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Voliro Hexcopter Uses Rotating Nacelles to Perform Versatile Acrobatics
Posted by Marco Sterk on
The Voliro hexacopter has been developed, assembled and programmed as a student project at ETH Zurich. It has the unique capability of being able to hover in any arbitrary orientation, even vertically or upside down. Unlike standard multicopters, the position and the orientation are completely decoupled and can be steered independently. This is achieved by six additional tilting motors which allow the rotor units to turn around its axes.The Voliro hexacopter is a platform which expands the potential of conventional drones and allows many future applications. As it can fly vertically, it could also drive with a chassis on...
- Tags: Drone
Airbus ventures into Urban Aviation with Pop.Up concept
Posted by Marco Sterk on
During the recent 87th Geneva International Motor Show, Italdesign and Airbus world-premiered Pop.Up, the first modular, fully electric, zero emission concept vehicle system designed to relieve traffic congestion in crowded megacities. Pop.Up envisages a modular system for multi-modal transportation that makes full use of both ground and airspace. More information can be found here: Pop.Up
NASA Langley Engineers Propose Mars Flyer Concept
Posted by Marco Sterk on
Currently, the Curiosity rover is exploring the red planet. It has already helped scientists make some exciting discoveries, such as the fact that Mars once had conditions to support life. This is quite an accomplishment, especially since the rover is stuck on the ground. When the next rover heads to Mars in 2020 it could be accompanied by a drone that would help expand its view of the landscape. NASA's engineers are faced with the challenge of getting a drone to fly in conditions that are quite different from home. In one sense, flying should be easier on Mars because...
University of Memphis, Department of Mechanical Engineering Students design Amphibious Drone for Water Sampling Missions
Posted by Marco Sterk on
March 11, 2017 - Memphis, Tennessee During a Drones Lightning Talks session held on March 8, 2017 at the FedEx Institute of Technology, Senior Mechanical Engineering Students from the University of Memphis presented a video of a first prototype of an amphibious drone designed to land on water, collect a water samples, and takeoff from the water. The drone is an X8 Octocopter configuration using a custom-built carbon fiber frame, designed and manufactured by the students, and uses as propulsion system eight T-Motor U7 motors with T-Motor 16" carbon fiber propellers and Flame 80A Pro ESCs installed to provide the...
- Tags: Drone
Mercedes Benz showcases its plans for new "Drone Economy" Delivery Van
Posted by Marco Sterk on
The Vision Van from Mercedes-Benz Vans is a revolutionary van study for the urban environment. As an integrated system, the vehicle merges a number of innovative technologies for last-mile delivery operations and thus sets the standard of performance requirements and solutions for future generations of vans. The Vision Van features a fully automated cargo space, integrated drones for autonomous air deliveries and a state-of-the-art joystick control. Powered by a 75 kW electric drive system with a range of up to 270 km, deliveries with the Vision Van are locally emission-free. The electric drive system additionally guarantees that it will...
- Tags: Drone