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Category: drones

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have already proved to be valuable tools for a wide range of applications, ranging from film and entertainment production to defense and security, agriculture, logistics, construction and environmental monitoring. While these technologies are already widely used in many countries worldwide, engineers have been trying to enhance their capabilities further so that they can be used to tackle even more complex problems.

Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD)’s AI Autonomy Technology Center in South Korea recently developed a drone with foldable wings that could be more maneuverable than conventional . Their drone draws inspiration from the winged flying squirrel, a type of squirrel that uses loose flaps of skin attached from their wrists to their ankles to glide from tree to tree.

“The flying squirrel drone is inspired by the movements of flying squirrels, particularly their ability to rapidly decelerate by spreading their wings just before landing on trees,” Dohyeon Lee, Jun-Gill Kang and Soohee Han, co-authors of the paper, told Tech Xplore. “We initiated this research with the belief that, like flying squirrels, drones could expand their dynamic capabilities by utilizing .”

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Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, and Boise State University have found evidence suggesting that the Marinoan glaciation began approximately 639 million years ago and lasted for approximately 4 million years. In their study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group used drone and field imagery along with isotopic dating of glacial deposits to learn more about global glaciation events during the Neoproterozoic Era.

Prior research has shown that during the early days of the planet, during the Neoproterozoic Era, Earth underwent two ice ages. The first, known as the Sturtian glaciation, lasted approximately 56 million years and covered the entire planet with ice. Less is known about the second event, called the Marinoan glaciation. In this new effort, the research team set themselves the task of figuring out when it began and how long it lasted.

The work involved sending drones over a part of Namibia, where prior research has uncovered evidence of glacial activity during the Marinoan. This allowed the team to map that were stacked up in a way that showed little vertical shift had occurred, which meant the glaciers did not move much during the time they were there. Additional field imagery helped confirm what the team found in the images.

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New research led by Imperial College London and co-authored by the University of Bristol, has revealed that aerial robotics could provide wide-ranging benefits to the safety, sustainability and scale of construction.

The research examines the emerging field of using drones for mid-air material deposition in the —a process known as Aerial Additive Manufacturing (Aerial AM).

This technology addresses pressing global housing and infrastructure challenges using equipped with advanced manipulators that can overcome the limitations of traditional construction methods and ground-based robotic systems.

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The system, designed to enhance protection for critical infrastructures, has proven its ability to withstand the immense force of lightning strikes while maintaining stable flight.

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Artificial Intelligence isn’t science fiction anymore—it’s a transformative force shaping the way we live, work, and innovate. In this groundbreaking documentary, explore the real-world applications of AI as it evolves from code into conscious collaboration. From autonomous flying drones to lifelike androids, we uncover how AI is pushing the boundaries of possibility.

The Revolution Of AI (2020)
✍️ Writers: Kyle McCabe, Christopher Webb Young.
⭐ Stars: Shivani Bigler, Jason Derenick, Barbara Grosz.
🎞️ Genre: Documentary.
🌍 Country: United States.
🗣️ Language: English.
🎭 Also Known As: Hyper Intelligence.
📅 Release Date: 2020 (United States)

Synopsis:
Join leading experts and visionary engineers as they guide us through the cutting edge of AI technology. Discover how robotic drones are learning to think for themselves, navigating unknown terrain during high-risk rescue missions. See how swarm technology is revolutionizing farming, and how robots are teaming up with humans to increase safety and productivity at work.

Watch as scientists work toward the next big leap—robots with self-awareness. These advanced machines are learning to understand themselves, make decisions, and adapt to the world around them. With androids now capable of human-like interaction, the line between machine and man continues to blur.

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Questions to inspire discussion.

🚕 Q: What’s the expected price range for Tesla’s upcoming Robo Taxi? A: Tesla’s Robo Taxi will enter a new price tier under $30,000, significantly increasing sales and profitability due to its lower hardware cost structure.

Tesla’s Expansion in China.

🇨🇳 Q: How is Tesla expanding its Full Self-Driving (FSD) in China? A: Tesla is offering a 30-day free trial of FSD in China, with new software version 13.2.8 for both Hardware 3 and 4, likely rolling out between end of April and early May.

🤝 Q: Why is Tesla’s relationship with China important? A: Tesla’s good relationship with China, established 5 years ago without a joint venture, is crucial for success as China benefits from learning Tesla’s FSD perspective and benchmarking against their own vehicles.

💰 Q: How will tariffs affect low-priced vehicles in the US? A: 25% tariffs on imported vehicles will apply to nearly 80% of vehicles priced under $30,000, impacting popular models like Civic and Corolla.

Continue reading “Tesla Major Announcements, Tariff War Draws Blood” | >