Ideas

Robotics Researchers Have a Duty to Prevent Autonomous Weapons

Our ever-growing appetite for intelligent, autonomous machines poses a host of ethical challenges.

Emerging Tech

How Chilean Protesters Took Down a Drone With Standard Laser Pointers

The low-powered presentation tool/dangerous children’s toy is becoming a weapon of choice for protesters around the world trying to take down or disable surveillance tech.

Emerging Tech

Lawmakers Want to Ban Unauthorized Drones from Flying Over Stadium Concerts

The FAA currently only issues temporary flight restrictions during sporting events, but a bipartisan group of senators wants to protect stadium skies during all types of events.

Cybersecurity

Interior Grounds All Drones With Ties to Chinese Companies

The decision comes months after agency officials approved purchases of aircraft built by the Chinese firm SZ DJI Technology. 

Emerging Tech

How an FAA Committee Aims to Accelerate Drone Integration

The Drone Advisory Committee recently offered recommendations around Remote Identification, or virtual license plates for drones.

Emerging Tech

Marines Try Using Drones to Bring Blood to Battle

The light unmanned aircraft made hundreds of supply drops during recent Australian live-fire wargames.

Emerging Tech

The Postal Service is Exploring Big Ideas for Small Drones

Unmanned aircraft could transport packages across tough terrains and inform future initiatives to introduce autonomous vehicles.

Emerging Tech

The Endless Aerial Surveillance of the Border

New reports suggest that drone activity at the southern border is spreading to nearby cities, erasing the line between police procedures and immigration enforcement.

Cybersecurity

New Tech Aims to Tell Pilots When Their Plane Has Been Hacked

Raytheon is pitching a product to detect cyber intrusions into aircraft, drones and even missiles.

Emerging Tech

FAA Certifies UPS to Operate Nation’s First Drone-Delivery Airline

The company’s subsidiary will expand its unmanned aircraft operation to transport potentially life-saving medical supplies.

Emerging Tech

The Future of the Marines Is Smaller, More Robotic, More Naval

The new Commandant of the Marine Corps lays out a vision for high-tech force that will often operate like special forces.

Emerging Tech

Local Law Enforcement Should Be Able to Protect Airports From Drones, Report Says

To address security risks, a task force recommends that Congress authorize local law enforcement to take down drones flown too close to airports.

Emerging Tech

CBP to Deploy Anti-Drone Bubbles Along U.S.-Mexico Border

The agency is fielding six counter-drone systems along the southern border and might soon deploy more, according to the vendor.

Emerging Tech

Watch a Roofing Drone Fire Its Nail Gun

A new aerial vehicle called an “octocopter” can attach asphalt shingles to a roof without a human at the controls.

Emerging Tech

US Navy’s Drone Tanker Prototype Takes First Flight

Now service officials hope they can get the MQ-25 operating faster than planned.

Emerging Tech

The Intelligence Community is Exploring Long-Range Biometric Identification 

A new IARPA program aims to build biometric technology that can identify people using cameras stationed on far off rooftops and unmanned aircraft.

Emerging Tech

Interior Expects to More Than Triple Drone Flights by 2025

Unmanned aircraft offer the department a cheaper, faster and safer way to conduct operations across 500 million acres of federal lands.

Emerging Tech

CBP to Test Autonomous Drones for Use at the Border

The experimental project reached the fourth and final stage of development: testing in real-world environments.

Emerging Tech

Air Force Tests Contraption That Can Turn Any Plane Into a Robot Plane

Scientists say new ROBOpilot completed a two-hour test flight, essentially turning a manned plane into a drone.