Drone maker DJI is no stranger to great and small cameras and lenses. The company's drones capture some of the best aerial footage around, which is why DJI's first stab at an action cam--the Osmo Action--was a hit. It was more or less a GoPro clone, but it added a full-color front screen, a feature GoPro copied later on. For its second take on the genre, DJI appears to have cast a fond eye at another competitor--Insta360, which pioneered an interchangeable lens system on an action camera. DJI's GoPro clone innovated in some really clever ways, but the new Action 2 is less compelling. On paper, its specs are solid.

Engineers at Stanford University have built a robotic bird to understand how birds are able to fly and perch on branches. The robot has a pair of snatching talons that attach to a circular flat base; that is then attached to a quadcopter drone to fly around. To account for the size of the drone that allows it to fly, the avian robot is based on the legs of a peregrine falcon. In place of bones, the machine has a 3D-printed structure with motors and fishing line for muscles and tendons. Each leg has its own motor to move back and forth, another for grasping, and a mechanism to absorb impact energy when it lands.

Quadcopters these days are so precious. They take off and hover, taking pictures or whatever, and then land, recharge--and blah. If these drones were birds, they'd be prey. But the Stereotyped Nature-Inspired Aerial Grasper, or SNAG, would be their apex predator. This new quadcopter has legs, each loaded with four 3D-printed talons that lock around whatever makes contact with them, be it a branch to rest on or perhaps, someday, other drones flying where they're not supposed to.

The overhead buzzing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – aka drones – is an increasingly familiar sound in many parts of the world. Whether these helicopter-like devices are flown for fun, military purposes or commercial reasons, the global drone market is predicted to increase annually by nearly 14% between 2020 and 2025. Drones can give operators a birds-eye view of events – including natural disasters – as they unfold. And they can open up difficult-to-access places for emergency supplies to be delivered. This makes them well-suited to help in the response to humanitarian and environmental challenges.

Patient receives the world's first fully 3D-printed prosthetic eye, Russia may press criminal charges in 2018 ISS pressure leak incident, UK competition regulator orders Meta to sell Giphy.

DJI's Mavic 3 created early buzz when a leak suggested it would have a large 4/3 sensor and dual camera system, along with an incredible 46 minutes of range. However, potential buyers were also shocked to learn that it has a $2,200 starting price, compared to $1,449 for the Mavic 2 Pro. And that goes way up to $5,000 if you want advanced features like ProRes HQ video. Early footage shows that the camera is indeed impressive and the 50 percent extra flight time is extremely useful. Buyers have also complained, though, about the price, overly basic Fly app and features like ActiveTrack 5 that won't be available until a January 2022 update.

Baghdad, Iraq – An investigation committee probing the drone attack on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi earlier this month has felt short on identifying the attackers but released a video footage detailing the events. On Monday, almost three weeks into the investigation, national security adviser Qasim al-Araji said in a news conference that the committee has not accused any specific person or entity but called for collaboration among different parties to further the investigation. According to al-Araji, apart from the drone that caused damage at the prime minister's residence, there was also an unexploded projectile with fingerprints on it but the bomb squad detonated it without collecting the fingerprints. "We have launched an investigation into this matter and are asking for justification on the decision to not collect fingerprints," said al-Araji, adding that both drones were "locally made". No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Real-time systems using AI for navigation and guidance, coordination, self-healing, target identification and acquisition & munition delivery systems are a strategic asset. Drone warfare is asymmetric and is almost mainstream. A bit like guerrilla warfare as it is low cost. Command, control, communications and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) are becoming a most essential element in modern military operations. Countries with artificial intelligence powered drone have baffled their enemies in the war zone.

DJI's Mavic Mini drone is arguably the best model for most people in the company's lineup purely because it's small, easy to take with you and fairly simple to fly. At $500, the Mavic Mini is expensive for a high-tech toy, but much more affordable that full-sized drones. But for today only, you can get the Mini in a combo pack for $200 off, bringing it down to $300. The pack includes the drone, the remote control, three batteries, three pairs of spare propellers, a number of cables and extra control sticks and a carrying bag. DJI is known for making impressive drones, and the Mavic Mini is no exception.

The Secret Service has designated Nantucket a "No Drone Zone" ahead of President Biden's Thanksgiving visit. "Due to protective operations in Nantucket, MA, the Secret Service, in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has established a drone flight restriction from November 23, 2021 to November 28, 2021," the agency said in a press release. The restriction applies to all aircraft and pilots, including drone pilots. The Bidens were scheduled to arrive at Nantucket Memorial Airport at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, the White House Press Office announced this week. The 46th president is a frequent visitor to the Massachusetts coastal island.