X-47B carrier ops video

The Navy just made the first catapult launch of an unmanned X-47B from a carrier at sea; then did a touch-and-go on the deck a few days later (May 14 and 17). Frederick A. Johnsen of Airailimages.com put together a short video using U.S. Navy imagery.

Drones used to save rhinos

Rhino poaching is a big deal in Africa. Drones are a big (and getting bigger) deal everywhere. Anton Kieser is using helicopter drones to try to save the African rhino from poachers.

Driving drones can be a drag

Study shows distractions may alleviate boredom and improve drone operators’ performance.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — On its surface, operating a drone looks a lot like playing a video game: Operators sit at workstations, manipulating joysticks to remotely adjust a drone’s pitch and elevation, while grainy images from the vehicle’s camera project onto a computer screen. An operator can issue a command to fire if an image reveals a hostile target, but such adrenaline-charged moments are few and far between.

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