Drones
What is Starshield, SpaceX's military version of Starlink?
A Ukrainian serviceman prepares a Starlink satellite internet systems near the front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine, in 2024. WASHINGTON - Ukraine said on Wednesday that Elon Musk's SpaceX had restricted "military-grade" Starlink services, hampering Ukrainian drone strike missions and air defenses. The complaint has drawn renewed attention to the distinction between Starlink, SpaceX's commercial satellite internet service, and Starshield, a military version developed for the Pentagon. While Musk has said the two systems are separate, in many cases they share the same underlying satellite technology. "Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government," Musk said on Wednesday in a post on social media platform X, adding that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military or the U.S. president.
Ship catches fire in Romania's waters amid rising attacks in the Black Sea
Is the war entering a new phase? Ship catches fire in Romania's waters amid rising attacks in the Black Sea Share Ship catches fire in Romania's waters amid rising attacks in the Black Sea on social media A ship anchored in Romania's territorial waters has caught fire and the crew has been evacuated, Romanian authorities said. The incident comes amid growing concerns over hybrid attacks in the Black Sea involving Russia. Multiple drones breached Romanian airspace on Wednesday near its border with Ukraine. On Tuesday, two ships were hit in drone attacks off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, with one of them sinking, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said.
Why is Starlink internet so important on the battlefield in Ukraine?
Why is Starlink internet so important on the battlefield in Ukraine? Starlink satellites operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX provide high-speed internet - something modern war relies heavily on. Kyiv has adopted it as a vital battlefield communications tool and also uses it in drone warfare. Using Starlink, Ukrainian drones are able to maintain stronger connections with operators over longer distances than conventional radio networks and are less vulnerable to jamming. But a sudden speed restriction for drones connected to Starlink means some battlefield missions have been disrupted, according to a top Ukrainian official.
Take to the skies with 60 off the DJI Neo at Amazon
Trending Now Say More Look Up In My Bag Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Mashable @Home Mashable Selects Top creators, ranked Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Creator Playbook AI at School Safety Net All Series This handy, compact drone is back to its Prime Day pricing. Brittany is fueled by horror, rainbow-sugar-pixel-rushes, and video games. Until her dying breath she'll be wielding a BFG made entirely of killer drive and ambition. Check out her work at PfhorTheWin.com. Like a fabulous shooter once said, get psyched!
Cat-Like Whiskers Help Tiny Drones Fly in the Dark
Researchers took lessons from nocturnal animals to help rescue drones overcome a key challenge: flying in the dark. A drone that can fit in the palm of your hand navigates using two wire "whiskers." After a disaster like a landslide, an earthquake, or a major fire, rescue workers have to locate survivors as soon as possible, and they are increasingly using drones for this critical task--especially ultra-compact drones that can fit into the crevices of a collapsed structure. There are, however, some serious limitations to the technology. Weighing less than a stick of butter, ultra-compact drones don't have as much compute or power capacity as larger models, and this restricts the power of their sensors.
Russian strikes leave 600,000 without power in Ukraine, Zelensky says
At least 600,000 people across Ukraine are now without electricity after deadly overnight Russian missile and drone strikes, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. He said critical energy infrastructure had been hit in Kyiv and the capital region and also in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv - despite a claim by US President Donald Trump on Sunday that an energy ceasefire was in place between Russia and Ukraine. In Kyiv, at least three people were killed and 21 injured, Ukraine's state emergencies service DSNS said. Russia's defence ministry said its massive strikes overnight had targeted communications and energy facilities in the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions used by Ukraine's military. The defence ministry also said 902 Ukrainian drones had been shot down overnight over a number of Russian regions, including the capital Moscow and Crimea - Ukraine's southern peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukraine's air force said that overnight, Russia had launched 39 ballistic and cruise missiles and 128 drones, and that four of those missiles and 115 drones had been shot down.