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A drunk intelligence worker crashed that drone near the White House
When you heard that someone crash-landed a drone on the White House's grounds at 3AM on a Monday morning, did you suspect that the pilot was hammered? Well, you're right. Officials have revealed that the operator was a drunk National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency worker who decided that the middle of a cold night was a great time to fly his friend's drone (a DJI Phantom, shown above) near the President's home turf. He didn't realize what he'd done until his pals told him that his escapades were all over the news. Give credit to this unnamed man for doing the right thing afterwards, though -- he notified both his employer and the Secret Service to set their minds at ease.
Drone landing drags White House security into the modern era (update: details)
The US government just got a real-world lesson about the security risks posed by easily accessible drones. Officials report that they recovered a quadcopter on the White House's grounds in the early morning on January 26th, with no clear indication as to who flew it or why. A spokesperson notes that the drone was never a threat to President Barack Obama (who was visiting India) or his family, but that's not the point. The greater concern is that the Secret Service was apparently unaware of the drone until it was already on their turf. A more sinister pilot could have been using it to conduct espionage, deliver explosives or just to annoy the daylights out of White House staff.
Drones can now legally film real estate for the first time
Looking for property in Southern Arizona? You'll soon be enticed by drone footage, thanks to a new ruling by the FAA. A company called Tierra Antigua Realty of Tucson, Arizona is the first realtor to get the FAA's nod to use a DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ quadcopter to take aerial footage of homes for sale. You might be thinking "haven't I already seen plenty of obnoxious US aerial real estate footage?" You'd be right, but technically, all that video has been illegal -- even though the FAA hasn't been enforcing such regulations. Thanks to a recent ruling, however, it may start to clamp down again.
Five questions about the future of drones with 3D Robotics' Colin Guinn
Everyone, it seems, is talking about drones these days. Whether it's for industry, research or performance art, the skies have never been busier. Thanks, in no small part, to the ever-increasing number of consumer-friendly, ready-to-fly quadcopters. Colin Guinn left DJI to join one of the biggest names in commercial drones -- 3D Robotics -- as SVP of sales and marketing. If anyone knows about the future of our skies, it's him. I'll be speaking with Guinn at Expand on Saturday, November 8th, about the future of commercial, personal and hobby drones -- with maybe a little onstage flying going on, too. Before that though, read on to get a little primer on the buzzing topic from the man himself.
Tracing the origins of the multirotor drone, for business and pleasure
We humans have searched for ways to join our avian friends in the air for ages and while some have gone the distance, most of us will settle for the secondhand thrill of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Although full-sized military tests of propeller-laden vertical take off and landing (VTOL) crafts may have underwhelmed, a variety of scaled down multirotor drones have found their niche. Recent improvements in programming, stabilization, power and price have turned these backyard playthings into high-definition eyes in the sky -- for better or worse. This week's Rewind skims the history of these flying machines over the years as they've grown fragile buzzing toys into tools for capturing majestic scenery, inspecting machines and structures, scouting dangerous terrain and occasionally having a little fun.
PlexiDrone is a highly portable quadcopter for budding aerial photographers
If there was a list of features we wanted on a ready-to-fly drone, it might well read like PlexiDrone's spec-sheet. Unlike many off-the-shelf hobby quadcopters, this one comes in bits that you "snap" together when needed, making it more portable. Furthermore, it comes with a hard-shell backpack, "follow-me" functionality (which is becoming more of a thing), obstacle avoidance, and retractable landing gear (no more "legs" in shot). Perhaps two of the more understated, yet interesting features are the ability to easily swap in different cameras, and that you can simply control it with a phone. Most of us have phones, right? And, if you own anything other than a GoPro, you won't have to go buy one just to use with the drone. PlexiDrone already met its funding, but if you're quick you can still reserve yours for $700, and sit tight until April next year for delivery.
NASA wants to explore Saturn's biggest moon with drones
Despite brisk temperatures of -290 degrees F, Saturn's giant Titan moon is of great interest to scientists, thanks to Earth-like geography, hydrocarbon "lakes" and even possible life. Though NASA's Cassini-Huygens probe visited Titan some time ago, the space agency would like to return at some point -- this time with a quadrotor. Using the latest drone and sensor tech, it would weigh less than 10kg (22 pounds), deploy from a recharging nuclear "mothership" balloon and acquire high-res images from close to the surface. With the benefit of that reconnaissance, it could land at promising spots, take microscopic photos and scoop up samples to be analyzed later by the mothership. NASA plans to develop the mission concepts further and design the drone in collaboration with AeroVironment -- so we might one day see if Titan matches the insane artist concepts.
Engadget giveaway: win an Elite Edition AR.Drone courtesy of Riviera Partners!
Flying a quadcopter around the park all day sounds like fun, but it could be more than just a time killer. Today's tech toy could be the gateway to tomorrow's valuable job skill and even piloting a camera-enabled drone could lead to a farming or film career. Helping tech industry folks find work is what Riviera Partners is all about, and it's graciously provided us with two Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition quadcopters for a couple of lucky Engadget readers this week. Riviera Partners is committed to building up the tech community by getting talented, innovative people like developers and engineers into jobs where they can see their potential blossom. Having someone in the know with clients like Twitter, Dropbox and LinkedIn to help you navigate the notoriously fickle world of tech certainly couldn't hurt. Whether you're full time or actively searching the job market, you should always make time for fun. So head on down to the Rafflecopter widget for up to three chances at winning one of these Parrot Elite Editions. An amateur drone camera operator for music videos could always be your fallback skill. Winners: congratulations to Joshua J., Indianapolis, IN and Tosin A., Sunnyvale, CA.
Netflix mocks Amazon Prime Air with hilarious 'Drone 2 Home' video
Netflix's not-Qwikster DVD-by-mail business doesn't get the same amount of attention as the company's streaming arm, but as this video (embedded after the break) shows, it still has some imagination. Dug up by Hacking Netflix, the Drone 2 Home demo video imagines Netflix's famous red envelopes being delivered by quadcopter -- wherever you may be (camping, in the office, in the bathroom -- wherever). Posted by a couple of employees, it was apparently produced for the DVD division's annual meeting. We're still not sure if Jeff Bezos' holiday-timed Amazon Prime Air drone-delivery reveal was anything more than a publicity stunt, but GM Hank Breeggemann's tongue is firmly in cheek as he announces Netflix's "return to our creative roots." Of course, there are some drawbacks to spending "literally days" working out the bugs -- but you'll have to watch to find out.
DJI's Phantom 2 Vision takes a stabilized camera to the sky, we go hands-on (video)
You may not have come across DJI before, but this brand is no stranger in the world of hobbyist drones. Even production studios use the company's gear for aerial videography, but that involves a lot more money than the average consumer can stomach -- DJI's three-axis camera gimbal alone can cost up to $3,500, on top of about $3,000 for its latest six-rotor aircraft. And this is before you include a camera plus a remote control. Fortunately, we now have a more affordable option that still comes with camera stabilization: the Phantom 2 Vision. With a $1,199 price tag, this all-in-one package is aimed at prosumers who are looking for something more serious than, say, Parrot's AR.Drone series. While the latter's designed for entertainment, the Phantom 2 Vision gives you a taste of the advanced maneuverability and camera features from DJI's pro-level products. The relatively light 1.16kg drone features a built-in 14-megapixel camera (with a 1/2.3-inch sensor), which is mounted on a tilt-axis gimbal under the belly. The only bits that need to be installed are the four self-tightening propellers, along with a swappable 57.72Wh battery that lasts up to 25 minutes (but takes from one to two hours to fully charge when depleted).
Please enjoy this video of dancing drones
Listen, it's CES. We're tired, you're tired and yet there's no end to the madness in sight. So, please, take a minute and enjoy this video from the gentleman who brought you that really amazing video of drones playing the James Bond theme. And don't forget to breathe.
Word Lens developer uses quadcopter to deliver wedding ring
Word Lens developer Otavio Good recently tied the knot with his wife at a wedding ceremony in Redwood City. But being a techie and developer, he decided to have tech play a role at his wedding. Standing in front of a lawn full of guests, Good shrugged when the marriage official asked for the ring; it seemed he had forgotten it. Then seconds later an iPhone-controlled quadcopter swooped in and delivered the ring to Good in front of some very amused guests. Check out the video below to see it all play out (and extra point to Good for the having the harpist strum up the James Bond theme during ring delivery). [via TechCrunch]
TRAQ quadricopter locates and hones in on radio signal sources (video)
Move over, Parrot AR.Drone; there's a new (prototype) quadrocopter in town. For their senior project, electrical engineering students at Northeastern University developed TRAQ, an autonomous aircraft that tracks down the sources of radio transmissions. That functionality comes thanks to a four-element antenna array, and the team envisions such a device being used in disaster, rescue and surveillance situations, where drones could prove faster to respond than us earthbound humans. The next step would be getting multiple aircraft to work together to improve location accuracy. Who doesn't love an imposing swarm of quadrocopters, after all?
Parrot's AR.Drone 2.0 gifted with optional flight recorder module and bigger battery
Marking the first anniversary of the AR.Drone 2.0 since last CES, Parrot has announced that it'll be offering an optional GPS flight recorder module as well as a bigger battery at some point this year. The former dongle simply plugs into the flying vehicle via the USB port, and it can record the flying parameters onto its 4GB memory, which can then be reproduced on the 3D AR.Drone Academy map. As for the larger battery, it'll come with 1,500mAh worth of juice which is 50 percent more than the original one (hence a flight time of up to 18 minutes now), though we'd imagine most hardcore enthusiasts have already modded third-party batteries for the power-hungry copter. On the software side, the AR.Drone 2.0 will soon be upgraded with a "Director Mode" for programming movements (including traveling, pan, crane and more) for more creative filming. Additionally there will be an "AR.Race 2.0" solo or multiplayer racing game, as well as an "AR.Rescue 2.0" adventure game in augmented reality. Sounds fun, and we'll be able to see the drone in action during our live CES interview with CEO Henri Seydoux this Thursday, so stay tuned. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Swarming quadrocopters complete trial recon mission for Japanese police (video)
Formation-flying quadrocopters have already given us hours of entertainment, but now they've also accomplished something serious. Earlier this month, mini choppers developed at Japan's robot-loving Chiba University assisted in an emergency drill that simulated an explosion at a chemical plant. Four machines and a host computer (shown off after the break) used spherical markers, image processing and a heck of a lot of math to autonomously scan the site for survivors. The researchers claim the exercise went "very well" and that the local police force would like to "introduce this system" for genuine reconnaissance. That could include monitoring volcanic eruptions or inspecting power lines, but alas there's no mention yet of using quadrocopter swarms to sneak up on yakuza.
Mini quadrotors play Bond, James Bond (video)
This week's TED2012 conference isn't all talk -- sometimes the videos features speak for themselves. Check out this phenomenal one from the University of Pennsylvania starring a number of nano quadrotors playing the James Bond theme by banging percussion, hitting the piano and strumming a guitar. The room in the video has infrared lights and cameras and the 'copters are outfitted with reflectors, making it possible to plot their position. The result is technical wizardry worthy of Q himself. Check it out after the break.
DARPA's crowdsourced UAV competition heats up, takes off (video)
Late last year, DARPA launched UAVForge -- a competition that invites contestants to create their very own unmanned aerial vehicles, and submit them for voter-based evaluation. The project is far from over, but competing teams have already started sending in their proof-of-flight videos, giving us a glimpse of what's to come. So far, it looks like the GremLion UAV (pictured above) is the early favorite, after coming out victorious in the first round of voting. Developed by a team from the National University of Singapore, the GremLion looks like a bite-sized Death Star and flies around using a coaxial set of rotors that expand tulip-style out of its shell. Also included in the UAVForge showdown is a guy known as X-MAUS -- an Arduino-controlled quadcopter that can apparently transform into a more aerodynamic plane form upon liftoff. And, rounding out the list of notables is a submission from TU Delft known as the QuadShot, which is basically a miniature B-Wing from Star Wars. Except it's real. Hit up the break to see all three in action.
Rotor Concept HPQ-1 quadcopter eyes-on (video)
We're here at the PhotoPlus show in New York, and as usual, the stranger products are being showcased on the outskirts of the show. A company called Rotor Concept out of Southern California was showing off the HPQ-1, a quadcopter designed to lug around your digital camera.The copter itself is surprisingly quiet and steady, the latter of which is no doubt helped out by the presence of four propellers and advanced stabilization system (put the controller down and it will automatically hold its position). The HPQ-1 can hold payloads of up to 12 ounces, so users can use standard digital cameras to live stream events or a pair of smaller shooters to capture arial 3D clips. According to the company, SWAT teams are looking into using the product for surveillance. The other recommended usage? Weddings, of course. The copter can reach a max altitude of 2,000 feet and has a theoretical maximum flight radius of up to a mile. It's available now for an MSRP of $899. Peep a quick video after the break. Terrence O'Brien contributed to this report. %Gallery-137708%
Scientists build WiFi hunter-killer drone and call it SkyNET... Viene Tormenta!
You'd think scientists would proscribe certain names for their inventions -- you wouldn't be taken seriously if your supercomputer was called HAL 9000, WOPR or Proteus IV would you? Well, a team from the Stevens Institute of Technology isn't listening, because it's developing an aerial drone and calling it SkyNET. A Linux box, strapped to a Parrot A.R. Drone, can fly within range of your home wireless network and electronically attack it from the air. Whilst internet-only attacks are traceable to some extent, drone attacks are difficult to detect until it's too late -- you'd have to catch it in the act and chase it off with a long-handled pitchfork, or something. The team is working on refining the technology to make it cheaper than the $600 it currently costs and advise that people toughen up their domestic wireless security. We advise they stop pushing us ever closer towards the Robopocalypse.
Quadrocopters enter the Flying Machine Arena, must bounce a ping-pong ball to survive (video)
We don't need another hero. We don't need to know the way home. All we want is life beyond the Flying Machine Arena, a test ground at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) where quadrocopters can learn new abilities and stretch their fan blades without injuring too many scientists. One such new ability is juggling balls -- well, one ball, anyway. This particular quadrocopter has learned to identify a ping-pong ball and is quite adept at keeping it in the air while the robot itself stays flying. Interestingly the last project we heard about from ETH also involved table tennis, so hopefully the next one involves a full-scale humanoid player that won't stop hunting until it has crushed every opponent.
