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Drones

Umar Shakir
Umar Shakir
How about 20 minutes flight time instead of 12?

Sony just announced upgraded software and accessories for its $9,000 professional Airpeak S1 drone released in 2021.

The new, denser 3,938mAh battery packs ($400 each) enable the increased flight time, along with a new lighter-weight Gremsy gimbal ($4,000) that is designed for more accurate imaging in industrial applications. It works better with smaller lenses like the 24mm f/2.8 G.

And with Sony’s new RTK kit ($4,000) the Airpeak can be controlled more reliably and accurately, especially around areas of strong interference — think wind turbines. It also enables repeat missions with centimeter-accurate positioning compared to the previous meter-accurate GNSS system.

Sony’s fully decked-out Airpeak S1 with new RTK kit.
Sony’s fully decked-out Airpeak S1 with new RTK kit.
Image: Sony
Pete Buttigieg still believes in smart cities

The US Department of Transportation is making a big bet on smart city technology with the release of $94.8 million in federal funding. But in an interview, Secretary Buttigieg warned that not every project ‘is going to prove out.’

Andrew J. Hawkins
Jess Weatherbed
Jess Weatherbed
Birds aren’t real.

A team of researchers designed the “ornithopters” to resemble a flying bird in hopes they can be used to stealthily study wildlife — and maybe spy on people and foreign militaries. The team acknowledged to New Scientist that it should “look into research policies for dealing with dead birds before getting more ambitious,” though.

Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Skydio’s self-flying drones are getting a free update with panoramas, 360-degree photos, and sweeping gimbal rolls.

Originally announced in November, they’re instead rolling out this week with the 21.1.106 update. Check them out in the first third of the company’s “Enterprise Release Notes” video below.

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Watch Amazon’s flying indoor security camera in action at CES 2023.

The Ring Always Home Cam promises to fly around your house to keep an eye on things from every angle, but it’s not ready for release just yet — and won’t come out this year.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy got our first in-person look at the device, along with a lot of Amazon’s other upcoming smart home gear, at CES 2023 this week.

Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
BTW, Skydio’s new HQ shares a parking lot with GoPro.

Skydio CEO Adam Bry wouldn’t dish on it beyond “We really liked the office.” On potential partnerships, “nothing to announce.” But the drone company and the action cam company whose drone epically flopped are always within sight now.

Bry also wouldn’t confirm or deny if Skydio worked with Snap on its discontinued Pixy drone, or whether it’ll ever build a smaller drone of its own.

Skydio’s at the upper-left, GoPro on the right.
Skydio’s at the upper-left, GoPro on the right.
Image via Bing Maps
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
I checked out a *real* self-flying drone — here’s the video.

Sorry to keep you waiting! Fresh off the presses, here’s our TikTok about the new Skydio Dock I told you about this AM.

Jess Weatherbed
Jess Weatherbed
Watch as around $66,000 worth of drones plummet from the sky during a light show.

Around 50 of the 500 drones used in the “City of Light” Christmas performance in Perth, Australia malfunctioned and plunged into the river below.

According to Australian news outlet WAtoday, each drone cost about $1,300. “I am trying not to think about it, but it was an expensive show for us,” Joshua Van Ross, the managing director of the show told WAtoday.

Elizabeth Lopatto
Elizabeth Lopatto
Darwinism at work.

Only the strong survive, robot. Choo choo! I’m a train.

Elizabeth Lopatto
Elizabeth Lopatto
When you film the majestic horse using a first person drone.

I guess we know how the horse feels about the metaverse!

The new DJI Avata let me swoop and soar like no beginner drone I’ve used before

I wish it had a beginner price to match

Sean Hollister