Of the 14 drones that will be used, 11 are DJI Mavic Pro quadcopters, a smaller device that can be deployed quickly for tactical operations. Two DJI M210 RTK quadcopters will be used for search and rescue missions. These are larger, weather-resistant drones with a high-zoom camera, thermal imaging capabilities and 3D mapping. The NYPD will also have one DJI Inspire 1 quadcopter, which will be used for training and testing purposes.

The New York Police Department has launched a new drone program, its first since it ended an unmanned aerial vehicle pilot program in 2011. The department says it will use its collection of drones -- 14 in all -- for search and rescue missions, crime scene documentation, hazmat incidents, large events like concerts and hostage situations. "As the largest municipal police department in the United States, the NYPD must always be willing to leverage the benefits of new and always-improving technology," Police Commissioner James O'Neill said in a statement. "Our new [Unmanned Aircraft System] program is part of this evolution -- it enables our highly-trained cops to be even more responsive to the people we serve, and to carry out the NYPD's critical work in ways that are more effective, efficient and safe for everyone." The NYPD currently has three types of drones.

Self-flying drones could be used to rescue people from fires in tower blocks by unfolding into safety nets mid-air. Net Guard drones would use GPS to pinpoint the location of the fire once a distress signal has been received then head to the necessary building, avoiding traffic below. Once close enough to the building, the drone would then unfold into four propeller-powered parts, a safety net pulled tight in the centre. This net would be made from a quadruple layer of polyurethane, the designers said, and would be strong enough to then carry the weight of a regular adult. The drone would also keep track of the evacuee using sensors, allowing it to be positioned correctly were person in need of jumping. It was designed by six students from the Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University, Schools of Electronic Engineering and Art, China, and was recently awarded the Golden Pin Concept Design Award.

Wing said https://www.wing.com/finland it has spent the last 18 months testing drone delivery in south-eastern Australia, partnering with local businesses to deliver a range of food and drinks, medicine and household items.

When we think about endangered animals in Afrika at risk of extinction or being poached, we usually think of elephants and rhinos. This can be attributed to various factors including increased publicity around the increasing threats that rhinos and elephants face from poachers. However, there are other endangered animal species in Afrika that also require as much protection and publicity. Take the addax antelopes in Niger as an example. In 2016, the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) released their research report which stated there were likely only a handful of addax antelopes, specifically only 3, remaining in the wild in Niger.

This appears to be the first confirmed use of drones by an extremist group in Africa, according to the World of Drones project run by the Washington-based New America think tank. Its section on non-state actors notes that Libyan rebels are reported to have used drones for surveillance in that chaotic North African nation.

From birds taking flight to sweeping waterfalls - these amazing drone images showcase spectacular scenery from perspectives that have never been seen before. The beguiling images appeared on photo-sharing site Dronestagram which is dedicated to drone photography.

So when drone manufacturer DJI in January introduced a new model, the Osmo Mobile, for the then-super-low price of $129, we were excited. But the product didn't live up to our dreams. It was large, bulky and hard to walk around with. And when connected to a mobile phone, the footage had its moments, but it was hard to get many seconds of really clean, steady footage. Cut to November and DJI is at it again, this time with a more expensive but steadier product.

Back in 2015, drone-maker DJI began putting some of its image-stabilization technology into hand-held camera gimbals. The first, called the Osmo, was well-received among the prosumer crowd, because it let users capture unshaky video on either a smartphone or on the device itself. Since then, DJI has released a series of updates to the Osmo, including the smartphone-supporting Osmo Mobile. Now DJI is putting out its most pocketable Osmo ever--suitably named the Osmo Pocket. It has a tiny color touchscreen, so you can see and control your video capture directly from the device, or you can attach your smartphone via USB-C or Lightning and use your phone as a viewfinder.

Navies of the future could use technology to allow sailors to work remotely. Technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality would allow some crew members to work from shore, operating key sections of ships from thousands of miles away. The result could be semiautonomous warships that sail with smaller crews, putting fewer in harm's way. The Telegraph reports that the Royal Navy could use A.I. and VR tech in the future to reduce the size of ship's crews. The principle is similar to that used by unmanned aerial vehicle operators who control drones flying thousands of miles away.