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Advanced Tactics has developed a roadable, vertical takeoff and landing drone
aircraft. The AT Transformer technology combines the capabilities of a helicopter,
such as the ability to take off and land anywhere, with the capabilities of an
off-road automobile. The first technology demonstrator, the AT Black Knight
Transformer, completed driving tests in December 2013 in Southern California
and is scheduled to fly in early 2014.
(Source: Advanced Tactics)
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British troops in Afghanistan are using tiny drone helicopters for reconnaissance,
sending them forward to see enemy positions. The British Defense Ministry plans
to buy 160 of these drones cost of more than $31 million. The Black Hornet was
developed by a Norway’s Prox Dynamics. The drone is a traditional single-rotor
helicopter the size of a toy.
(Source: Prox Dynamics)
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The goal of Amazon’s helicopter delivery system is to get packages into
customers' hands in 30 minutes or less using unmanned aerial vehicles.
Putting Prime Air into commercial use will take some number of years as we
advance the technology and wait for the necessary FAA rules and regulations.
(Source: Amazon)
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The Boeing A160 Hummingbird is a drone helicopter able to operate autonomously
for up to twenty-four hours. The A160 is 35 feet long with a 36-foot rotor diameter.
The U.S. Special Forces Command is using this drone.
(Source: Boeing)
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A research team from Switzerland has developed hovering plastic robots that are
3D-printed. The Distributed Flight Array was developed at the Institute for Dynamic
Systems and Control at ETH Zürich University in Switzerland as part of an
experimental research project and public art installation.
(Source: Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control)