There you are, driving up and down rows of cars, looking for the right parking spot. What if you could release a tiny drone into the air, and tell it to help out with the search? That’s the kind of future Amazon is looking toward with a new patent for voice-controlled drones that can fit in your pocket. [More]
unmanned aerial vehicles
FAA Gives First Approval For Commercial Drone Flights At Night
By 4.21.16
The news that the Federal Aviation Administration has granted approval for the first flights of small commercial drones at night might not seem like a big deal to the average person, but the move also shows how U.S. regulators are now speeding up efforts to authorize expanded uses of the devices. [More]
Please Stop Flying Your Drone Anywhere Near A Commercial Jet
By 4.4.16
Recreational drones have grown in popularity in the last few years, and there are officially more registered drones than aircraft with pilots. Here’s the problem, though: even a tiny drone can cause serious problems if it crosses the path of a jet. While a plane-drone accident hasn’t happened yet, there have been some close calls, and no one wants to find out what would happen. [More]
Amazon Files Patent For Talking Drone Propellers That Tell You To Get Out Of The Way
By 3.31.16
While we don’t know all the details of Amazon’s long-anticipated Prime Air delivery drones just yet, we can guess at some of the specifics along the way. And if a recent patent application the company filed means anything, the drones may have a few things to say. [More]
FAA: There Are Now More Drones Registered Than Piloted Aircraft
By 2.8.16
What’s that in the sky — is it a bird? A plane? No, it’s a swarm of drones, blacking out the sun as they rise as one to push other aircraft out of the sky. At least, that’s the vision we got after the Federal Aviation Administration announced that drone registrations have now outstripped registrations for piloted aircraft. [More]
Man Arrested After His Drone Crashes Into The Empire State Building
By 2.5.16
A lesson for you drone owners out there trying to get just the right shot: if you crash your unmanned aerial vehicle into a famous landmark, you should probably just kiss it goodbye. Because if you ask for it back, you may find yourself arrested, like one New Jersey man who police say flew his drone into a little New York City landmark called the Empire State Building. [More]
FAA: Don’t Even Think About Bringing Your Drone To The Super Bowl
By 2.3.16
If you’re packing for the Super Bowl with an eye on getting a bird’s-eye-view of the big game with a remote-controlled aircraft, you can fill your luggage with extra socks instead: the Federal Aviation Administration is warning football fans against flying their drones around Levi’s Stadium on game day. [More]
Amazon Exec: Prime Air Drones Will Be “More Like Horses Than Cars”
By 1.19.16
Amazon isn’t ready to unleash its Prime Air drones into the skies just yet (and the Federal Aviation Administration isn’t ready to let it, either) but in the meantime, company executives don’t mind talking about their plans for Prime Air. [More]
Amazon Wants Its Delivery Drones To Track Customers Down Wherever They Are
By 5.8.15
Is it sometimes inconvenient and/or annoying to await the arrival of a package at home, or have it sent to your place of work? Yes. Do you want a drone finding your location via smartphone and dropping a package wherever you happen to be? Perhaps, though we can see some settings where Amazone’s idea for its delivery drones might get a bit awkward. [More]
Will Amazon Get Those Drones After All? Judge Dismisses FAA Fine For Commercial Drone User
By 3.7.14
Chin up, Amazon! Turn that frown upside down, local brewery sending beer through the air! Delivery by commercial drone might still be possible, despite the Federal Aviation Administration going around putting the kibosh on the unmanned aerial vehicles. A federal judge has dismissed the FAA’s only fine against a commercial drone user. [More]
