A recent helicopter crash in South Carolina may have been caused by a civilian drone. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident that resulted in a crash landing. The case would be the first known aircraft accident to be caused by a drone, though the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has long expressed concern about the possibility of such interference from consumer devices. A drone may be responsible for a recent helicopter crash. The crash occurred on Wednesday afternoon when a helicopter being piloted by a student and instructor came into contact with a small drone.

Video Friday is your weekly selection of awesome robotics videos, collected by your Automaton bloggers. We'll also be posting a weekly calendar of upcoming robotics events for the next few months; here's what we have so far (send us your events!): Let us know if you have suggestions for next week, and enjoy today's videos. Awww, a SpotMini using its face-arm to help a buddy...adorable! Perhaps Boston Dynamics could release some behind-the-scenes footage (or outtakes!) to show what's going on here?

To avoid a collision, the pilot reportedly took control back from the student and performed evasive maneuvers. Unfortunately, the helicopter's tail hit a tree, causing the pilot to lose control and resulting in a crash landing. While the FAA didn't confirm whether a drone played a part in the crash, Bloomberg says the National Transportation Safety Board is aware that a drone may have been involved and is investigating the case with that in mind. The incident happened above a patch of undeveloped land and is nowhere near an airport where drones are prohibited. However, under the FAA's "Special Rule for Model Aircraft," operators are required to fly drones within visual line-of-sight and never near traditional aircraft. According to a study commissioned by the FAA, drones could cause more structural damage to planes than birds because they have metal parts.

Drones offer a vast, bird's eye view for collecting data, which can contribute enormously to diverse areas such as weather, traffic flow, and even disaster forecasting. A fleet of drones can collect and analyze road conditions in real-time, amassing data that can help alleviate gridlock in real-time. And, unlike traffic cameras, drones have the flexibility to observe from numerous angles and can be sent swiftly to flashpoints, making them ideal for monitoring our roadways. An aerial intelligence platform provided by Kespr is integrated with cloud storage to streamline insurance claims and help analysts better grasp the scope of a disaster. CyPhy specializes in high-endurance tethered drones with secure payload data that provide vital information and real-time footage to first responders; these drones are designed for customers in the defense, public safety, and commercial industries.

Skydio R1 knows what to film and moves itself with the freedom of flight to get the best shot, letting you capture otherwise impossible videos of your adventures. See the uncut behind the scenes video here: https://youtu.be/zfS0P-40_Bo

At 8:52 on the morning of January 31, eight buzzing rotors lifted a black bubble of an aircraft off the ground for the first time. About 20 feet from nose to tail and the same from wingtip to wingtip, Vahana spent 53 seconds aloft, under its own power and autonomous control. It reached a height of 16 feet, looming over the runway at Oregon's Pendleton UAS Test Range like a gigantisized quadcopter drone. The flight may not sound like much, but the team from Airbus' Silicon Valley outpost, A 3, and aerospace experts say such flights of experimental aircraft mark the start of a fundamental change in the way we get around. "The revolution of aviation we see today is comparable to the jet age," says Jim Gregory, director of the Aerospace Research Center at The Ohio State University.

Intel put on a stunning aerial display at the 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. The show didn't win Intel any medals, but it did break a world record.

It's 2035, the Second American Civil War has been won by the other side, and you find yourself in a heap of trouble with Attorney General Logan Paul. He has dispatched an all-seeing eye-in-the-sky to tail you, an agile flying machine equipped with 13 cameras and a top speed of 25 miles per hour. The drone knows your face, your gait and your clothing. It hovers persistently behind your back, moving when you move, stopping when you stop, resisting every effort to shake it. You run into the woods, but you still can't lose it.

Last summer, the Defense Science Board's report on autonomy found that investing in artificial intelligence (AI) warfare is a crucial part of maintaining the United States' national security and military capability. As the report reads, "It should not be a surprise when adversaries employ autonomy against U.S. forces." In other words, AI warfare is likely on the horizon; it's just a matter of who gets there first. This immediately sparks dystopian and apocalyptic reactions from most people, who may envision a Terminator-esque system that will at some point choose to overthrow its human masters. The report concludes that "autonomy will deliver substantial operational value across an increasingly diverse array of DoD missions, but the DoD must move more rapidly to realize this value." Meaning that while the value of autonomy is clear from a military perspective, the Department of Defense has to devote more money and time to realize its full potential -- and do so quickly.

Two movies presented their visions of flying cars, Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" and Luc Besson's "The Fifth Element". In the 1980's and 90's such type of vehicles looked as pure science fiction, but today's drone technology make them perceived as achievable. The difference between a helicopter and a drone is that the first is manned and the last unmanned. Drones started small; often used as toy, flying camera or military version. Of course, it was only a matter of time, until companies built larger drones to transport humans, too.