A futuristic cargo drone that could be used to deliver packages over distances of up to 25 miles has been unveiled as a design concept. The uncrewed eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft features six battery powered omni-directional CycloRotors that generate thrust. They are designed to allow the drone to land on a 16-foot platform in crosswinds of up to 40mph. This is important, its designers say, because precision landing in confined areas and the ability to handle challenging wind conditions are key for operating in urban areas. The hope is that the drone will be able to travel at speeds of 80mph at almost 5,000ft (1,500 metres).

A dog lies on the ash-covered earth surrounded by volcanic lava following an eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, in the area of Todoque on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain in this undated screen grab taken from a handout video. A dog lies on the ash-covered earth surrounded by volcanic lava following an eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, in the area of Todoque on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain in this undated screen grab taken from a handout video. Several dogs that are stranded by lava from a volcano on the island of La Palma, Spain, could soon be rescued, if a drone company has its way. Aerocamaras says its team of drone operators has now received the permits it needs to try a unique rescue, in which a drone will drop a net on each dog, then whisk it to safety. "Our pilots are conducting tests together with the emergency teams at this moment," the company said on Tuesday, after it announced that the operation had been given the green light.

Due to the years of military experience achieved by our owner and the history he has in hybrid electric design and development, the move towards cargo drone UAV's was a natural choice. Initial testing started with 10kg payloads back in 2008 and we have provided fully functional designs for several operators for private testing. As we expanded our range we have designed and tested platforms with payloads up to 150kg but we are now developing the design of a 300kg payload version.

Airlines are continuing to look at new ways to adapt to changes in the industry. As 2020 approaches, firms are turning to new technologies to remain ahead of the competition during the next decade. As 2019 draws to a close, there have been many breakthroughs in technology to assist aviation markets. One key segment that companies have been looking at is jet fuel. The carbon footprint involved with sourcing and using jet fuel has led to a global call for the revision of its role in flying.

For a pilot, there really is no substitute for knowing what's in front of you. In a drone, that capability is known as detect and avoid, and so far, no drone has cleared the bar. Sabrewing, a startup in Camarillo, Calif., may well be the first to do it. It's working on a cargo-carrying drone that's due to begin test flights in 2020. "Even the military does it only in a kind of rudimentary way, say with a camera system; our system has to provide a way for the aircraft to autonomously avoid obstacles," says Ed De Reyes, the chief executive of Sabrewing.

DEEP AERO is a forward-looking company that will revolutionize the sale and management of drones using blockchain, AI and machine learning technology. Drones are not commonplace today but are set to change the way we travel, deliver items and grow food. DEEP AERO is preparing for the near future where drones will need their own air management systems to avoid collisions, where the purchases of drones will be made regularly and where drone services will be needed for consumer transport. When the number of drones increases, the main problem that arises is how to provide safety and ensure they don't crash into each other. Drones need a special traffic management system, a similar to the one currently used for planes, which will connect them on a global scale.

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. It's nearly as fun to watch when it's working like it's supposed to, on flat surfaces: Not only can BonsAI seek out sunlight when it needs it, it can also tell you when it's thirsty, and provide sage advice when asked. According to the website, "BonsAI is a bit smarter than a man, because it lives longer than a human being."

Two years after World War II, billionaire Howard Hughes personally piloted his "Spruce Goose" troop transport aircraft on the first and only flight of the largest seaplane ever built. It lasted barely a minute. Now, more than 70 years later, a U.S. startup is testing a new seaplane concept--one that could evolve into huge cargo drones that fly 109 metric tons of freight across the Pacific, touch down autonomously over water, and unload at ports around the world. The startup Natilus was founded in 2014 with a dream of building large cargo drones to deliver international freight for about half the price of piloted aircraft, and much faster than ships. In December, Natilus planned to test the water-taxiing capabilities of a small prototype drone with a 9-meter wingspan in San Francisco Bay.

The field of drone delivery is currently a big topic in robotics. However, the reason that your internet shopping doesn't yet arrive via drone is that current flying robots can prove a safety risk to people and are difficult to transport and store. A team from the Floreano Lab, NCCR Robotics and EPFL present a new type of cargo drone that is inspired by origami, is lightweight and easily manoeuvrable and uses a foldaway cage to ensure safety and transportability. A foldable protective cage sits around a multicopter and around the package to be carried, shielding spinning propellers and ensuring safety of all people around it. When the folding cage is opened in order to either load or unload the drone, a safety mechanism ensures that the engine is cut off, meaning that safety is ensured, even with completely untrained users.

The UK government is to fund a trial of drone-based deliveries of blood and other medical supplies in Tanzania. The goal is to radically reduce the amount of time it takes to send stock to health clinics in the African nation by road or other means. The scheme involves Zipline, a Silicon Valley start-up that began running a similar service in Rwanda in October. Experts praised that initiative but cautioned that "cargo drones" are still of limited use to humanitarian bodies. The Department for International Development (Dfid) has not said how much money will be invested in the Tanzanian effort or for how long.