INFINIUM Aerial Imaging Solutions

11/18/2015

Time and time again we've seen how well restrictions and bans have worked to prevent idiots from doing idiotic things. A feel good solution which impacts the legitimate users while truly doing little to prevent questionable or unlawful operations.

Looks like the next AP rig will be APM-based, and I know I'm not the only customer flying DJI aircraft who will be exploring options outside of DJI in the future...

DJI today announced plans to add locations to its list of restricted flight locations including prisons.

10/24/2015

Is this the first known issue of a operator's being rescinded?

I get the is largely rubber stamping the 333 exemptions but at least put some effort into your petition!

https://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/333_authorizations/media/Thomas-Johann-Walter-Rescission.pdf

07/02/2015

Auburn Fire Department out of Auburn, Maine use a drone to carry a haul line to two kids trapped on a rock in the middle of swift rapids. The haul line was used to get a life jacket to the kid in the white shirt while the rescue team prepped their boat. More photos and video are available via their page.

When seconds count... Situations like this can turn significantly worse in the blink of an eye. Currently available (and very affordable!) small UAV technology can easily be adapted into purpose built rescue aircraft, deployable in a matter of seconds and operable by anyone with minimal training. Hopefully one day soon they'll be standard equipment for fire departments and rescue squads nationwide.

Untying haul line from the drone.

06/02/2015

Preliminary tricopter test flights went well, though it still needs some fine tuning if/when the windy and rainy cold weather ever goes away. Hopefully this weekend I'll be able to take it out and shoot some sample footage

06/02/2015

Experimenting with a ground-based autonomous camera solution. Can cover pretty much any terrain, but the navigation system seems to have a mind of its own.

06/02/2015

Hard at work building a GoPro-carrying tricopter that folds up and fits in a (really big) pocket!

06/02/2015

I've never been big on the whole catching your aircraft with your hands thing. Putting your hands that close to four blades spinning at thousands of RPMS just has "bad idea" written all over it. I bet Enrique Iglesia feels the same way now, as well.

A common argument from operators who routinely and unsafely fly over crowds is that in the event of a malfunction or emergency landing, there's little to no chance anyone can get seriously injured. While the safety threat is largely blown out of proportion by the media and lawmakers, the simple fact is a sharp blade spinning at thousands of RPMs can and will cause injuries when it hits a person.

On a lighter note, after this incident Mr Iglesia went backstage and got bandaged up, ignored suggestions he get immediate medical treatment, and went back out and finished his show... that's some serious dedication to the fans!

Mobile phone footage shows the moment singer Enrique Iglesias cuts his hand as he grabs a drone during a concert in Tijuana, Mexico

04/30/2015

The sad state of the commercial US drone industry compared to our cousins.

US Drone Industry is Falling Behind Due to Poor Regulation. Check out this ITIF infographic for comparison by country.

04/09/2015

Blade announced their new Mach25 250-sized FPV bind-n-fly racing quad today, and...

$430?! FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY DOLLARS?

I thought DJI's prices were getting crazy! Blade and Horizon Hobby are absolutely out of their minds with this one.

Exclusive SAFE® (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope) technology built into the Spektrum AR636QR receiver is a revolutionary electronic flight envelope protection system that makes it easy to stay in control. Multiple flight modes with increasing levels of agility are provided and just a transmitter swi…

03/09/2015

A tragic fire in two apartment buildings in , NY left multiple people unaccounted for in a building which is already being demolished because of serious safety concerns. While the building is dismantled little by little, firefighters in a "flying basket" are being maneuvered around by a crane looking for casualties and any clues as to the cause of the fire.

In the near future, dangerous operations like these will unnecessary, replaced by unmanned robots such as the Flyability - Gimball . And that day can't come soon enough.

SCHENECTADY - Investigators standing inside a hovering basket briefly examined the wreckage of the Jay Street apartment buildings that burned Friday and caused fear that a missing person might still be in the wreckage. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, To***co, Fi****ms and Explosives are helping local firefighters and police examine the precarious wreckage of 100 and 104 Jay St., multi-story buildings that burned Friday morning.

03/09/2015

Interesting contrast of in the commercial break of (which coincidentally has some drone footage here and there)... the Audi spoof of Hitchcock's "The Birds" showing drones attacking people and portraying them as something to be feared, followed up by Union Pacific's latest ad that gets some great fly-bys using a drone which would be impractical if not impossible with a real helicopter

03/04/2015

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research paper on the effectiveness of using for surveying and studying animal populations in Antartica.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-014-1625-4/fulltext.html