Missing Hiker Body Found by Drone Pilot

It was a sad day in Utah when drone technology met humanity one weekend in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Seventeen-year-old teenage boy, James Wade, went missing after he went hiking with his family on Saturday afternoon at the Lisa Falls area.

They had all hiked to the falls together but when they reached it, James decided to hike a little farther. He left only with the clothes on his back; he had no phone, water or food with him.

“He hiked up higher and then never came back,” said Unified Police Lt. Lex Bell.

His family got worried when James still had not returned after 45 minutes. Immediately, they called for help at 1.30 p.m. Search and rescue teams found his body at the bottom of a 400-foot cliff that night. UPD Detective Ken Hansen said, “He probably just slipped and fell. He maybe just got too close [to the edge].”

A drone pilot proved to be a great help in assisting the search and rescue teams locate the body. The drone pilot was Kris Krie, who happened to be on his way up the canyon to spend the night with his friends. He was familiar with the surrounding area as he is accustomed to taking aerial shots of it with his DJI Phantom 4 quadcopter. When he heard about a missing hiker, he offered his help to the police. Since the Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter had to leave for a refuel, the deputies accepted Kris’ offer.

“They briefed me on where they suspected he was. Because the family was with him prior to them separating, they knew where he was going.” ~Kris Krie

With information from the searchers, it only took about three minutes to locate James. Krie’s drone, which was able to project real-time feed onto his phone, unfortunately found a body as James did not survive the fall down the steep cliff.

“It is tough,” Krie said. “I feel bad for the family that is now going through the grieving process. That’s not what I’d wish upon anybody.”

Drones to Illuminate The Danube

Linz, Austria will host a spectacular extravaganza of drone virtuosity in the skies this September. The highlight of this year’s River of Knowledge festival will see an aerobatics performance by a hundred drones over the famous river which runs through the city.

The waters of the Danube will reflect the other-worldly light show put on by Spaxel drones – each covered with LEDs to dazzle and impress the crowds. The last time they were seen in public was over the iconic Sydney Opera House in June, when the drones dazzled onlookers as they performed over the world famous harbor.

The project is known as “Drone 100 – Spaxels over Linz”, and will be staged by Ars Electronica and Intel in the hope of further showcasing their computing and engineering platforms. Having already broken a world record with their flight in Tornesch, Germany, last year, the organizers want to show off just how much further the project has developed.
Drone 100 performance at Tornesch, Germany (Photo by Intel Corporation).

Drone 100 performance at Tornesch, Germany (Photo by Intel Corporation).

This is not the first time Drone 100 has appeared at the Visualisierte Klangwolke (the official name of the festival in German). The Spaxels first showed up in 2012. This time, however, they will be a much-anticipated part of the festival – the River of Knowledge event will be the first in a number of upcoming European events for the drones.

Interest is expected to be high in Intel’s technology, which allows a number of drones to be flown at the same time by a single pilot. It is thought that such technology could have wide-ranging applications throughout industry and business.

The drone extravaganza will take place on September 10th, as part of the Ars Electronica Festival. Ars Electronica drones will be showcased along with other types of drones, including racing, delivery and camera drones, at POSTCITY between Sept 8-12.

Those with an interest in drones, or who just happen to be in Linz are that time, are encouraged to drop in to learn more about the technology used in the drones and its potential applications.

Mine Kafon Drone Could Clear World’s Minefields Within Ten Years

Anyone who has visited rural parts of countries such as Bosnia and Cambodia has almost certainly seen the enduring negative effects that landmines have on individuals and communities.

As conflicts continue to burn around the globe, from Afghanistan to Syria, Somalia and many other places, it is likely that unmapped landmines will continue to pose a serious threat for many decades to come.

That is, unless people like those behind projects such as the Mine Kafon Drone have anything to do with it. This ambitious project has finally started to take off thanks to a funding campaign on Kickstarter which has already raised much more than the $77,000 it originally sought.

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This mine-clearing drone is touted to clear the world’s minefields within ten years of becoming operational – twenty times faster than current methods of mine clearance would allow, and at a cost of just one half of one percent of the cost. More importantly, if the Mine Kafon Drone works well, it will put an end to the dangers faced by human mine clearance operatives.
Massoud Hassani presenting the Mine Kafon drone to Queen Maxima at the Singularity U expo in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

Massoud Hassani presenting the Mine Kafon drone to Queen Maxima at the Singularity U expo in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

Six rotors enable the drone to carry the equipment it needs to locate mines and destroy them using explosive charges. The Kickstarter campaign funds the testing stage of this process, which involves using a camera to map the area and mark mines using GPS, before dropping charges which are detonated to destroy the mines.

Sponsors receive a postcard showing the land area which their money was used to clear of mines. A $17 contribution should enable the drone to clear an area of around 80,000 square feet of land. Larger contributions are acknowledged with tokens such as models of the drone, phone cases and the like.

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The principle benefit that contributors receive, however, is something less tangible, but more meaningful. By making a contribution which could lead to successful testing and the drone becoming operational, contributors are rewarded with the knowledge that they are directly helping to save lives and limbs around the world for generations to come.

Intel Unveils Ready-to-Fly Aero Drone

Santa Monica startup AirMap revealed it had pulled off a major coup on Tuesday, as it was revealed that the company – which was only officially launched a week ago – had provided the software development kit for Intel’s latest quadcopter.

The startup outfit had already been working closely with industry leaders such as DJI, Aeryon Labs and 3D Robotics, so the Intel connection comes as a natural – yet extremely important step – for a company which seems destined to reach great heights.

AirMap’s software is designed to create a safe space in which drones can fly without posing, or facing hazards. The software is designed to manage the lower airpspace by relaying real-time information gathered by its drones to each other, and to other parties including other drone operators, regulators and airports. This information can also be used by developers and manufacturers to help keep the skies safe.

Intel’s new drone is being marketed specifically to developers as a switch-on-and-go, ready to fly drone. It’s Aero Compute Board runs Linux and RealSense, in addition to AirMap.

It’s not the first time a chip maker has gotten involved in the drone market, however; numerous competitors have dipped their toes in the water over the years. Ambarella has provided chips for DJI drone and GoPro cameras. Snapdragon, the flight platform by Qualcomm, along with its 4k cameras have been used in Tencent-Zerotech’s Ying – a drone which sends mid-flight data to the Chinese tech giant’s social media platforms, WeChat and QQ.

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich displays the Aero during his keynote at the 2016 Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco on August 16, 2016.

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich displays the Aero during his keynote at the 2016 Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco on August 16, 2016.

In fact, Intel itself is no newcomer, having invested previously in various startups including the PrecisionHawk fixed-wing agro-drone, and AirWare – a commercial drone operating system. The Santa Clara multinational also took control, earlier this year, of a German company, Ascending Technologies, which specializes in autopilot technology.

Both AirMap and Intel will be looking forward hopefully to the end of the year, when the Aero Ready-to-Fly drone will hit the market. The exact date and price, however, have yet to be fixed.

Yuneec’s New Selfie Drone is a Breeze to Fly

Since the first dedicated selfie drones were released less than a year ago, the selfie drone market has grown steadily in popularity. What was once a niche dominated mostly by smaller brands has taken a big turn with established players such as Yuneec and DJI now wanting a piece of the pie.

Yuneec is probably one of the first big name drone manufacturer to enter this market with its latest $500 Breeze drone. The Breeze weighs less than a pound and was designed to be a compact lifestyle drone with some trickle-down technology from its more advanced siblings. It features foldable propellers to make it easier to transport. The arms, however, are fixed and cannot be folded in making the Breeze less portable when compared to other lifestyle drones such as the Wingsland S6 and Dobby.

But what the Breeze lacks in portability, it makes up for in smart features and an excellent camera. It features five automated flight modes such as Selfie and Orbit for aerial selfie shots and videos and also the popular Follow Me mode which turns the Breeze into your own personal aerial stalker of sorts.

Having a set of four fast-spinning propellers flying near you can pose a safety risk so the Breeze is equipped with optical flow and infrared positioning sensors that allow it to accurately hold its position, preventing unwanted drifts which could lead to accidents.

And finally there is the 4K UHD camera that is also capable of taking 13MP stills. The camera also allows for a HD 720P live video stream to your phone so you can see what the camera is seeing.

The Breeze is controlled using the Breeze Cam app which is available for both iOS and Android. No separate radio transmitter is required. The app can also be used to share photos and videos from the Breeze to your favorite social media platform.

Leaked Images Hint of New DJI Drone

Some recently-leaked images have spurred rumors that DJI is about enter the selfie/lifestyle drone market with a new model. The leaked images, along with a new product name — Mavic, which was trademarked by DJI on August 15th, are clear indications that the established drone maker is about to release something new.

The images show a quadcopter with foldable motor arms and propellers which also features a camera that is fully enclosed in a transparent dome. The DJI Mavic, when fully folded, is significantly smaller than a Phantom 4.

The Mavic’s compact size and portability have fueled rumors that it may be DJI’s first attempt at producing a ready-to-fly FPV racer. The opening of the DJI Arena in South Korea last month gives us even more reason to believe that the upcoming Mavic could very well be an FPV racer. After all, who would want to fly an Inspire 1 or Phantom 4 through the obstacle course at the Arena?

The Mavic could also be a lifestyle or selfie drone, considering that Yuneec recently released the Breeze and GoPro is expected to release its much-anticipated Karma drone on September 19. Both the Karma and Breeze are aimed at the selfie/lifestyle drone market.


In this leaked image by SB-DJI, the Mavic battery is about the same size as a Phantom’s.

In this leaked image by SB-DJI, the Mavic battery is about the same size as a Phantom’s.

And finally, there is the possibility that the Mavic could be an FPV racer that also doubles as a selfie/lifestyle drone. Whatever it is, we can only speculate on the Mavic for now. The good news is, it is expected to be released this month.

New FAA Drone Rules Kick In

It’s been coming for quite some time, and now it’s here: the FAA has brought into effect rules governing the operation of small commercial drones. The rules were actually announced in June, but have actually just come into effect only recently.

Small drone operators now need to familiarize themselves with a three-page document, which lists the new rules in separate bullet-points. These rules will apply to all unmanned vehicles that weigh less than 55 pounds. This document has been given the underwhelming name of ‘Part 107’ and can be seen on the FAA’s website.

In addition to the new document, there is also a provision for operators who wish to remain exempt from any part of the rules, due to specific operational needs. Those who are interested should apply for a Part 107 waiver, through the FAA website.

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A spokesperson for the FAA was reported by PetaPixel, as saying that the new rules were necessary in light of the rapid expansion in drone use, thanks to the ‘limitless possibilities unmanned aircraft offer’. It was made clear that the rules are only the latest step in trying to control the impact drones are having, both on aviation, as well as on society as a whole.

The document governs various aspects of drone usage. Perhaps the most significant of these is the point which states that commercial users will need to obtain a remote pilot certificate in order to legally fly their drone. Operators will be able to take a test in order to qualify for this certificate.

The widely-expected ‘line of sight’ rule has also been included, along with other stipulations regarding visibility. The drone will need to remain within visibility of its operator at all times. Night-time flights will be prohibited and flight time will begin and end at sunrise and sunset, respectively. Should the drone be fitted with anti-collision lighting, this limit will be extended each way by a half hour. As far as the weather is concerned, if visibility is below three miles, drones will be grounded.

While many users will be concerned about restrictions on their freedom to fly, there is good news for operators who rely on speed as a key factor in operation. A top speed limit of 100 miles per hour means that high-performance drones will still be able to fly close to their maximum speeds. The flight ceiling is 400 feet from the ground below it. If you are at the beach, this means an altitude of 400 feet. If you are at the top of a skyscraper, it means 400 feet above the building.

The Parrot Mambo Is Combat-ready

As video games are now generally accepted as a form of art, we can now say that drone manufacturer Parrot has just given us another example of real life mimicking art.

As recently as a couple of years ago, if someone had told you that they spent their weekend flying a miniature VTOL aircraft around, shooting at targets and dodging obstacles, you would simply have had to assume that they had been sat in front of a games console or computer the whole time. These days, however, the computer and games console may just have to move aside for the real thing.

Parrot has come up with a new drone, which it is calling its Mambo minidrone. It joins a growing list of drones which can launch projectiles, as well as pick up and drop off certain objects. When the Mambo hits shelves next month, Parrot hopes to cash in on the rising popularity of this market.

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As a minidrone, it will come as no surprise to learn that the Mambo is pretty small. It weighs a mere 2.2 ounces, but packs a pretty good punch for its size. It is armed with a pellet cannon with a range of between six and seven feet. It’s unlikely that the military will be placing any orders for these remote airborne assault vehicles, but they look certain to have a market among children (both young and grown-up), who want to pop bubbles and play at aerial combat for real.

As mentioned, the Mambo not only can shoot, it can also grab and move smaller objects. Its grab claw can manage small objects, such as sugar cubes, which it can pick up and fly with without being weighed down. For an extra amount, you can also acquire LED nightlights for the drone. If you’re trying to have breakfast in bed, but you’ve forgotten the sugar cubes for your morning coffee, this drone plays fetch like no dog will ever be able to. The Mambo has a top speed of 18mph and can be launched by simply tossing it into the air. It’s yours for $119.

Another Parrot drone, which is due to be released next month, is the Swing. It features an X-wing and VTOL. Like the Mambo, it has a maximum speed of 18mph, but is more appropriate for operators who want to perform aerobatics. In addition, the drone has an autopilot feature. It’s yours for a mere $139.

JJRC Brand Sale at GearBest

GearBest is currently having a JJRC brand sale with some of the top JJRC models on sale with big discounts. If you’re a big JJRC fan, now is a great time to get one of those drones you’ve been saving up for.

Top on the JJRC bestseller list at GearBest is the H31 waterproof drone which is now on discount for $22.99. The H31 normally retails for anywhere between $29 to $40 at other websites so the discount at GearBest is a pretty big deal. Only 40 units will be available daily and the offer is valid until September 10 (0900 UTC). Take note that the discounted price will only appear once you check out.

Next up on the list is the new JJPRO P175 FPV racer which is now available for just $185.99 (normal retail price $242.36). The P175 is limited to only 5 units daily and like the H31 the offer is valid till September 10 (0900 UTC). If you’re into FPV racing, the P175 is a great mini racer that offers plenty of value.

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Besides the H31 and P175, there is a also a wide variety of other JJRC products up for sale. This includes the H20, H26W and the H28WH quadcopter with modular design.

UDI U818A HD (In-Depth Review)

UDI is a company that has released some pretty interesting toy drones in the past year with a flair for aesthetics that sets it apart from other brands.

However, despite having released some very good toy drones such as the U32 and U28, the brand is still synonymous with the older U818A which was released two years ago.

Since it was released, the humble U818A has made its mark in the toy drone scene as being one of the toughest toy drones around with plenty of value to boot.

It is not surprising why many online sellers still stock the U818A because it sells so well and for good reasons — it was build to withstand plenty of abuse, flies reasonably well and costs less than $60 shipped.

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Due to its integrated prop guards, the U818A also makes an excellent toy for children and is much safer to fly around people compared to other toy drones with fully exposed propellers. The U818A featured in this review is the upgraded version that comes with a HD 720P camera (hence, the name U818A HD) and was kindly sponsored by RCMoment.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 330 x 340 x 55mm
  • Platform: Quadcopter
  • Diagonal motor distance: 230mm
    Flight features:
  • One-key return
  • Headless mode
  • 3D flips
  • 2 flight speeds (High and Low)
  • Propulsion: 8.5mm coreless (motors) / 135mm propellers
  • Weight: 131g (with battery)
  • Camera resolution: 1MP stills and video (1280 x 720 / 32kHz mono audio)
  • File format: JPEG/AVI
  • Battery: 3.7V 500mAh Li Po
  • Charging time: 80 minutes
  • Flight time: about 8-10 minutes
  • Control distance: about 50 to 100 meters
  • Transmitter power: 4 AAA batteries (not included)

I’m not quite sure what went through the minds of the people at UDI when they designed the U818A — whether they wanted to produce a four-hole Frisbee that could withstand abuse from 8-year-old kids or a toy quadcopter for children and adults. With the 818A, it seems they were aiming for both.

Built for Abuse

In your hands, the U818A actually feels quite flimsy. Its entire body and prop guards are made from very thin plastic which help save a lot of weight and allows the drone to absorb impact very well.

In fact, the plastic is so thin it measures a mere 0.75mm thick at most parts and makes the U818A feel like it was pieced together with transparency slides. But don’t let that flimsiness fool you, though. This is one drone that can take so much abuse, you’d be surprised at how resilient it is.

One of my favorite U818A abuse videos is the one made by Gobelus — a German RC store.

As can be seen in the video, the U818A is put through all sorts of abuse which includes crumpling up its prop guards and 360-degree twisting of its motor arms yet it refuses to give in and continues to fly.

If you have any doubts about the U818A’s durability, this video simply puts all your doubts to rest. The only thing I believe the U818A cannot resist is excessive exposure to moisture. Thanks to its integrated prop guards and high tolerance for abuse, this is one toy drone that is suitable for both adults and children.

Its prop guards make it so much more safer for children to fly when compared to other toy drones such as the Syma X5HW that has prop guards with less coverage and a harder body shell that can break if enough force is applied.

Flight Performance

The U818A is very easy to pilot and reasonably stable in the air despite having integrated prop guards. Two speed modes are available — Mode 1 (Low) and Mode 2 (High). These shouldn’t be confused with Mode 1 and 2 transmitter stick modes.

Being a drone that was released some two years ago, the U818A does not have altitude hold and features only headless mode and one-key return. It can also do 3D flips which are executed quite well. Having integrated prop guards means it is quite susceptible to wind currents. For those who find the prop guards a hindrance, they can be removed along with the entire body shell. This creates for a lighter and more agile quadcopter. Removing the prop guards and body shell also makes for slightly longer flight times.

The U818A comes equipped with a small LED searchlight at its front which is turned on when you’re flying it with headless mode turned off. Turning headless mode on turns off this LED light. It also comes with blue (front) and red (rear) LED lights to help out in orientation.

One thing I like about UDI products is that they usually come with an extra battery. The U818A comes shipped with two 3.7V 500mAh batteries that provide a flight time of about 8 to 10 minutes per battery with a charging time of a little over an hour.

Camera

When it was first released, the U818A came with a camera that had a much lower resolution. To keep up with the times, UDI have given it a better HD 720P camera which produces 1280 x 720 resolution videos and images. It is a step up in resolution when compared to other toy drones in the same price range that feature 0.3MP cameras.

Image quality is about the same as other camera drones in this price range. With the U818A, there is no FPV and all images and videos are stored on the camera’s memory card. Below is a sample gallery of images.

Conclusion

The U818A may have been around for some time but it still packs a good punch when it comes to value. It does not have the latest features in toy drones such as altitude hold and auto take-off/landing but I believe most people can live with its basic set of features, particularly those who prefer to have more manual control over their drones.

Its durability also makes it an excellent toy drone for both adults and children. With an upgraded camera that now features HD 720P, the U818A looks set to stay on in the sub-$60 segment as one of the most popular models around for a while more.