The evolving use of drones in Ukraine
From relatively simple contraptions at the start of the war to drone boats and attacks on Moscow, there have been dramatic changes in the tech and tactics Ukraine is using.
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3D printed drones
Need a cheap drone for a mission tomorrow? Just print one out.
We have 3D printed keys, guns and shoes — now a research team at the University of Virginia has created a 3D printed UAV drone for the Department of Defense.
In the works for three years, the aircraft, no bigger than a remote-controlled plane, can carry a 1.5-pound payload. If it crashes or needs a design tweak for a new mission, another one can be printed out in a little more than a day, for just $2,500 (£1533). It’s made with off-the-shelf parts and has an Android phone for a brain.
Lock, Stock and two infra-red equipped drones
It looks like Guy Ritchie’s first (and best) film needs an update. Nowadays the geezers robbing or “taxing” the dope growers would use a drone to fly around and spot the heat signatures of cannabis farms.
“They are fair game,” he said. “It is not like I’m using my drone to see if people have nice televisions. I am just after drugs to steal and sell, if you break the law then you enter me and my drone’s world.
“Half the time we don’t even need to use violence to get the crop. Growing cannabis has gone mainstream and the people growing it are not gangsters, especially in places like Halesowen, Cradley Heath and Oldbury.”
Moth drone stays rock steady in gale-force winds – New Scientist
THEY might not seem at all stable as they batter into light bulbs but moths have inspired an autopilot for drones.
Small drones find it difficult to fly in strong winds and cluttered environments. So Physical Sciences Inc (PSI) based in Andover, Massachusetts, in association with the US military, filmed hawk moths to see how they manage to stay aloft.
via Moth drone stays rock steady in gale-force winds – tech – 16 January 2014 – New Scientist.
Eyes in the Sky
The BBC has reports from opposite ends of the drone spectrum. Their reporters can now use a ‘Hexacopter’ camera drone for interesting new perspectives on their items.
Quadcopters have been around for a while, with some rather neat little films made using them. Most often, those films have been of extreme sports and fast cars, but here’s a neat fly around Blackpool-
This is the sort of technology that could give low budget film makers access to stunning footage. They could have helicopter shots worthy of big budget movies- then go where a chopper couldn’t for new and interesting perspectives.
The Global Hawk is not a budget device, and much about it is secret. But the Beeb did get in to have a little look around the main Global Hawk base in North Dakota.
Attack of the Drones
Cheap drones with handguns mounted on them. I have to work a shootout with these things into a story.
via BoingBoing
Drone at MOSI
Drone at MOSI, originally uploaded by spinneyhead.
I can’t take credit for this photo, it was actually taken by Georgia. As soon as I can afford it I’m getting her and Charlotte a camera each and setting them loose.
The Nightwind 2 mini-UAV
An upcoming page of Point of Contact has been thumbnailed to include a shot of a mini-UAV soaring over Afghanistan. The mini spy plane will then play a role in a few following pages. I think I’m going to have it look like a Nightwind 2
Unmanned Aerial Constables 1
The Police are planning to create a force of unmanned drones for surveillance and, possibly, intervention. Small hovering robots with tasers and guns. I’m getting visions of The Bill meets The Terminator.
Dangerous toys
Wired has visted the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition in London and had a look at some of the more interesting items on display. Of particular interest to me are the mini and micro UAVs that are being developed- I want to put one in a sequence in the space comic, amongst other things.