Drone News & Articles

Scientists from the University of Aberdeen have created the world's first 3D thermal image of an active volcano.

The spectacular 3D image of Stromboli in Italy was made using high-precision cameras which are mounted to an aerial drone.

The team of geoscientists from the Universities of Aberdeen and Oslo created the image by using drone technology to develop a technique that can detect subtle changes in the behavior of the volcano, providing more accurate information on the likelihood of an eruption.

The research team aims to develop a fully automated drone monitoring system that is more accurate, safer and cheaper than current methods, which are unaffordable in developing countries where many of the world’s active volcanoes are located.

"Our technique involves using drones to take hundreds of aerial photographs and putting these together to create a 3D model that maps the surface." according to Professor John Howell, from the University of Aberdeen.

"From there we can overlay the model with images from a thermal camera, allowing us to see the thermal structure of the volcano in 3D," he said.

Professor John Howell says: "This thermal structure gives us significant insight into changes in the volcano. If we see certain areas are unexpectedly hot then it might be an early warning sign, especially if the ground has swelled."

"These are very small movements so not easily detectable, but by using the latest high-precision cameras we can notice subtle changes to the volcano that might signal an imminent eruption."

"The ability to deploy a drone really close to a volcano means that as well as getting high precision thermal mapping and imagery, we can also deploy portable seismometers and gas sensors in areas that are too dangerous for people to go."

Initial research has allowed the research team to identify the key challenges involved in developing a fully automated system, but the early results are promising, according to Professor Howell.

"Drone technology is moving so fast that we could have a system fully up and running in a few years," he said. 

"Being able to send a low-cost portable drone unit to any volcano around the world could really revolutionize how we monitor volcanos and be a game-changer for the people who live and work in their shadow."

"Ultimately this technology could help us build a much better idea of how volcanoes behave and in the future could save lives."

Written by Matti Kukkola | 2 April 2018

Autel Robotics is shoring up its commercial fleet for professional missions with EVO II Enterprise drones. The company is bringing out two new products: EVO II Pro Enterprise with 6K ultra-HD video, and EVO II Dual 640T Enterprise that comes with a thermal imaging sensor in addition to a visual camera. Both drones are compatible with swappable accessories like a loudspeaker, spotlight, strobe, and an RTK module.

Autel says these new drones are its toughest EVO II yet. A new carbon fiber design and an enhanced transmission range (8-mile HD transmission) make the EVO II Enterprise drones suitable for a variety of applications, including public safety, firefighting, search and rescue, traffic supervision, power inspection, and mapping. The maximum flight time you will get is 42 minutes. Max wind resistance is 38 mph.

Safety focus

For enhanced safety, the drones have been equipped with ADS-B receivers, so they can get signals from nearby airplanes and helicopters and warn operators if they appear to be on a collision course. At the same time, 19 sets of sensors cover the airframe to provide 360-degree obstacle avoidance.

Autel EVO II Pro Enterprise drone: specs and price

Ideal for high-resolution imaging, the EVO II Pro Enterprise drone comes with a 1-inch CMOS sensor capable of capturing 6K videos and 20MP stills. Noteworthy that the camera has 3x lossless and 16x digital zoom capability, as well as an adjustable aperture range of f2.8 to f11.

Though Autel hasn’t revealed the price of this drone publicly yet, retail site B&H has the drone bundle listed at $3,750 as a “coming soon” item.

Autel EVO II Dual 640T Enterprise drone: specs and price

The Dual 640T Enterprise drone offers a 640*512 thermal imaging sensor with a 48MP visual camera. Autel is providing multiple temperature measurement modes with this drone, including Spot Temperature Measurement, Regional Temperature Measurement, Isotherm, and Temperature Alarms. Meanwhile, in addition to 16x digital zoom, the EVO II Dual 640T Enterprise drone supports 4x lossless zoom.

Late to the party?

It’s worth noting that DJI has been offering swappable accessories and ADS-B receivers with its Mavic 2 Enterprise series drones since 2018. So, has Autel made any significant improvements with its industrial drones or is it just playing catchup to an industry leader?

We also couldn’t help but notice that while Autel has tried to use the “Made in the USA” label as a marketing strategy in the past, these new drones make no such claims. And that could be because, earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it would seek civil penalties in excess of $43,000 from companies that make false, unqualified claims that their products are made in the USA.

Written by Ishveena Singh | 7 Sep 2021

There’s a different kind of swooping season occurring in Canberra’s suburbs that’s stopping delivery of coffee, food and medicine.

Territorial ravens have taken umbrage at drones flying through their skies and have swooped the tiny ‘copters carrying goods.

The drone’s deliver small products as part of Wing, a program ran in collaboration with Google, that services areas in the ACT. But some have been waylaid.

Ben Roberts was waiting for his daily coffee when he suddenly noticed that his drone was under attack.

He managed to film the raven hanging onto the back of the aircraft and furiously pecking it with its beak.

The drone struggled to fly under the weight of the large bird but Mr Roberts was still able to have his breakfast delivered safely.

‘They are certainly very territorial at the moment,’ he told the ABC.

‘From their point of view, they’re very intelligent birds, what must a drone look like to them? It would be like a flying saucer landing in our front yard to us.’

A spokesman for Wing told The Daily Mail the drones are operating as normal in other suburbs and they were yet to learn of any birds being injured from the aircraft.

“As is common during nesting season, certain bird species demonstrate territorial behaviour and swoop at moving objects,” the spokesman said.

“In the unlikely event that a bird makes direct contact with our drone, we have multiple levels of redundancy built into our operations to ensure we can continue to fly safely.”

Written by Mitchell Van Homrigh | 23 Sept 2021

A police drone has captured the dramatic rescue of four men who had become cragfast (stuck on a rock face and unable to ascend or descend) on dangerous ground on Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales.

The Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team received word Wednesday that a group of four walkers had become trapped on a perilous section of the mountain while trying to return to the car park. Since it was already dark, the emergency rescue service called on North Wales Police’s drone unit to help rescue the walkers.

The drone unit used a DJI industrial craft equipped with a 10,200 lumen LED spotlight to illuminate the cliff while the mountain rescue volunteers abseiled down to the stuck walkers to help lower them to safety. The entire action was caught on the drone camera:

Meanwhile, the Snowdonia Society, a member-based conservation charity that helps look after the mountain, has raised an alarm that Snowdon was being blighted by footpath erosion, littering, and careless wild camping.

At the same time, the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team has also expressed concern about an increasing number of people trying to climb the 1,085-meter peak without the proper equipment or planning. In a Facebook post on Thursday, the rescue service said:

This August, the team experienced its busiest month on record. We were called out 49 times last month, with the total number of callouts for this year now at 158.

September has also started with three callouts so far for us. The last of yesterday’s being a group of four walkers becoming cragfast on the cliffs of Clogwyn Mawr while trying to get to their car in the Llanberis Pass. A team of eight was deployed with help of the North Wales Police drone unit. The four cragfast men were lowered to safety.

In addition to helping people who had become cragfast, the emergency rescue team has also had to deal with visitors suffering heat stroke and asthma, hikers who fell or were hit by falling rocks, and lost tourists.

Written by Ishveena Singh | 3 Sept 2021

People who still contend professional baseball is too tradition-bound for its own good should have been at Oakland’s Ring Central Stadium last Friday (or look into some of the recent eyebrow-raising rule changes made). If they had, they would have gotten a gander at the first drone light show ever organized at a Major League Baseball (MLB) game.

Traditional-bound baseball hosts its first-ever drone light show

The unprecedented MLB drone light show was hosted by the Oakland A’s following their twilight game with the visiting New York Yankees. That innovation in baseball entertainment didn’t get too wildly imaginative in its execution, however. It featured a favorite theme of special events across all ballparks – a Star Wars tribute – and called on accomplished drone light show company Sky Elements to work its aerial magic. 

By most accounts, it wound up doing just that, with illuminated Star Wars characters and images morphing into those associated with America’s other favorite pastime. As the show neared its climax, the 200 craft used in the performance staged a battle between two light sabers, before transforming into a baseball bat to destroy a lit-up Death Star. 

Sky Elements, which provided still photos of the event on its Instagram page, described the show this way:

The Sky Elements team had a blast creating this drone show and ran with the concept of Star Wars and baseball, displaying the similarities between the two. Light sabers turning into baseball bats, and a baseball turning into the Death Star are among some of the creative ideas that play out in the sky above Ring Central Stadium. Of course we had to start the show off with the Star Wars logo rising up from behind the stadium to start the show.

It’s unknown whether Mark Hamill – aka Luke Skywalker – is much of a baseball fan, but it’s more than likely the Oakland-born actor approved of the galactic summertime tribute.

Sky Elements indicates it plans to make full video of the baseball’s first drone light show available soon. Awaiting that, there are several nice fan videos for viewing online.

Written by Bruce Crumley | 31 August 2021

Experts knew wildfires that charred huge swaths of Australia in recent years killed hundreds of millions of animals, yet none had a firm idea of just how many died – or survived. Now an effort is underway to use drones backed up by artificial intelligence (AI) to make a more complete accounting of the nation’s wildlife.

Drones linked to AI computing hub will provide faster, more accurate wildlife population counts

A new network is being created around Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) computing hub linking drones to IA platforms, thereby permitting a more thorough census of regional wildlife than can be achieved manually. The plan is to fly uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) equipped with infrared sensors to detect various life forms, which will then be identified by IA programs and machine learning capacities that expand the catalogue of recognized species as flights continue over time. 

The program will be tested in the Noosa Heads area south of Brisbane on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. That trial run will initially focus on counting koala populations, which were particularly hard hit by Australia’s 2019-2020 Black Summer fires.

QUT’s AI data hub will serve as the computing center of the program, while actual flights and other organizational work will be assumed by a variety of largely non-governmental organizations. Chief among those is Landcare, a vast grassroots network of individuals and collectives seeking to protect the environment, and pursue sustainable development projects. The nonprofit has donated $223,000 to the effort.

On-ground “game-changer” from the skies

The tech onboard drones, backed up by QUT’s AI capacities, is expected to speed the counting of wildlife, and provide more accurate tallies of animal populations by inspecting areas that have previously been difficult or impossible to access by human surveyors. UAV are also capable of scanning far wider areas of terrain in a single outing than people. Data transfers will also be accelerated via craft-to-computer exchanges.

“It’s a game changer,” Grant Hamilton, the head of QUT’s School of Biology and Environment Sciences and Centre for the Environment, told Noosa Today. “Despite decades of research, the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires highlighted just how little is known about the presence and abundance of wildlife across vast tracts of the Australian landscape. 

“There were estimates of billions of animals killed or displaced – but these figures were by necessity based on modelling rather than monitoring, and this lack of data means priority areas for protection could not be established,” he continues. “As one example, the impacts of bushfire on koala populations in south-east Queensland were clearly evident but difficult to quantify because of a lack of baseline data.”

Previous animal surveying – often undertaken on foot – produced numbers whose accuracy Hamilton estimates at around 70%. Use of drones and AI computing to count wildlife populations, he notes, should initially average around 85%, and work toward 100% over time.

“This system will allow Landcare groups, conservation groups, organizations working on protecting and monitoring species to survey large areas in their regions, anywhere in Australia, with the use of drones and thermal imaging detection, and send the data back to us where we can process it,” Hamilton says. “It’s citizen science on a much bigger scale.”

Written by Bruce Crumley | 3 Sept 2021

If you’ve been waiting to get your hands on DJI’s forthcoming Mavic 3 Pro… get used to that feeling. Originally anticipated for release in Q4 of this year, the product won’t be available for prime time until January of next year. That’s right: Q1 of 2022.

A lot of professionals and many prosumers are awaiting the Mavic 3 Pro drone, which is anticipated to have a Hasselblad camera, variable aperture, and more. But it looks like the wait will continue. A source who says he’s close to the project has given us some insider details, and it appears the product won’t be out until January at the earliest.

Let’s get into the deets.

First, a refresher

We’ve written previously about the anticipated release date, based on another source who lives in China and has a pipeline into the company. He told us the release date would likely be in October. Turns out there was indeed a deadline set for October, but it wasn’t a release date. Our new source, who says he is intimately familiar with the project, explains:

The drone is targeted to be “finalized” in October. (Not produced for sale. Final product specs/design/etc settled on). Oct 15 is current internal target date which will likely be met. But: then it will take two months (maybe a bit more) to prepare automated lines/assembly/equipment etc before full scale ramp up. Then DJI internally targets two months of full-scale production *prior* to release. 

Well, that explains it

And by that, we mean that explains why leaks have been few and far between – and why we haven’t seen any images of the full Mavic 3 Pro yet. Remember this pic of what was said to be a Mavic Pro 3 shell? Well, that’s an indication the product isn’t yet finalized:

Again, our source fills in the blanks:

I think you see where this is going and why there won’t be any more leaks for a while. The shells you have seen were EVT units (engineering verification test shells). That’s the second step after DVT testing (design validation testing). Production has nowhere near begun.

So, the Mavic 3 Pro has a January release date?

That’s the plan. But there are no guarantees. Even the smallest delay means China will edge closer to Lunar New Year celebrations, the nation’s largest annual holiday. Everything in the country shuts down for a minimum of a week.

Oh: And don’t expect a Zoom model. Again, here’s our source:

And to lastly add a final bit of info: there will *not* be a zoom model. The sensor is micro 4/3 but development has been problematic (on the Hasselblad side). Three final prototypes now.  Combine all the internal problems with a major chip shortage for a new smart controller and the delay is anticipated to be Q1 2022 before actual product release. (Jan-March). And remember Chinese New Year in February (Feb 1) will likely add a further delay as China shuts down for the whole week so if there is even another small delay it will be pushed back further. 

When will we see the Mavic Pro 3?

Well, based on this it’s possible we won’t be seeing leaked photos of the final design DJI settles on until mid-October. Perhaps some other images will surface in the interim, but until they’ve locked down the final design (and someone snaps a photo) we really won’t know.

Written by Scott Simmie | 10 August 2021

Like a scene from a science-fiction film, a drone makes its way through an inhospitable environment.

But this isn't science fiction — this is happening in regional Queensland.

Technology developed by the CSIRO means areas of mines can now be mapped and inspected without putting people in dangerous situations.

"A couple of years ago, flying a drone in a GPS-denied environment was not even thought of," aerospace engineer Luke Horwood said.

"But now to be able to actually bring them into these environments is really exciting."

Mr Horwood said the most innovative part of the HoverMap scanning technology was its ability to be autonomous.

"Being able to navigate through an environment that might not be great for people to be in, just the drone being able to make decisions on its own in real time."

Finding its own way

Like mariners of years gone by, the technology relies on wayfinding, or using fixed points to create a system of coordinates.

"As part of the start-up sequence, the scanner sends out 300,000 laser points per second to get an idea of the environment," Mr Horwood said.

"It means if the drone loses contact with the driver, it goes back to a waypoint to find its way home."

But the drone isn't the only way the scanner can be used.

"We try and use the right tool for the job and only fly when we have to," said Holstein Wong from drone company Emesent.

"It can be mounted on a backpack, ground robot or vehicle and it allows operators to get data in an efficient manner and remove people from the workfront."

Keeping people safe

In recent years there has been a focus on safety in the coal mining sector following an increased number of fatalities.

It is hoped the technology will allow mine operators to make faster decisions on changing environments.

"So if someone sees deterioration, we can scan the area multiple times and compare them and do change detections," Mr Horwood said.

"That means changes can be made to improve the environment or help make the decision to take people out.

"It's really a preventative measure, rather than reactive."

Mr Horwood said the scanner could also be programmed to check if a mine's structure matched the safety designs.

"We can develop algorithms to auto-detect things like rock bolts and then compare the scan to the design of the mine.

"It means you can see if they've been installed correctly or moved because of geotechnical issues."

It also means the drone can go into areas where it is too dangerous to send a person.

Testing environments

Testing a drone in an operational underground mine is difficult, but a simulated mine in Mackay is helping the sector develop new technology and improve safety.

"Particularly in the mining sector, there are a lot of companies that are striving to be at the forefront of innovation, especially in the safety field," said Steven Boxall from the Resources Centre for Excellence.

"When you compare what you used to have to do to access a mine site — the health and safety requirements, the production downtime — we're really in a unique situation."

Mr Boxall said the centre could also ease concerns people had around automation in the sector.

"It's not losing jobs but people transitioning into different types of jobs and it's taking people away from dangerous environments."

Written by Melissa Maddison and Angel Parsons | 14 August 2021

DJI crop-spraying drones Agras T30 and T10 are now available internationally

DJI, the industry leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, is making its Agras T30 and T10 agriculture drones available in over 100 additional countries. The Agras T30 and T10, developed in partnership with farmers, make aerial precision agriculture more accessible and convenient.

DJI’s new flagship for digital agriculture, the Agras T30, features a 30-liter spray tank and a spreading system payload capacity of up to 40kg. With 16 nozzles and a spray range of 9 meters, the T30 improves the efficiency of aerial spraying and can cover up to 40 acres in one hour. It also features a fuselage made of carbon fiber composite materials with a one-key locking arm design, which helps reduce volume by 80% after folding.

The Agras T10 is compact but powerful, featuring an 8-liter spray tank and spray width of up to 5 meters, able to cover up to 15 acres an hour. Its sturdy and reliable folding truss structure allows for convenient transportation and quick deployment

Both models were built with an emphasis on flight safety, featuring spherical radar systems that scan surrounding areas in all environments and weather conditions. Obstacle avoidance systems and adaptive flight functions help further ensure safety during flights, and dual FPV cameras provide clear front and rear views, with a searchlight that doubles night vision capabilities.

DJI Crop Spraying and Much More for Precision Agriculture

Users can conduct cloud-based mapping of orchard and farmland scenarios via the Smart Agriculture Cloud Platform. The platform’s AI recognition system can patrol fields, identify growth, monitor disease or pests, and monitor agricultural conditions efficiently. Paired with the DJI P4 Multispectral, users can apply solutions based on specific variables according to an automatically-generated farmland prescription map.

An updated remote controller for the T30 and T10 supports stable image transmission from up to 5 km away. A 5.5-inch high-brightness screen delivers a clear view, even in harsh lighting. A single controller can operate multiple drones at once.

An RTK high-precision positioning module allows for centimeter-level operation planning, as well as stronger signaling, anti-interference, and operational stability. The new DJI Agriculture app enables a smoother and more intuitive operation experience.

Both models utilize a newly designed intelligent battery that is covered by warranty for 1,000 charges or 1 year. This lengthy service life significantly reduces operating costs. The smart charging hub can fully charge a battery in 10 minutes, allowing the T30 and T10 to continuously operate with just two batteries and one charger.

The models are built with long term service in mind. With three layers of protection over critical components, the T30 and T10 have an IP67 rating , giving them the protection needed for regular use of liquid fertilizer and exposure to dust and corrosion.

At the height of the pandemic, DJI worked with authorities internationally to modify DJI crop spraying drones to disinfect large areas.

Writte by Ian Crosby | 17 August 2021

You have seen the awe-inspiring revolving globe drone show at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Now, watch hundreds of drones take off and ascend toward the night sky like stunning shooting stars in this new behind-the-scenes video.

The dazzling drone light show during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was one of the best moments of the Opening Ceremony on Friday.

A fleet of 1,824 Intel Shooting Star 3 drones took to the sky above the Olympic Stadium to form a complex set of geometrical shapes before transitioning into the blue-and-white checkered emblem of Tokyo 2020. Symbolizing the global solidarity and unity in diversity that the Olympic Games represent, the LED-equipped drones then reassembled to form a giant 3D model of the world, giving many a moment of hope amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Intel team collaborated closely with the Tokyo 2020 creative teams to incorporate the drones into the Opening Ceremony narrative. The aim was to show that the world and its athletes are stronger together through a display of connection, unity, and hope.

Weighing just 340 grams, the Intel Shooting Star 3 drones are specially designed for entertainment purposes and are equipped with four LEDs that are unmatched in brightness and vibrancy. Meanwhile, each drone features real-time kinematic (RTK) GPS for increased positional accuracy that is needed for higher resolution animations, sharper imagery, and more dynamic 3D animations.

Incidentally, this is not the first time that Intel has programmed a drone display for the Olympic Games. The company operated over 1,200 drones at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, providing the first drone light show at an Olympic event. Intel designed and developed custom animations for the opening ceremony and nightly victory ceremony performances, which include animations of different sports and various Olympic-related logos including the formation of the iconic Olympic rings.

Written by Ishveena Singh | 25 July 2021