Draganfly Innovations News

Draganfly Innovations Inc. breaking news and press releases.


FAA approves use of Draganflyer X6 R/C UAV for use by Mesa County Sheriff under Certificate of Authority (COA)

Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and Draganfly Innovations have been working together to test the Draganflyer X6 for policing operations. The Colorado Grand Junction Free Press reports that the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and the Draganflyer X6 have meet the strict requirements of the FAA in order for the Draganflyer X6 to be operated for police requirements.

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The FAA controls what can be operated in United States airspace. Most of the requirements of the FAA have to do with ensuring public safety, and the Draganflyer X6 has met these requirements. This allows the Mesa County Sheriffs office to operate the Draganflyer X6 for various police operations. Using the Draganflyer X6 aircraft provides a substantial cost savings over hiring out full size aircraft for police operations.

Read more about how the Mesa Countys Sheriffs office is employing the Draganflyer X6 in this article by the Colorado Grand Junction Free Press.

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Announcing the Draganflyer X4 Helicopter: a Brand New, Ultra Portable, VTOL UAV

We are pleased to announce the release of our latest UAV helicopter, the Draganflyer X4. Several hundred hours of research and development went into its design, bringing about a sleek, sophisticated UAV. The Draganflyer X4 features much of the same technology as the Draganflyer X6, but is available at a much lower cost. Designed for commercial, government, and military applications, the Draganflyer X4 provides affordable aerial photography and videography.

Diverging from our larger 6 rotor design, the Draganflyer X4 features the same quad rotor design used by our older helicopters. Four brushless motors independently drive four carbon fiber rotor blades, all controlled and monitored  by an advanced flight computer.

The flight computer uses SteadyFlight technology to process the inputs of seven individual sensors, including:

  • A barometric pressure sensor
  • Three accelerometers
  • Three gyroscopes

Click to learn more about the Draganflyer X4's latest computer systems

The flight computer reads sensor outputs and precisely determines the motor outputs required to keep the helicopter flying straight and level. If selected by the pilot, the barometric pressure sensor is used by the helicopter to maintain altitude. Properly trimmed and balanced, the helicopter will hold its position in the air allowing you to get excellent aerial photographs and video.

Four different cameras have been customized to work with our UAV, including:

  • A 12.1 MP digital still and video camera
  • A micro color video camera
  • low-light black and white video camera
  • A FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) video camera

Click to learn more about our latest handheld UAV flight controller

All of these cameras transmit wireless video via a 5.8 GHz transmitter built into the mount. Wireless video can be received using either the handheld controller (which includes its own flat patch video antenna) or the optional base station. Video glasses plug directly into the handheld transmitter, allowing you to see what the helicopter is seeing and get perfectly aimed aerial photographs and video. The optional base station is compatible with any modern PC running Windows and features three standard RCA output jacks. This allows you to use your own recording equipment with the cameras or even re-transmit the video stream if needed.

Learn more about the Draganflyer X4's innovative Camera Systems

Because all wireless communication is subject to interference, all of our cameras now feature a built-in DVR that records a pristine, interference-free copy of your aerial video to an SD memory card. After you finish flying, plug the SD memory card into your computer and edit the video using the software of your choice. Each camera also features a custom designed mount with a remote tilt feature (adjustable via the handheld controller). Designed to give you the best quality video possible, each camera mount features balanced, oil-filled shock absorbers. The shock absorbers keep the recorded video free from vibration, guaranteeing that you get the best possible results.

The Draganflyer X4 UAV features an innovative case system that makes transporting the helicopter easier than ever. The entire Draganflyer X4 helicopter presses neatly into its pre-cut slot in the case. Each part and accessory fits into molded high-density foam inserts for safekeeping during transport. The transport case features a dual layer design with flight accessories in the top layer and the base station in the bottom layer. A patented, load-bearing system clips on to the transport case allowing it to be worn like a backpack, and transported just as easily. Built from flexible Cordura™ nylon, the load-bearing system is securely attached using Fastex™ hardware and adjustable carry straps.

The entire transport case fits neatly into a rugged ATA (Airline Transport Association) certified hard case, rated to last over 100 flights as airline baggage. The padlockable, all-metal, carpet-lined ATA case allows you to safely transport the helicopter anywhere in the world without worrying about damage caused by the rigors of travel as airline baggage.

Designed for small enterprises and projects on a budget, the Draganflyer X4 is our most affordable unmanned aerial vehicle ever. Use the power of a full featured VTOL UAV  for your project – the Draganflyer X4 makes professional quality aerial photographs and video easier to obtain than ever before.

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Draganflyer X6 UAV Helicopter Part of the WIRED Living Home 2.0 at the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry

Draganflyer X6 UAV Helicopter on Wired LivingHome 2.0The Draganflyer X6 UAV Helicopter is being featured at this year’s Wired Magazine LivingHome 2.0 at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. The exhibit is called: Smart Home: Green + Wired, Powered by ComEd and opens TODAY, March 19, 2009. The home-designed by Michelle Kaufmann Designs™ and built by All-American Homes™- also focuses on what the future may bring to consumers. New and unique home technologies are on display, courtesy of WIRED magazine.

» See the Draganflyer X6 at the Wired Home.

Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry exhibit Smart Home: Green + Wired, Powered by ComEd allows guests to tour a functioning three-story, modular and sustainable “green” home that highlights unique eco-friendly technologies and products for the 21st century.

The freshly updated exhibit home will be open from March 19, 2009 through Jan. 3, 2010 and is proudly sponsored by ComEd, Dominick’s and the Motorola Foundation.

“Smart” technologies like the Draganflyer X6 are incorporated throughout the WIRED home, including a full-home automation system that allows homeowners to control heat, lighting, window coverings, security sensors, and video cameras. A touch-screen tracks electricity consumption in the WIRED LivingHome on a real-time basis and compares it with the energy production from wind and solar power. The technologies will demonstrate how a home can inspire lifestyle choices and be equipped to save resources while residents are away, as well as keep a home and its occupants protected.

The Draganflyer X6 UAV helicopter is a “Smart” and green technology because it is safe, very quiet, a zero emissions vehicle, electric powered, small & compact, and lightweight. The Draganflyer X6 is a revolutionary GPS guided, hi-definition, aerial video and digital photography platform used by photographers, the movie industry, police, and other professionals.

Wired Smart Home: Green + Wired, Powered by ComEd at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry

Visit the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry’s Web site to purchase tickets.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com
RSS: www.rctoys.com/pr/feed

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Draganflyer X6 UAV Helicopter at Gizmodo Gallery in New York, NY, December 4-7, 2008

On Aug 26, 2008, Gizmodo was the first to announce the Draganflyer X6 to the world. See Gizmodo’s X6 post here. Now Gizmodo is featuring the Draganflyer X6 in the Gizmodo Gallery. The Gizmodo Gallery features “contemporary marvels, homemade wundergear and pieces of history”.

Gizmodo Gallery runs December 4th to 7th, 2008 in New York, NY. See the Draganflyer X6 Gizmodo Gallery Feature.

Draganflyer X6 Gizmodo Gallery, New York, NYThursday, Dec 4, 2008
noon – 8:00pm

Friday, Dec 5, 2008
noon – 8:00pm

Saturday, Dec 6, 2008
11:00am – 8:00pm

Sunday, Dec 7, 2008
11:00am – 4:00pm

Gizmodo Gallery
Reed Annex
151 Orchard Street
New York, NY 10002

Attend via Webcam
See what’s going on from the comfort of your chair by logging into the Gizmodo Gallery Live Streaming Webcam.

What else is at Gizmodo Gallery?
A ton of cool stuff! See the complete list of Gizmodo gallery items.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com
RSS: www.rctoys.com/pr/feed

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Draganfly Innovations Participates in ‘Kilobots XII’ Combat Robotics Tournament

On March 29th & 30th Draganfly Innovations participated in the 12th occurrence of Kilobots, an event where remote controlled robots weighing 1 to 6 pounds can battle each other in a lexan walled fighting area. Robots are grouped into four weight classes: Antweight (1 pound), Kilobot (1 kilogram or 2.2 pound), Beetleweight (3 pound), and Mantisweight (6 pound). Robots within each class battle each other with the goal of disabling their opponents robot. After all the combatants have fought, winners are determined for each weight class. Typical weapons included pushing wedges, horizontal/vertical spinning blades/bars/drums, lifting arms, and flippers. For more information on Kilobots, check out the official homepage: www.kilobots.com

Draganfly Innovations participated in Kilobots XII with a 3 pound Beetleweight named ‘Angry Dragan’. Featuring a shell spinner weapon design, Angry Dragan put up a good fight but unfortunately did not win. However, after the tournament each weight class has its own ‘rumble’ where all the robots that remain functional get to battle each other until only one is left standing. Check out Angry Dragan’s performance in the video of the Beetleweight rumble on YouTube.

Angry Dragan Beetleweight Combat Robot

This is the second Kilobots event in which Draganfly Innovations has participated, and the first in which Angry Dragan has fought. For information on all of Draganfly Innovations’ robots, check out Team Draganfly’s profile on the Builders Database.

Angry Dragan uses high quality lightweight components: a Thunder Power 11.1V 3s 2100mAh lithium polymer battery, and a Castle Creations Phoenix 45 ESC motor controller. If you are interested in building your own robot, you can obtain lithium batteries, brushless motors, and speed controllers in the parts section of RCToys.com. Other robot components are available at FingerTech Robotics.

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Draganflyer RC Helicopters in VECPAV Autonomous UAV Control System at Vanderbilt University

Professor T. John Koo at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN has successfully built a system for autonomous flight using our Draganflyer V Ti RC helicopters. Prof. T. John Koo’s VECPAV Project (Vanderbilt Embedded Computing Platform for Autonomous Vehicles) focuses on developing intelligent control software for unmanned aerial and ground vehicles. Our Draganflyer V Ti RC helicopters were the perfect aerial vehicles for his research.

Prof. T. John Koo, VECPAV Project, Draganflyer

VECPAV Project Configuration

“The VECPAV system uses a sensor tracker to monitor the motion and position of a Draganflyer rc helicopter by using identifier points on the helicopter. The system then analyzes this data and sends commands back to the Draganflyer rc helicopter through a radio control transmitter, telling the Draganflyer rc helicopter to maintain position or move through its flight plan.”

Read the complete press release: “Vanderbilt University Uses Draganflyer RC Helicopters to Develop Autonomous Control System

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com
RSS: www.rctoys.com/pr/feed

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New RC Helicopter Online Information Resource – www.RCHelicopter.com

With the increasing popularity of rc helicopters has come a matching increase in the availability of information about them on the world wide web. We would like to welcome a new site, www.RCHelicopter.com to this club.

RCHelicopter.com provides guides & articles covering all aspects of radio control helicopters. This includes rc electric helis, r/c nitro helis, rc gas helis, indoor rc helis, outdoor remote control helis, and rc helicopter information in general.

www.RCHelicopter.com

——
© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com
RSS: www.rctoys.com/pr/feed

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