drones

A Kargu rotary-wing attack drone loitering munition system manufactured by the STM defense company of Turkey. A U.N. report says the weapons system was used in Libya in March 2020.

World News

A Military Drone With A Mind Of Its Own Was Used In Combat, U.N. Says

6:38pm June 01, 2021

by Joe Hernandez

Autonomous drones can fly themselves to a specific location, pick their own targets and kill without the assistance of a remote human operator. The U.N. says such a drone was in the air in March 2020.

Kevin Chen, an assistant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, envisions a time when his insect-sized drone could be used as a search and rescue robot — to find survivors in disaster debris that bigger drones couldn't reach.

Science

Don't Swat This Bug. It Might Be A Robot On A Rescue Mission

10:10am March 04, 2021

Scientists are trying to build a tiny drone with the agility of a mosquito. These light but strong flying robots could be used in critical situations, such as finding people in a collapsed building.

Queue Listen Now

The Federal Aviation Administration announced new rules Monday that would ease restrictions on the use of drones and will likely expand commercial uses of the technology down the road.

National

U.S. Announces New Rules For Drones And Their Operators

3:54am December 29, 2020

by Jaclyn Diaz

Drones represent the fastest-growing segment in the entire transportation sector. Companies such as Amazon, Walmart, and UPS have started testing drones to deliver goods to customers.

Surfer Matt Wilkinson has a close encounter with a shark while surfing at Sharpes Beach in New South Wales.

VIDEO: Australian Surfer Narrowly Escapes Shark After He Was Alerted By Drone

4:55pm October 08, 2020

by Reese Oxner

Drone footage captures the moment a more-than-6-foot shark circles a surfer, coming only inches away from him. It's possible that the drone noise scared the animal away.

A bald eagle takes flight from a tree along the Platte River in Denver, Colorado. In Michigan, a bald eagle is being blamed for an attack that downed one of the state's drones.

National

In Aerial Combat Over Lake Michigan, Eagles: 1; Drones: 0

4:34pm August 14, 2020

by Scott Neuman

Last month, Hunter King was using a drone to map shoreline erosion for Michigan's environmental department when a bald eagle apparently attacked the vehicle, causing it to crash into the water.

Iranian soldiers carry part of a target drone used in air-defense exercises. Iran is also turning some target drones into low-tech weapons for its proxies.

In Yemen Conflict, Some See A New Age Of Drone Warfare

5:13pm May 29, 2019

by Geoff Brumfiel

Iran has been developing drones for both itself and its proxies. In recent months those drones have been used for targeted assassinations, military strikes and to sow chaos in the region.

A DJI Technology drone flies during a demonstration in Shenzhen, China, in 2014. DJI sells the majority of Chinese-made drones bought in the United States.

'We're Not Being Paranoid': U.S. Warns Of Spy Dangers Of Chinese-Made Drones

5:00am May 29, 2019

by Brian Naylor

The Department of Homeland Security is warning about the dangers of using Chinese-made drones, while some lawmakers want to prevent transit systems from buying Chinese-made subway cars.

Queue Listen Now

For drone design inspiration scientists look towards the way birds land.

Science

If Drones Had 'Claws,' They Might Be Able To Fly For Longer

5:24pm May 06, 2019

by Joe Palca

Small drones have a problem — their battery life runs out relatively quickly. A team of roboticists says it has created special landing gear that can help conserve precious battery life.

The Wing company, a Google spinoff, has won federal approval to operate its drone delivery system as an airline in the U.S.

National

FAA Certifies Google's Wing Drone Delivery Company To Operate As An Airline

1:26pm April 23, 2019

by Bill Chappell

Wing's drones are made to deliver a wide range of items — including coffee, chocolate and burritos — from local merchants to their customers.

Registered Nurse Miriam Nampil vaccinates 1-month-old Joy Nowai, as she is held by her mother, Julie Nowai. The island nation of Vanuatu has launched a drone-delivered vaccination program to reach children in remote areas.

Drones Deliver Vaccines On Island Nation Of Vanuatu

2:22pm December 21, 2018

by Amy Held

The test program could lead to drone-delivered vaccines for children in hard-to-reach places around the globe.