The Golden Gate Bridge is seen from above, its sweeping lines foreshortened. Two rows of cables, so imposing from the ground, look like orange pieces of string. Some shots almost touch one of the bridge’s towers as tiny cars zip down below. The photos are taken by drones – the small, camera-equipped, unmanned aircraft that…
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Category: News
Madrid airport forced to close for two hours after drone sightings
Madrid’s international airport was forced to close for around two hours on Monday after reports of drones in the area. A transport ministry source was reported as saying two pilots had detected a drone flying near the takeoff area alongside the airport, which is located just east of the city centre. The airspace at Adolfo…
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A Drone’s-Eye View of the Quick and the Dead
New machine-learning technique can distinguish living bodies from deceased ones In the aftermath of disasters, drones have already been used to map the destruction and help rescuers find possible survivors. Now a new system could take this to the next level, automatically analyzing drone footage to determine whether the people spotted are still alive. “We’re…
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Drone over Pell prison for ‘commercial use’, investigation finds
Two men have been interviewed by police after a drone was seen flying over the central Melbourne prison where disgraced Cardinal George Pell was being held. Police believe the drone was being flown as part of a “commercial operation” when it was spotted above Melbourne Assessment Prison on January 9. They have concluded their probe…
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First drone and data academy opens in Africa to improve service delivery for children
The first African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA) opened today in Lilongwe, Malawi, UNICEF announced. The move is part of efforts to promote the use of drones in programmes and services that will impact the lives of children and young people. “Humanitarian and development programme delivery in Africa and beyond can benefit significantly from the…
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Drone drops package over Queensland prison wall on Christmas Day
A prisoner has been taken to hospital a day after catching a package dropped into a Queensland jail by a drone. An officer spotted the drone over an exercise yard of the Capricornia Correctional Centre in central Queensland about 1.45pm on Christmas Day. A prisoner caught the package of contraband but it was confiscated and…
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Sky shepherds: the farmers using drones to watch their flocks by flight
A shepherd is out tending a flock when a presence appears above. It descends from the sky and communicates vital information. It may sound like a nativity scene, but for an increasing number of farmers it’s a daily occurrence – and that celestial being is a drone. Corey Lambeth, a New Zealand farmer, originally purchased…
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Why killer robots risk spreading to Australia’s backyard
Arsenals of killer robots may soon be on Australia’s doorstep as a new arms race ramps up in South-East Asia, a report warns. The advanced military systems known as Lethal Autonomous Weapons (LAWS) can identify, target and kill a person. No human is needed to make the final decision to authorise lethal force. The final…
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Top 5 autonomous security drones you should know in 2019
Until recently, protecting large areas like farm fields or mining areas required the use of several security cameras and lots of patrolling guards. While this has been effective for many customers, the costs associated with such a complex setup are quite high. This is especially true of manned guards as labor costs are always…
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Near misses between planes, drones on the increase
Drones may look like toys, but they can be dangerous. Experts say a drone could even take down a plane. Action News Investigates found that the number of close calls between planes and drones is increasing in western Pennsylvania and around the country. Pilot Howard Pierce, of Wexford, was flying his small plane over Butler…
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