Augmenting drones so they could detect chemicals in the air, locating disaster survivors, explosives, gas leaks and other objects of interest has long been on the R&D agenda of mechanical engineers. One of the biggest hurdles, however, is that most human-made sensors are not … [Read more...] about Tiny drone uses a live moth antenna to sniff out chemicals in the air
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Australia to begin nationwide “koala count” to assess population health
Although they are fluffy and sleep for about 20 hours a day, koalas are deceptively difficult to locate. Due to their elusiveness, the Australian government is deploying some new and innovative tools in their nationwide “koala count.” The Australian government is dedicating 2 … [Read more...] about Australia to begin nationwide “koala count” to assess population health
Why scientists are sending drones into the plumes of active volcanoes
Monitoring active volcanoes across the world to send out early warnings before they erupt is a challenging undertaking. But scientists are now tapping into drone technology to help them predict eruptions more easily. Researchers from University College London and the University … [Read more...] about Why scientists are sending drones into the plumes of active volcanoes
Pufferfish-inspired drone expands itself to prevent harmful collisions
When a pufferfish feels threatened, the marine animal makes itself larger by inflating its body like a balloon. Drawing inspiration from this undersea creature’s defense mechanism, a group of engineers has developed an innovative structure that can solve some of the safety issues … [Read more...] about Pufferfish-inspired drone expands itself to prevent harmful collisions
Drone successfully completes longest organ delivery via unmanned aircraft
From creating breathtaking light shows to helping restore degrading ecosystems to delivering books to kids, drones can do an awful lot of things these days — including the life-saving task of transporting human organs for transplant. That is what a team of researchers from … [Read more...] about Drone successfully completes longest organ delivery via unmanned aircraft