Tag Archives: drone

This Drone Referee hovers above the football and players, serving as an airborne VAR

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The most beautiful game, football, is a team sport. But in realism – at the world stage – the game is not limited to the field and teams. Passionate fans and their diehard enthusiasm for clubs and players take the game far and beyond, into the people’s home and their hearts. Despite the love and admiration for football, one wrong on-field decision can leave players behaving irrationally and discerning fans indulging in brawls, intense enough to set stadiums on fire.

Over the years goal-line technology has made a significant difference in the decision-making often faltered by the human eye. Yet, all the other significant on-field decisions are left for humans to make, which even the most qualified and experienced referees can get wrong from time to time. While replacing human intervention from decision-making is visually impossible in the near future; there is a designer who thinks an aerial observer can pull off the task at the amateur level to start with.

Designer: Seungmin Ha

The idea behind “Referee,” a portable drone football referee is as simple as its design: Take to the air, hover above and track the players and the ball, and sound a whistle when a foul occurs. Designed with a Samsung-backed Design Membership program, the two-part system – a drone with rotors and HD camera – moves fluidly around the ball so that there are no blind spots and decisions are spot on. There is no mention of whether the modern Referee will also issue red card for a cardinal foul, or a human ref would still be needed.

The functioning of the Referee is simple to pull off, and the design – modeled after a training cone – makes it even more interesting. It comes packed in a dedicated trolley bag one can tag along to the field and set it to run the game without having to find a human referee to help you with a night game with friends. Since most hobby footballers have time to play in the night hours, after a day’s work, Seungmin has envisioned a Referee with LED lighting that shines along with the whistle when a foul is detected.

To keep the control simple and the design more intriguing, the Referee is controllable via an app. Through the app, you can customize the device’s color to the team that you are playing and also replay the foul scene to make sure close decisions can be fairly dealt with. Potentially a gimmick at the moment, the Referee through its evolution can maybe reach the Premier League stage someday.

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Drone quadcopter concept grips power lines to recharge its batteries

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Although they may be a bit controversial due to privacy and safety concerns, it’s hard to argue that drones, specifically quadcopter models, have introduced big changes in modern life. Taking photos and recording videos can now have some dramatic flair, and deliveries of food and supplies can be made to harder-to-reach places. What these often astounding use cases don’t always say, however, is that drones have very short operating times due to their small batteries. That means they can only fly over short distances with light payloads unless they stop and land somewhere for a recharge. This research concept tries to think of a different system that takes advantage of one of the most ubiquitous power sources found in most urban areas: heavy-duty power lines.

Designers: Viet Duong Hoang, Frederik Falk Nyboe, Nicolaj Haarhøj Malle, Emad Ebeid

Given our current battery technologies, drones have no choice but to pack light. This means most drones have an operating time of around 1 hour or so, and that’s only if they’re not struggling to keep afloat with a heavy load. This drastically shortens the travel time and distance of drones unless they find a way to charge en route, almost like how a car refuels or charges along its way. That, however, would require creating “charging stations” for these drones, which might not always be possible or even economical.

Scientists from the University of Southern Denmark decided to design around a power source that is always there but isn’t solar-powered, which would be too slow and too little for the drone’s use. Instead, the drones clamp onto power lines, the very same thick cables that deliver power from one pole to another. When the drone senses that its battery is too low for comfort, it flies to the nearest power line, flies under a line, and then slowly raises itself until its mechanism grips the line. From there, it uses induction to draw electricity from the line to power that gripping mechanism as well as charge the drone hanging from it.

To test this theory, a drone that was used to inspect power lines was outfitted with custom-made sensors and a gripper before being set to its task without human intervention. The drone recharged itself five times using this method, resulting in an impressive two-hour operation. Although the task put the drone within the immediate vicinity of the electrical line that it needed to recharge, it’s not hard to imagine how delivery drones would likewise have access to nearby lines for the same purpose.

Then again, this recharging system might not be the best solution either, at least given the technologies we have today. Fully autonomous drones are still generally considered to be unreliable, so you can only imagine the fear of one of these flying robots meeting an accident on that power line and taking down a whole block’s electricity. Of course, the better solution would be to have public charging stations like those for cars, but we’re still far from being a drone-centric civilization to warrant such infrastructure.

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The DJI Express UAV Drone Helps Easily Deliver Cargo Over Inter-City Journeys

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Designed to extend the range of delivery from specific hubs, the DJI Express can easily make short inter-city commutes to deliver cargo and supplies without needing a semi-truck or even a dedicated driver. Perfect for smaller cities located next to bigger ones, the drone takes on the role of a delivery-agent, helping easily and rapidly cover large distances to complete deliveries.

Designer: Qingsheng Meng

The DJI Express UAV concept, created by China-based Qingsheng Meng, explores a different format from the drones you’re currently used to. Unlike most quadcopter-shaped aerial devices, the Express takes on the shape of a winged eVTOL that can fly longer distances like your regular airplane. However, significantly smaller than most airplanes, the Express UAV, as its abbreviation suggests, doesn’t have any humans inside it. The unmanned aircraft is controlled entirely remotely, relying on a combination of sensors for route-mapping and obstacle avoicance, and a rather massive camera unit on the tip that allows the remote pilot to look around as they maneuver the craft.

The drone’s design can functionally be split into a few distinct groups. You’ve got yourself a winged aircraft with propellers on each side. A high-definition camera mounted on a 2-axis gimbal on the front allows the drone to ‘see’, while the body of the aircraft houses a battery module on top, and the cargo payload at the bottom. Finally, a tail with a dedicated propeller helps with steering and stability.

A close-up of the top shows you the drone’s detachable battery, which comes with an easy-to-pull-out handle for swapping battery cells during a delivery cycle. However, the drone has its own charging port too, allowing you to charge said battery packs – a feature that can be used while the drone’s grounded for a significant number of hours. In front of the battery is a flip-switch that lets you set the drone to auto or manual, hinting at fully-autonomous flying capabilities thanks to the intelligent obstacle-avoidance sensors on the top as well as the bottom of the craft.

The DJI Express UAV’s design also has a rather well-ventilated fuselage that allows wind to rapidly cool the motor and batteries during flight. Cool air passes through the UAV’s body, helping maintain optimal temperatures during flight and keeping the battery healthy over longer journeys. Given the UAV’s fan-made conceptual nature, there are really no concrete details of its size or capabilities, although DJI does have a delivery drone in its enterprise roster – the Flycart 30. That being said, the Flycart still has a quadcopter-style design that severely limits its range and ability to deliver cargo over inter-city commutes.

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The Future Is Here! Introducing Flying Umbrellas To Take Convenience To The Next Level

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In the fast-paced world of technological innovation, where convenience is key, I Build Stuff, a content creator, has taken the concept of hands-free technology to new heights—literally. In a recent creation that has captured the imagination of tech enthusiasts and casual observers alike, I Build Stuff has designed a flying umbrella drone that hovers above users, shielding them from the rain in a futuristic and whimsical fashion.

Designer: I Build Stuff

In an era dominated by smart devices and voice-controlled assistants, the integration of hands-free technology into everyday objects is a natural progression. The flying umbrella drone is a prime example of this trend, offering a unique solution to the age-old predicament of holding an umbrella while navigating through rain showers.

The concept behind the flying umbrella may seem straightforward—attach propellers, install a drone, and affix an umbrella. However, the designer encountered numerous technical challenges during the development process, leading to a journey of trial and error. The result is a remarkable fusion of cutting-edge technology and creativity.

The core structure of the flying umbrella is a cross-shaped frame made of 3D-printed parts, extending from the edges of a traditional umbrella. At each end of the frame, small propellers resembling a hurricane’s rotation lift the umbrella into the air. To ensure lightweight yet robust construction, carbon fiber tubes form the skeleton of this innovative device, enabling it to gracefully soar above its user.

Crucial to the functionality of the flying umbrella is the incorporation of a flight controller and an electric stability control circuit. The designer meticulously soldered wires to the circuit, regulating the motor’s speed to prevent the device from flying off uncontrollably. The flight controller, programmed to maintain stability, keeps the flying umbrella gracefully following its user.

Despite initial success during the pilot flight, the inventor faced challenges during subsequent tests. The flying umbrella exhibited erratic behavior, shaking violently during one instance. The inventor took a pause, addressing the issues and stabilizing the system, even going so far as to encase the electronics in plastic wrap to protect them from moisture.

While concerns about the device’s stability persist, the I Build Stuff creator has showcased its effectiveness in protecting against drizzles. Anticipating future improvements, the inventor envisions adding a camera and programming the flying umbrella to autonomously follow users, eliminating the need for manual control.

The current controller-operated system opens the door to exciting possibilities. However, the prospect of a fully autonomous flying umbrella holds promise, making this invention accessible to a broader audience. The potential for hands-free technology to benefit not only tech-savvy individuals but also the elderly or those less proficient with remote controllers is an exciting prospect on the horizon.

In a world where innovation knows no bounds, the flying umbrella drone stands out as a quirky yet functional creation, redefining the way we navigate rainy days. As technology continues to evolve, the prospect of a completely hands-free experience with a flying umbrella is both intriguing and eagerly awaited by enthusiasts around the globe.

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Google’s Wing drone delivery to have double the payload with new drone

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Since I live in a country where package delivery by drone is still something straight out of a futuristic movie, it’s fascinating to see how there are places where they are trying to make this the norm. Google’s parent company Alphabet is one of the early adapters with their drone delivery arm Wing, spanning three continents and more than 350,000 deliveries in those places where it’s available. Now they want to expand, literally, with a larger drone that can make deliveries even more convenient.

Designer: Wing

This new drone is still so new that it doesn’t have a name yet. But what is sure is that it will be able to double the payload of the original drone so there will be no need to use two drones to deliver larger orders. According to their data, 30% of their U.S orders require more than one drone and so there is a need for something that will be able to deliver twice what it usually can, saving on the customer’s money and the company’s logistics.

The new drone will be able to carry up to 5 pounds on 12 sm flights while cruising at 65 mph. While it has the same range and speed as the original Wing drone, this new one can carry double as the former is only able to carry up to 2.5 lbs. It will still use the combination of vertical takeoff and landing and precision hovering with fixed wings as it cruises to the delivery address.

The Wing Delivery Network will continue to expand and get more people and companies to use their service. They are now able to do computer tracking as compared to the human intervention previously so the drones can actually do longer routes. And with the still unnamed new drone, they can do heavier loads for those who may need more stuff delivered.

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Building A Drone Umbrella: The Future Of Staying Dry

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In the future, will we all have drone umbrellas autonomously follow us, hovering just above our heads to shelter us from the rain? Maybe! But Youtuber I Build Stuff couldn’t wait for the future, so he took matters into his own hands and constructed his own drone umbrella. While this one doesn’t autonomously follow its user, it’s certainly a step in the right direction. That step being one out of the rain, just to be clear.

After hand drawing the design, I Build Stuff then reproducing it in CAD, and the parts were 3D printed. The design is a large quadrocopter, with each rotor on a long arm to allow enough space for an umbrella to fit between them.

The design works well, although it appears any amount of wind causes the umbrella to quickly start drifting away. And rain and wind DO go hand in hand. With enough interest in the project, I Build Stuff says he’ll add a camera to the dronebrella and write the code to track his movement so it can autonomously follow him. This will also help the drone compensate for wind by trying to constantly stay above him. That’s a good idea. Another good idea? Adding some safety cages around those spinning blades right above your head.

[via TechEBlog]

From Phones to Drones: Nokia’s New Hexacopter Targets Industrial-use with RGB and Thermal Cameras

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The iconic phone maker unveiled a new logo this year, signifying a switch from consumer tech to actual infrastructure and business-focused solutions. Their latest product, a 5G-capable hexacopter drone drives that message home with its enterprise and industry-focused approach. The massive copter is designed to carry a variety of payloads, from cameras to scanning devices to even loudspeakers or modems. It’s crafted with robust materials, is designed to be reliable and repairable… but most importantly, it’s designed and manufactured entirely in the EU, offering an alternative to businesses and governments looking to shift away from China-developed drone technology.

Designer: Nokia

Nokia’s drone isn’t your average DJI or Parrot-style flying machine. It’s much larger, covering a span of at least 3 feet in diameter when resting on the ground. Designed for industries, construction, safety/security, emergency services, transportation, or even smart-city monitoring, the drone comes with its own docking station, dual gimbal cameras, and edge cloud processing using Nokia MX Industrial Edge (MXIE). “By connecting over public and private 4G/LTE and 5G networks, customers will benefit from the highest reliability,” Nokia’s team mentions. “Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations with real-time kinetic (RTK) positioning improves situational awareness. Dual modem connectivity allows Nokia drones to simultaneously connect to multiple networks, complying with system redundancy that is commonly required by aviation regulatory bodies.”

The drone comes with a 6-rotor design that’s made for effective navigation no matter the situation, weather, or environment. For drones, this one is built like a tank, sporting a carbon fiber chassis that keeps the drone light but sturdy, and an overall construction that’s water, dust, and wind resistant. Dual modems ensure the drone stays connected through its entire journey, and if the connection ever falters, the drone has its own return-to-launchpad protocols built in that allow it to make its way back to its docking station while avoiding no-fly zones.

A highlight of the drone’s design is its modular lower platform that allows you to mount a variety of accessories that transform the drone’s purpose. You’ve got a dual-camera module with a Thermal and an RGB camera capable of 30x zoom, but undock the camera and you can swap it for a LiDAR sensor instead, allowing the drone to 3D scan objects and environments instead. Nokia offers other modules too, including a powerful spotlight for rescue missions, or a loudspeaker for delivering messages/warnings/alerts. If you’ve got a custom requirement, Nokia’s Payload Development Kit lets you build your own module to mount onto the drone, making it serve your mission/project’s needs.

The Nokia Drone Networks solution offers remote operation capabilities for search and rescue missions and damage assessment in hazardous environments. These drones can also be programmed to conduct autonomous flights for tasks like enhancing security at major events or conducting regular equipment inspections in remote locations. The docking station not only safeguards the drone and its payload, which may include sensor devices or a dual gimbal camera, from external dangers and severe weather conditions but also remotely charges the drone in preparation for its next flight.

Given its enterprise/industry-focused approach, the Nokia Drone isn’t available to consumers. For businesses looking to place orders, there’s an Enquiry button on Nokia’s website.

The post From Phones to Drones: Nokia’s New Hexacopter Targets Industrial-use with RGB and Thermal Cameras first appeared on Yanko Design.

DJI Mini 4 Pro drone packs Mavic-style flagship features into a mini-package with a $759 price tag

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Dubbed by DJI as the “ultimate mini drone”, the DJI Mini 4 Pro gives you the greatest specs in the smallest package yet, with a compact folding design that weighs under 250 grams, making it narrowly avoid FAA guidelines that require you to register drones above 250 grams in weight. That small size, however, doesn’t take away from this drone’s mammoth capabilities – it packs a main camera with a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor capable of 4K/60fps HDR, a bunch of other cameras that give it situational awareness and advanced object avoidance, and the ability to record in both landscape as well as portrait modes. Borrowing from its flagship counterpart, the Mavic series, the Mini 4 Pro now also supports shooting in 10-bit D-Log M and HLG color profiles, and lets you set waypoints and activate cruise control while flying. With a starting price of $759, the Mini 4 Pro gives you flagship-grade features for less than half of the price.

Designer: DJI

Even by today’s standards, the Mini 3 Pro is quite a banger of a drone, but with the Mini 4 Pro, DJI just checks all the boxes to make sure there’s really no more room for improvement. The Mini 4 Pro arrives with a slew of upgrades, with a particular focus on its camera and processing capabilities. Notably, it now supports slow-motion recording at up to 4K@100fps, a substantial leap from the previous generation’s 1080p@120fps. If you’re looking for a higher dynamic range, the camera outputs HDR videos at 4k/60fps, giving your footage stunning crisp details with balanced yet vibrant colors. Want to switch from cinematic to social content? The camera flips 90° to record in true portrait mode, utilizing every pixel on its 1/1.3″ sensor instead of cropping the sides like most drones would.

“The Mini 4 Pro perfectly marries professional-grade capabilities while keeping its hallmark lightweight design, offering unmatched freedom and adaptability,” says Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director at DJI. “This drone emerges as the ultimate all-rounder, designed to elevate your creative toolkit.”

Low-light performance takes a significant step forward thanks to a new sensor equipped with dual native ISO, permitting the use of a secondary (higher) ISO setting to minimize noise. DJI has also incorporated an upgraded noise reduction algorithm within a Night Shots video mode, further enhancing the quality of footage captured in low-light conditions. Additionally, DJI has even introduced a wide-angle accessory lens, offering an expansive 100° field of view, available for separate purchase. This lens seamlessly attaches to the camera, akin to how Moment lenses enhance smartphone photography.

Range enthusiasts will appreciate the enhanced capabilities of the Mini 4 Pro, courtesy of the new O4 video transmission system, which now supports up to 1080p/60fps FHD at distances of a whopping 20 km. While keeping the drone within visual range remains essential, this upgrade fortifies signal strength against radio interference and unforeseen obstacles. On the software front, DJI has also introduced the Waypoints and Cruise Control features to the Mini 4 Pro, a welcome addition previously exclusive to the professional-grade Mavic line. This empowers users to program their drones to follow predefined paths or maintain a direct flight trajectory without constant manual input. You can save camera paths for later, or even draw camera paths with your finger directly on the app or the controller display, guiding the camera in the most intuitive way possible – with your fingertips.

The one area where the Mini 4 Pro somehow holds back is in the battery department. The drone ships with a standard battery that delivers 34 minutes of flight time, which can be upgraded to 45 minutes with the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus. This new battery, unfortunately, pushes the drone above the 250g mark, forcing you to register the drone with the FAA if you want to operate it legally. The Intelligent Flight Battery Plus also delivers 2 less minutes of flying on the Mini 4 Pro than the Mini 3 Pro, which could output 47 minutes.

For those considering the Mini 4 Pro, the base package retails at $759, which includes the DJI RC-N2 Remote Controller (requiring a smartphone), Intelligent Flight Battery, a pair of propellers, and the usual assortment of cables and accessories. An alternative package with the RC 2 controller is available for $959, offering the same contents. For the ultimate flight experience, the Fly More Combo (featuring the RC 2 controller) is priced at $1,099 and encompasses three batteries, three pairs of propellers, a DJI Mini Shoulder Bag, and a Two-Way Charging Hub. Enthusiasts seeking extended flight times can opt for the Fly More Combo Plus, which includes the upgraded batteries, priced at $1,159.

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This indoor drone flies to deliver hot or cold air to people inside the house

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Different people have different needs and tolerances for temperature. What might be room temperature for one could be uncomfortably warm for another. Some easily get cold, while others might need the fan or A/C to be at full blast in front of them. This variety of needs means achieving the perfect temperature inside a room to satisfy everyone is next to impossible. At the same time, catering to each and every preference is also impractical, given the limitations in space for multiple appliances. That’s the kind of problem that this idea for an indoor drone is trying to solve, making everyone inside your house feel comfortable and happy with the air temperature that’s catered specifically for them.

Designer: Miray Ozlem ER

It might be hard to imagine right now, but the houses of the future might be filled with robots of different kinds. We’re already familiar with the rolling cans that are robot vacuum cleaners, but there might come a day when small robot drones will also be flying around inside. Drone AC is envisioned as one such self-flying robot, and its sole purpose is to control people’s emotions through scents and hot or cold air.

In a nutshell, the idea for Drone AC is for this quadcopter to fly around the house, scanning people’s body temperatures and then blowing hot or cold air in their direction to either raise or lower that body temperature to more comfortable levels. It also has functionality to spread scents like an aroma diffuser, and its ability to fly could make it more effective in spreading that pleasant smell around the house.

Most of these functions are automated, controlled by a combination of sensors and algorithms. It can even fly back to its wall-mounted dock when it needs to recharge before it actually drops to a critical level. The only manual intervention that humans need to do is to put in water to cool the air.

While the Drone AC concept sounds and looks fantastic, and there might be a slim chance that such drones will indeed exist in the distant future, the current design leaves a few concerns. A quadcopter will naturally affect the airflow around the drone, so that might also affect the efficacy of blowing hot or cold air in a certain direction. Having the water refill area so close to the drone’s charging port also seems to be inviting trouble. The design does spark the imagination of how the house of the future will look like and how our lives could be more comfortable and more enriching with intelligent products like this.

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Featherweight DJI Mini 3 is an affordable drone for content creators on a budget

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DJI Mini 3 drone targeted for social media platforms and casual flyers was in the works (with certain leaks in the cloud) ever since the launch of Mini 3 Pro, and now the affordable package has finally landed. As speculated this trimmed-down version of the big brother Mini 3 Pro will lose out on certain premium features with a cheaper price tag being the pitch.

The lightweight DJI drone tips the scale at 248 grams which makes it eligible for flying without any registration (fulfills FCC requirements for the US) in most parts of the globe. This quadcopter is the direct predecessor of the DJI Mini 2 drone with incremental features just enough to entice buyers who want to elevate their content-creating game without burning a hole in their pocket.

Designer: DJI

Click Here to Buy Now!

DJI Mini 3 comes with a capable 12MP (1/1.3-type) CMOS image sensor combined with a 24mm (f1.7) aperture lens. The videos can be shot in portrait mode with the True Vertical Shooting mode, and clicking photos simultaneously is also possible courtesy of the 4-in-1 pixel binning technology with the 48MP sensor. The former brings better low-light photography, sharp depth of field and very low image noise to the fore as well.

The onboard camera shoots images in RAW/JPEG mode and videos in 4K HDR at 30 fps. The premium Mini 3 Pro shoots 4K videos at 60 fps just for comparison. In live feed, a video of 720p can be relayed from a distance of upto 10 kms away. It is capable of shooting stable images even in winds of 10.7 meters per second.

The featherweight drone has an estimated flight time of 38 minutes on a single charge of the standard onboard battery. If you opt for the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus accessory (not available in all regions) the total flying time can be stretched to 51 minutes. The quadcopter can be programmed to take cinematic helicopter-like shots or do fancy maneuvers like circle, boomerang or helix. Other standard DJI features like the Return To Home (RTH) modes in event of a signal drop are there.

DJI Mini 3 will be available in five different configurations – each one having a different combination of accessories. The drone-only version costs $409, while the one with the RC-N1 remote will set you back $499. The penultimate comes with a shoulder bag, a charging hub, and two extra Intelligent Flight Batteries for $659. The top-end version dubbed the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo priced at $798 has all these accessories plus the DJI RC controller.

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