Iranian officials said that the Israeli strike on Friday morning was carried out by small exploding drones, a tactic that would follow a well-established pattern in Israeli attacks on Iranian military targets. As Israel has targeted Iranian defense and military officials and infrastructure, small drones -- specifically ones known as quadcopters -- have been a signature of those operations. Quadcopter drones, so named because they have four rotors, have a short flight range and can explode on impact. The drones might have been launched from inside Iran, whose radar systems had not detected unidentified aircraft entering Iranian airspace, Iranian officials said. If the drones were launched within the country, it demonstrates once again Israel's ability to mount clandestine operations in Iranian territory.

In early February, Israel sent six quadcopter drones containing explosives into a facility near the city of Kermanshah that was Iran's main manufacturing and storage plant for military drones, according to a senior intelligence official briefed on the operation. That Israeli attack destroyed dozens of Iran's drones. Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at a housing complex in northern Iraq that it said had been used by Israeli agents to plot attacks against Iran. In June 2021, another attack using a quadcopter drone -- which explodes on impact -- was also launched from within the country. It struck the Iran Centrifuge Technology Company, or TESA, in the city of Karaj.

The world's first recorded case of an autonomous drone attacking humans took place in March 2020, according to a United Nations (UN) security report detailing the ongoing Second Libyan Civil War. Libyan forces used the Turkish-made drones to "hunt down" and jam retreating enemy forces, preventing them from using their own drones. The field report (via New Scientist) describes how the Haftar Affiliated Forces (HAF), loyal to Libyan Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, came under attack by drones from the rival Government of National Accord (GNA) forces. After a successful drive against HAF forces, the GNA launched drone attacks to press its advantage. The report says Turkey supplied the drones to Libyan forces, which is a violation of a UN arms embargo slapped on combatants in the conflict.

The popular show'Black Mirror' may be on hold due to the pandemic spreading across the globe, but fans of the dystopian world can create a part of the sci-fi series on their own. A Stanford student built a robot dog similar to that used in the episode titled'Metalhead' that hunts and kills humans in an apocalyptic setting. The miniature version, called the Stanford Pupper, was developed using a 3D printer, a PlayStation controller and other common pieces - and the team has shared all the details for the public to use. It has 12 degrees of freedom, meaning it can goes backwards, forwards, side-to-side and also features a'sneaky mode' that mimics the movement of a real canine creeping on the floor. A Stanford student built a robot dog similar to that used in the episode titled'Metalhead' that hunts and kills humans in an apocalyptic setting.

While using fireworks to mark July Fourth dates back to 1777, one US Air Force Base is set to give their display a modern twist. Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, has been working with Intel to replace explosives with 500 drones. In celebration of July Fourth and Travis Air Force Base's 75th anniversary, tonight they will take to the skies in a choreographed aerial routine that honors active military and veterans. Intel Shooting Star drones create a U.S. flag during 2018 Independence Day celebration rehearsals on June 28 at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. The display will use the same Intel Shooting Star drones seen at the Superbowl and the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

Being able to both walk and take flight is typical in nature, and now researchers are creating drones with similar capabilities. Scientists have developed a prototype drone that can both fly and drive - a breakthrough that could pave the way for flying cars in the future. The development could lead to machines that can fly into disaster zones and squeeze through tight spaces to transport objects or rescue people. The team developed various'path-planning' algorithms aimed at ensuring that the drones don't collide. To make them capable of driving, the team put two small motors with wheels on the bottom of each drone.

If you're the type of person who throws rocks at drones, or if you've ever shot one out of the sky with a shotgun because it invaded your airspace, I have some bad news for you--other than your pending civil lawsuit. Drones will be everywhere soon. Just imagine all that infuriating bvrrr and wrrr and weeeeer. But theoretically, drones don't have to be so loud. As designers improve their understanding of drone aerodynamics, they have the potential to quiet the machines down and make them more efficient by reducing turbulence.