Tag: Drones
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From Snapshot Surveys to Change-Driven Monitoring: How Satellite Remote Sensing Helps Track Coastal and Marine Habitat Change
A coral heat-stress map triggers an alert. That is when the truly difficult questions begin: Which reef areas may already have been affected? Where should field teams go first? Once a survey is complete, how should changes over the following weeks continue to be tracked? According to an October 13, 2026 report by the Philippine…
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Fifth International Summit on Large-Scale Beidou Applications Highlights Everyday Uses and Global Cooperation
The fifth International Summit on Large-Scale Beidou Applications concluded Sept. 16 in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, after two days of demonstrations spanning consumer devices, drone operations and overseas projects. Organizers unveiled 51 products, technologies and application solutions, while 41 industry and research cooperation projects involving a total planned investment of 5.54 billion yuan were signed. The…
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Ukraine Presses for Starlink Access to Enable Drone Strikes Inside Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has awarded Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of Ukraine’s highest state honors, recognizing the SpaceX founder’s role in supporting the country through the deployment of Starlink satellite communications services following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The award comes at a moment when Starlink has evolved far beyond its original…
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China’s Butuo County Deploys Satellite Remote Sensing and Low-Altitude Drones for Agriculture and Governance
Across China, satellite remote sensing and low-altitude drones are increasingly being deployed in rural agriculture. From monitoring crop growth and identifying pests and diseases to conducting precision spraying and assessing natural-disaster risks, the integration of space-based and aerial technologies is helping improve agricultural productivity, reduce labor costs and modernize rural governance. Butuo County in Sichuan…
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5 Benefits of Using Satellite Imagery Over Drones
According to Euroconsult, the global market for commercial Earth observation data and services will reach $8 billion by 2029, up from $4.6 billion in 2019. Understanding when to use satellite imagery over drones is key to making an informed decision when collecting this data type. Here are 5 benefits of using satellite imagery over drones…
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Whip it good! Amazon patents a launch system for snapping payloads into the air — or even into orbit
A diagram shows Amazon’s whip-based launch system in operation on a ship. (Amazon Illustration via USPTO) Never let it be said that Amazon Prime Air VP Gur Kimchi thinks small: His latest patent lays out a plan for a launch system that could theoretically send payloads into space on the end of a miles-long whip,…
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Video provides another look at Amazon delivery drone (and Blue Origin spaceship)
We already knew that Amazon provided a rare public demonstration of its delivery drone dropping off some sunscreen at this week’s MARS 2017 conference in Palm Springs, Calif. We also knew that Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital rocket ship, which went to space and back five times, was on display at the invitation-only event, organized by Amazon…
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Verizon acquires Portland startup Skyward, a maker of drone management software
Skyward photo Verizon is bolstering its efforts in drones with the acquisition of Skyward, a Portland-based startup whose software helps commercial drone operators in industries such as construction and film production more efficiently track, connect and manage drones. This includes the management of digital logbooks, pilot credentials and real-time air charts. Terms of the deal…
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Video: Jeff Bezos shares big ideas, from Amazon’s drone landing pads to a 10,000-year clock
Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos shows off a tortoise cufflink during the Pathfinder Awards banquet at Seattle’s Museum of Flight. The tortoise symbolizes the approach Bezos takes with his Blue Origin space venture. “We believe slow is smooth, and smooth is fast,” he says. (Credit: Tania Shepard / Azzura Photography) Someday, you’ll be printing out a…
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FAA puts key Amazon, UPS, Facebook and Google execs on Drone Advisory Committee
An Amazon delivery drone. Photo via Amazon. Gur Kimchi, the vice president of Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery operation, has been named along with a variety of other tech executives to a Drone Advisory Committee that “will help the FAA prioritize its activities, including the development of future regulations and policies” for unmanned aircraft in U.S. airspace. Gur…