. The helmet has inbuilt glasses that are AR-ready. The helmet uses RealSense 3D camera to create augmented reality on the screen of the glasses. The RealSense technology was also seen in Segway’s Advanced Personal Robots, which is a hoverboard that doubles into a robot. Finally, the technology was seen in a race car that showed movements on the screen following the driver wherever they turned their head.

Ehang 148 Drone

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.

Faraday Future’s FFZero1 Electric Concept

One of the coolest unveiling in the automotive departments comes from Faraday Future. The startup, which is backed by Chinese internet TV provider LeTV, unveiled its first-ever electric concept, the FFZero1 which will be production ready by 2018. The exterior design of the vehicle draws inspiration from the 1960s Batmobile.

The FFZero1 has a smartphone embedded in the steering wheel to give the vehicle a “sixth sense” that understands the driver’s preferences and is also capable of driving itself. The internet-connected FFZero1 has a top speed of 200mph (321 kph) and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. Furthermore, the car has what the company calls ‘aero tunnels’ that channels air through the car to reduce drag and cool the batteries.

Faraday Future research chief Nick Sampson said that the company can achieve production of the FFZero1 faster than other automakers thanks to its adoption of “variable production architecture”. “Our lifestyle is becoming very digital and connected, and the car industry isn’t responding to those needs quick enough,” Sampson said. “Our architecture allows us to create different batteries without completely re-engineering the thing each time.”

Fitbit Blaze

Fitbit – the company that’s currently dominating the fitness tracking market – showcased its new wearable that looks more like a smartwatch than any of its previous offerings. The smartwatch was also launched in India yesterday at Rs. 19,999 and is up for pre-orders.

The watch comes equipped with a sleep-tracker, GPS and Bluetooth Smart which notifies the user of calls, texts and calendars notifications. The user can also accept or reject calls using the watch when its connected to a compatible smartphone. On-screen controls also allows the user to navigate and play music from the connected smartphone. PurePulse feature of Blaze tracks the heart-rate of the user and helps make training routines more efficient.

Blaze seems high on design with its interchangeable bands, modular design and a high resolution colour touchscreen. It has a stainless steel display which further has three options to choose from -black, mist grey and camel. There is another option of a Luxe stainless steel band paired with the display frame available in silver.

January 8, 2016
Apple Watch Uses the Force to Fly a Drone

It’s a beautiful thing when science meets Star Wars. A group of Taiwanese tech researchers at PVD+ have created an app for the Apple Watch that allows you to control a drone using your arm movements. Yes, the Force is strong with this Apple Watch.

Reuters caught the motion-controlled drone in action. You can check it out in the video below. “Previously we’ve needed complicated controls to fly drones, but now we can use a wearable device, and through human behavior and gestures directly interact with them – using a hand to control and fly drones directly,” PVD+ founder Mark Ven told Reuters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX8ZkgFk_Rw

But that’s not all. The researchers also channeled their inner Jedi to create an app that controls light levels and colors via hand movements, and a spherical robot resembling the adorably rolly BB-8 droid seen in Star Wars: The Force Awaken. “We can also control a ball, like that in Star Wars’ BB-8 droid, using a wearable device as well,” Ven said.

PVD+ is calling the software Dong, and is working on securing a patent for it. Looks like it won’t be long before the line between science fiction and reality disappears completely.

January 2, 2016
US Aviation Association: Over 45,000 Drones Registered in Two Days

America clearly loves its drones. The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) has revealed that over 45,000 drones have been registered just two days after the Federal Drone Registration website went live.

The deluge of registrations has led the FAA to take the website down for a few hours starting Wednesday, 9 PM ET. This move is to prepare the website better for the unexpected response. It will be available again on Thursday morning at 6 AM ET.

Close to 400,000 drones are expected to be sold this holiday season. Strict penalties will be imposed on those who fail to register their drones in time. Drones which are bought post 21st of December must be registered before their first flight. Those purchased before that have till February 19th, 2016 for registration.

The registration is expected to help the FAA trace the owners in case of accidents or injuries caused by drones. The administration has further announced formidable penalties that include fines up to $27,500 and fines which can go as high as $250,000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 years. Drones clearly have taken the tech world by storm. It would be interesting to see how this new piece of technology is incorporated in the contemporary lifestyle.

December 24, 2015
Amazon Teases Drone Prototype in Video for Future Deliveries

A new video released by Amazon shows a drone delivering goods to their destination. The company boasts of the drone being able to detect obstacles in its way to steer clear off, while possessing the ability to fly for 15 miles. The video which was released yesterday, also used Top Gun’s Jeremy Clarkson to convey its message.

The drone lands on a strip with the company’s logo on it in the video. The strip has been put there by the family that has placed the order. This suggests that the landing strip may be necessary for the drone to get to its location.

While the tech seems fancy and futuristic, Amazon is yet to get its clearance from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The plan to put a delivery-system in place that uses drones was first announced in December 2013 by Amazon. Let’s see what the future holds for it.

November 30, 2015
Facebook and Alphabet Team Up For New Drone Project to Provide Internet

Alphabet (Google’s parent company) and Facebook have brought their forces together to develop drones that can provide broadband internet access from above the Earth. Both companies have reportedly registered new drone designs with the US Federal Aviation Administration.

Apart from this, Alphabet is currently planning a secret operation at the Spaceport America allegedly creating a solar-powered drone. With smaller drones gaining the attention of big business firms like Alphabet and Amazon with their project Wing and Prime Air respectively, Google and Facebook are working on a larger drone that will be able to operate even as high as 90,000 feet above ground level.

If their assessments are to be trusted, we can safely assume that these drones could possible be flying for weeks or months, thereby could also potentially provide cities and towns with high-speed internet in underdeveloped countries.

“We’re working on ways to use drones and satellites to connect the billion people who don’t live in range of existing wireless networks,” said Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, in July.

This project was preceded by Facebook last year, setting up an initiative with Nokia, Samsung and others to provide online access to two-thirds of the world via internet.org. However, that was a lone project, this one on the other hand, is a collaboration with Alphabet which would in turn help both companies reach new users in their advertising market. All we can hope for is that this initiative churns out something good. What do you think of this collaboration? Feel free to post your comments in the comment section below.

November 7, 2015
Drones and 3D Printers Soon to be Used For Delivering Post in Australia

Postal services in Australia are all set to get more tech-savvy with the help of 3D printers and drones. While Third World countries like India still struggle with basic technology, Australia is all set to incorporate sci-fi Hollywood-like gadgets in their postal system.

The CEO of Australia Post, Ahmed Fahour, said the service is discussing its plans with online retailers to make drones available in regional communities. As part of the same plans, 3D printers will also be installed in Post offices. Fahour commented,

“Some things you want, like household items, could be printed right there and then rather than waiting for it. This is the new world, the technological revolution as opposed to the industrial revolution.”

A fund of 14 million USD has been to set up to provide finances for these plans. They would be provided by the Melbourne Accelerator Programme of University of Melbourne, an initiative for entrepreneurs.

Drones have earlier been seen in Prime Air program of Amazon. The ones to be introduced in Australia will be similar to those and will be able to carry packages weighing up to 2 kilograms. GPS and back-up motors will be some of the technology they’ll come equipped with, to be able to deliver the package on the right address.

November 2, 2015
Qualcomm Creates a New Chipset For Drones

Firstly, what is a drone? According to the definition given by techtarget.com – “A drone, in a technological context, is an unmanned aircraft. Drones are more formally known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Essentially, a drone is a flying robot. The aircraft may be remotely controlled or can fly autonomously through software-controlled flight plans in their embedded systems working in conjunction with GPS. UAVs have most often been associated with the military but they are also used for search and rescue, surveillance, traffic monitoring, weather monitoring and firefighting, among other things.”

Drones have been in the news for various reasons – both controversial and non controversial, and even though they haven’t been legalised yet, a lot of software companies are looking to invest in the evolution of the drone. One of these companies, is Qualcomm, which is a ‘chipmaker’ company who has made the famous Snapdragon chipset for the Android smartphones. They have now reportedly created a new series of chipsets specifically for the drones, and are being called – the Snapdragon Flight.

Drones have had quite an evolution when we speak of its structure and size; and Qualcomm claims to be here, to enhance the drone design since it has already covered the big task of integrating a CPU with GPS, wireless connectivity, image processing etc. on smartphones. So, what exactly is Snapdragon Flight? Well, the company says that they’re basically repurposing the same Snapdragon 800 system-on-a-chip (SoC) processors for drones. Here’s what Qualcomm says:

“We’ve integrated so many things in one chipset, it reduces the weight of the drone significantly. Which means you can reduce the size of the motors, fans and battery. And it flies higher and longer.”

So, now here we have the first signs of smartphones and drones collaborating. Today, there’s a smartphone software in a drone, tomorrow there’ll be a drone software in the smartphone and then what, you ask? Armageddon.

September 11, 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
SKYEYE Nano Drone is the Smallest QuadCopter Yet

Drones are the newest thing technology has to offer right now. From delivering pizzas to being used in disaster management, drones are slowly playing an indispensable role in society. With technology getting smaller day after day, it wont be surprising if one day you could just carry around a drone in your pocket. Yes, TRNDLabs, which specialises in developing unique and innovative products, have successfully built the world’s smallest drone called ‘SKYEYE Nano Drone’.

With dimensions measuring less than 2-inches at 1.57″ x 1.57″ x 0.87″, the quadcopter comes in three different modes: Beginner, Advance and Seasoned Flight Veteran. The bright orange coloured drone is equipped with RTF (Ready-to-Fly) technology and six-axis flight control system with adjustable gyro sensitivity. The most awesome feature of this device is the Aerobic Flip capability and possesses LED lights for night time flight.

It is powered by a 100mAh Li-Polymer battery and takes approximately 30 minutes to charge fully. On a full charge, its flight time is up to 7-8 minutes. TRNDLabs also said that if thrown into the air while throttling up, the drone will self-stabilize. The device’s remote has a coverage up to 50 metres.

The SKEYE Nano Drone is billed at $60 but is currently retailing at a promo price of $34.99 (Rs.2,200). You can order SKYEYE Nano drone from here. The company offers free shipping to anywhere in the world.

May 18, 2015
Drone Technology to Help Transform the Agriculture Industry in India

When the consumer drones first came into prominence, no one would have thought how it could lend a helping hand in almost every sector. Today drones are delivering parcels, are likely to reach moon to make way for rovers, and can be put to use for many commercial purposes. In India, these drones are now being put to use to learn about crop diseases and help to gather data to help agriculture in the country.

Agriculture Insurance Company (AIC) of India along with Skymet, weather forecasting company, conducted a brief demo in parts of Gujarat to test how drones can be supportive in the agriculture sector. The test led to the conclusion that drones allow the observation of agronomic indicators for every square meter, something a satellite cannot do.

Skymet CEO Jatin Singh more details about the plan saying:

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Jatin Singh” author_title=”CEO, Skymet”]

Remote sensing through unmanned aerial vehicles allows nondestructive sampling to observe agronomic indicators every square metre. We did a pilot project last year and will increase its coverage across Rajasthan and Gujarat this year.

[/quote]

Jatin further commented that at a time when land holdings are less and there is multi-cropping, they will be able to help Gujarat government in monitoring agricultural area and crop yield. The data could help AIC in giving farmers their insurance claims.

The drones are better suited for detailed analysis of the fields in comparison to satellites.

The unnamed aerial vehicles cover an area of 5 sq. km. in a single flight and send geo referenced images every five seconds together with. The images will help the specialists to identify the issues with the land and the crops and will assist them in finding solutions for them.

The chairman and managing director of AIC, P. J. Joseph pointed out its use in maintaining land records saying:

[quote text_size=”small” author=”P J Joseph ” author_title=”Managing Director, AIC”]

It’s a beneficial technology for states that have digitized land records or are in the process of digitizing. Pictures clicked by the unmanned aerial vehicles can be superimposed on digital maps of states and we can identify farms and crops sown.

[/quote]

The drone will help keep a track on crop position, control farm subsidies, detect pests, monitor nutritional and water stress on the crops, and they can even spray fertilizer and pesticides on the crops from above. Drone technology has found massive utility in the US and other developed nations. The use of this 21st century technology for the sake of agriculture is commendable and it will directly help farmers in the long run. We might find a lot of drones flying over the agricultural fields in the coming future and it will also double as a scarecrow.

February 19, 2015
Alibaba Tests Drone Delivery Service in China

Drone technology has taken the market by a blow. And why not, there are endless possibilities through which this technique can come to use. Now, e-commerce giant, Alibaba is set up to try drone technology for deliveries in China.

Alibaba is partnering with Shanghai YTO Express Logistics to deliver ginger tea packets to the customers who volunteered for the drone test. The remote-controlled drones will transfer packages to 450 Chinese customers today in Beijing. These drones will fly from the warehouse of Shanghai YTO Express Logistics to different destinations. A deliveryman will stand at the final spot waiting for the parcel and as soon as the drone delivers the packet, the deliveryman on the ground will hand it over to the end customer.

Alibaba’s flagship consumer-to-consumer platform Taobao said in a statement –

For consumers… such a cool consumption experience will give them more surprises

The company says they have notified Chinese Aviation Administration about the unmanned commercial flights as per the regulations issued in 2009.

The largest Internet retailer (sales) Amazon.com had started the drone delivery testing and is awaiting approval from US Federal Aviation Administration for the remote delivery testing in Washington State. The use of drones by the e-commerce websites would make deliveries faster than we could ever imagine.

February 4, 2015