Watch Sony's prototype drone do a vertical takeoff
The UAV can take off and land vertically like a helicopter.
Here's your first look at the drone Sony's developing with a Tokyo robotics firm under its collab company called Aerosense. The UAV can carry up to 22 pounds, fly continuously for two hours at a speed of 106 miles per hour and, as you can see in the video below the fold, take off and land vertically like a helicopter. Sony mentioned before that business customers will be able to use it for "measuring, surveying, observing and inspecting" as soon as next year, so it will likely carry different types of instruments, depending on the task at hand.