The popularity of drones is just insane right now, and tech that seemed way too futuristic to ever be available for everyday people is now here and is more affordable than ever.

Drones  

Below are four cool add-ons you can install on your drone to make for the ultimate drone-piloting experience. These mods are available for drone enthusiasts of all levels.

1. Propeller Guards

One of the most practical add-ons for your drone are propeller guards. If those props get tangled in tree branches or even just debris flying through the air on a gust of wind, that could be game over for your drone. Propeller guards protect your drone and anything around it from being accidentally damaged in case of a collision. Guards will also help protect you and any bystanders from being seriously injured by the spinning propellers.

2. LED Light Kit

Another very cool addition to your drone is LED lights. These come in a variety of colors and can provide solid or flashing light, and many LED lights for drones are visible from up to a mile away. You can also install forward-facing white LEDs to use as headlights to illuminate your flight path at night, so that works well if you've got a camera system installed too. We'd like to say that LEDs are all about the practical value, but let's face it: LEDs on a drone at night just look really cool!

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3. First-Person View (FPV) System

While prop guards and LEDs are some cheap and easy mods to apply to your drone, there's a whole new level of drone performance available to you when you add on cameras and a FPV system. First-person view (FPV) or remote-person view is a headset system that works like virtual reality goggles and allows you to see everything your drone camera sees without having to use a large monitor. It's really the ultimate drone accessory and will provide an entirely new experience for any drone enthusiast. And of course, FPV systems are essential for many commercial drone applications as well.

4. Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) Camera

For night flying or for commercial uses where lighting is challenge, a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera from Infrared Cameras Inc. can be the best drone mod ever. With infrared, you're no longer limited to day-time operation, and if you combine a FLIR camera with an FPV system and headset, you're just not going to ever go to sleep again. You'll be up all night flying around your neighborhood!

Drones are definitely fun devices to have that can be used for a variety of applications. But don’t be satisfied with a vanilla drone. Deck it out with some extra features, and you’re sure to make a lot of fun memories!

By  Dixie Somers	Embed
Author Bio - Dixie is a freelance writer who loves to write about business, finance and self improvement. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters.

Technology  

Every technology has its pros and cons. People will find ways to use it destructively as well as constructively. That's the situation that law enforcement personnel are in as they struggle to keep pace with new technologies that serve as very useful tools for gangs, terrorists, and hackers.

Today law enforcement is also coming up with its own developments that are transforming the way they combat crime. Here are four innovative ideas that are making a difference.

Crime scenes in 3D

Forensic investigation of crime scenes requires careful observation, measurement, and analysis by professionals with a background in the conceptual and theoretical frameworks of crime and criminal justice. These tasks are faster and easier with modern technology. Laser scanners can take precise measurements in three dimensions and correlate them with images from a complement of black light, infrared, and other cameras. This is combined with graphics software to create an accurate 3-D visualization of what happened.

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Body cams

Technology giving us small but powerful, portable cameras has led to a growing call for police to wear them. Wearable cameras are giving the public dramatic footage of what it's like to be a law enforcement officer in real situations. Body cams provide a record to establish the truth in court cases. Cameras also mean that officers are being held accountable for any wrong-doing on their part. This transparency into real events leads to greater empathy all around that will hopefully improve public relations. In addition these benefits, the growing norm of having a high-resolution camera on your cell phone makes it easier than ever to get pictures of crime scenes before any tampering has taken place.

Non-Lethal force

Anyone who watches the news by now is very familiar with Tasers. Electric stun weapons allow officers to take down violent criminals without the often unnecessary fatality of a bullet. While their use is sometimes abused, Tasers actually save lives. Police shootings make headlines and often lead to community outrage when they could have been avoided. Rubber or new plasticized bullets can take down a suspect without breaking the skin, but officers facing real bullets remain understandably skeptical.

Eye in the sky

Drones have become a valuable tool to many industries, and they're also providing considerable benefits to law enforcement agencies that have adopted them. Tracking suspects from the sky is certainly a far better alternative than high-speed pursuits or a grueling foot chase. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can help to assess dangerous situations without risking officers' lives. However, there are also privacy issues. Drones have created an escalating environment of technical progress and ethical conflicts that are becoming a field of study all their own.

All of these concepts are gradually but inevitably changing the way law enforcement is done and the way it's perceived. Innovation that makes police more effective and better informed is a benefit to everyone.

By  Kara Masterson	Embed

Technology  

Every day it seems that yet another technological innovation is developed. The past five years have brought an incredible advancement in technology, but when it is all said and done, which innovations will be the most revolutionary?

There have been many great technological advancements in recent years. Some say that we are currently experiencing a third industrial revolution due to recent successes with innovations in AI technologies. It may very well be true; today we are seeing technologies come to life, ones that we never even thought possible. In this article we will be taking a look at some of the five greatest tech innovations of the past five years years.

1.Home automation

First on our list are home automation systems, which have recently seen a surge in popularity. As with other great technological feats, these AI systems make life a bit more convenient. Amazon’s Alexa has the capabilities to assist you at home via voice command; allowing one to perform a myriad of automated tasks such as: Making phone calls, sending messages, playing music, forecasting the weather and even ordering things off of the Amazon website itself. These home automation devices are even able to control the temperature of the room and perform tasks when you aren’t at home. Being able to control your home from a single home automation system interface is simply amazing.

2. Drones

Arguably one of the most fun new toys out there for many; we have drones. Drones are an innovation that is rapidly taking over airspace, capturing high definition video footage and even making deliveries now. Users of drones are able to record videos from places they never would have been able to before now, thanks to this technology. There are even plans to make drones capable of carrying WiFi over wherever they are flying; truly bringing internet to the entire world.

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3. Self driving cars

Third on our list and surely a controversial, rising star in the technology world are self driving cars. Many were in disbelief back when big companies such as Google and Uber announced their plans to put self driving cars on the road, but they’re finally out there now and making headlines. This innovation is sure to revolutionize motoring by making roads safer. While this technology is not yet perfected, the automated vehicles are predicted to become a common sight by the year 2020.

4. 3D Printing

From figures to food, 3D printing is an amazing new innovation that is revolutionizing the tech world today. Using laser technology, these machines are able to build things out of basic materials. Scientists have even managed to recreate food that is edible and artificial organs that work perfectly fine, using this innovation. 3D printing has truly revolutionized the tech world with these feats. This innovation may one day be the answer to solving world hunger.

5. Virtual Reality

Finally we have something that was dreamed about for years by many sci-fi fans: Virtual reality. Last year the famed virtual reality headset called the Oculus Rift was finally released after years of development. The headset allows for full immersion into virtual worlds; allowing users to feel as if they are actually a part of the world. This was an innovation not only to the gaming world, but also to the medical world. Virtual reality can assist patients in rehab, train doctors in performing surgery, and even aid in counseling. This technology is expected to be improved even further and branch out to many other fields where it can be useful.

And there we have it; five of the greatest tech innovations of the past five years. Be sure to look out for new technologies are rapidly coming along. These are just the beginning of what’s in store for the future of the technical world. What are your recent favorite tech innovations? Please feel free to comment about them below.

By  Jamison Hutton	Embed
Jamison Hutton is a business and real estate enthusiast. He's a freelance journalist and loves writing about trends in the tech industry. He lives in Houston, Texas with his wife and son.

Construction  

Technology is revolutionizing the way professionals in the construction industry complete and manage projects. Additionally, it is having a noticeable impact on the planning and building processes. Contractors and companies willing to embrace this new technology will have the edge in bidding wars thanks to reduced costs and time to complete projects.

Here are four examples of technologies changing the construction industry.

Prefabrication of Materials and Designs

Prefabrication of materials and designs is an affordable technology and technique, and it requires very little maintenance. The advantage to using a prefabrication like Prefab Technology Pty Ltd is spending less time on the building site. It is a more economical way to build whole buildings like houses and their extensions.

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3D Printing

3D printing is a miracle for the construction industry. It can potentially reduce the time it takes to create complex and simple building forms. It is also being used by prefabrication firms to create and install components like plumbing and mechanical equipment. It can even be used to carry out drywall detailing. The tech is advancing, and it will eventually be able to build entire homes. Although there are flaws, according to the Mirror, the very first home was printed in China in 45 days.

Software for Faster Energy Modeling

Energy modeling has always consumed a lot of time, but new software tools in ways to allow full analysis during the conceptual design stage. It replaces models that take weeks to design and run like airflow and daylighting models. With new energy modeling software tools, construction designers can run an analysis in hours on performance data, and they can alter their designs far more quickly if needed.

Drones

Drones have become important technological tools in the construction industry. When they are equipped with advanced software and hi-res cameras, they cut down on the time it takes to survey and the hassle. Also, subcontractors are able to make better informed decisions concerning design and architectural elements of a structure using the drone's aerial analysis.

These four examples help to demonstrate how technology is changing construction. They are changing the way construction is done from design all the way to actual completion. There are many other forms of technology contributing to construction revolution too. With all of the breakthroughs, contractors will be able to finish projects faster, and at the same time, the projects will be of better quality. Finally, they save on the cost for the construction firms and the people hiring them. This technology, among others, is a win-win for all parties involved.

By  Lizzie Weakley

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About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her 3-year-old husky Snowball. If you are looking at getting a STEM related education, Lizzie suggests that you consider an electrical engineering master’s degree from the University of Ohio.

Drones  

Drones are all the rage, and for good reason. These five fun ways to utilize your new drone show off how best to use this exciting, trendy tech.

From filming sports activities to shooting wedding videos, drones are a wellspring of fun activities and shareable videos.

Filmmaking

Artistic expression has reached new possibilities with the advent of quality, affordable drones. Aerial shots are often pricey and complicated, but drones change that by placing artistic control in the hands of the filmmaker. Without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars, filmmakers now have more options for aerial filmmaking and unique camera control.

Weddings

With all the technology available, this is the perfect age to capture weddings with drones. Create a trendy, stylish wedding video that stands out from all the rest. From stunning crowd shots to unique and memorable ceremony footage, capturing big events and special moments is both easy with drone technology. If you want to show off with an impressive event, drone footage is a must.

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Infrared Cameras

One of the best ways to take advantage of your drone is to attach an infrared camera and leverage its heat-sensing abilities. With thermal imaging, you'll be able to monitor damage on your solar panels, track animals in the wild and even identify dehydration in your field of crops. Although infrared cameras on drones have plenty of industrial applications, you can also spend a fun weekend exploring wilderness and gaining a scientific understanding of your surroundings without caring about practical use.

Sports

Drone technology is making waves in the sports industry. It's easier than ever to capture stunning footage of your snowboarding runs down a mountain as you rapidly navigate the terrain. Whether you participate in tennis tournaments or go whitewater rafting on the weekend, aerial drone footage is a stunning way to remember and share your experience. Go extreme with aerial drone footage.

Travel

Travel vloggers and vacationers alike will love to leverage the power of drone technology for exciting, beautiful footage. Whether you have a travel-related business or simply want to show off your adventures during a gap year, drones will give you a fun and impressive record of foreign destinations. If you find yourself on a tropical island with palm trees and open water on your next vacation, you'll be glad you brought your drone. For the tech-savvy traveler, drones are the key to adventures abroad.

By  Dixie Somers	Embed
Author Bio - Dixie is a freelance writer who loves to write about business, finance and self improvement. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters.

Technology  

By looking back at technology in the past we can really see how much we have advanced in even just the last couple of years. The technology that is out now is absolutely incredible and sets no limits for the future.

Over the years there have been a ton of developments that have changed society for good. Here are just a few developments in technology that you may not know about.

The James Webb Space Telescope

For years, people have looked in awe at images captured by NASA's Hubble Telescope. While looking at these gorgeous images, it is hard to imagine that Hubble is 24 years old, and cannot capture a vast portion of galaxies and planets that are almost certainly out there. In order to find Earth-like planets, NASA is currently working on a telescope whose sole purpose is to seek out planets that could support life. In 2018, NASA plans to launch this telescope 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. The James Webb Telescope will orbit with the sun, rather than with Earth like the Hubble. It will have the ability to peer deep into space, as it can absorb 70 times more light than its predecessor and will be in the perfect place in our solar system for gathering data. Who knows...in another 24 years we may be on a different planet!

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Thermal Drones

Places like Infrared Cameras Inc. have incredible inventions such as the HALO Thermal Infrared Aerial UAV system. The applications for this drone are endless, as they can detect gas leaks, peer through walls, and have a very long battery life. This could be used as a safer alternative to conventional methods by military and police in many situations, such a hostage situation, or a bomb threat. Literally anyone can use these to check for gas leaks in their home, as they provide an aerial view of your home; farmers may find this particularity useful. Homeowners could use this product to monitor air flow in their home and detect leaky windows or doors, saving thousands of dollars long term. One would think that such an advancement would only be available to military personnel, but anyone can buy one!

3D Printed Organs

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem, NC, has been the first to print working 3D organs. They have successfully created and transplanted ears, bones and muscles into animals. In 2006, they successfully transplanted the first human bladder from 3D printing in history. While it may still be a while before we see large scale use of this technology, its progression leads me to believe that soon we may no longer need human donors.

Laser Guns

While this technology is still considered experimental, laser guns do, in fact, exist. They are currently mounted to boats owned by the military. As of now, they are being used to target the boats of terrorists and pirates. There are still bugs to be worked out, such as accuracy in fog and dust. Even after this technology is perfected, it will likely remain in the hands of our military. Hence, if you want to shoot a laser gun, like in Star Wars, you would likely need to join the Navy or Marines.

There is definitely no limit as to how far we can go with technology. The possibilities are endless. You never know what the future holds as far as technology goes. I absolutely can’t wait to see what they think of next!

By  Kara Masterson

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Architecture  

Technology is changing construction in a way that builders had never thought of before. Construction companies are now able to work safely and more efficiently when equipped with the right technology, from materials to new fabrication techniques. 

The five technologies below are useful for builders, and many forward-thinking constructors are already using them.

Prefabricated Building Materials

This technology allows constructors to create ingenious interlocking designs that they can assemble relatively easily on-site. Prefabricated building materials save time, natural resources, and manpower. The construction requires less time and less water and concrete because close to 90 percent of the obstruction takes place in the factory. Under the direction of Sheikh Saqr al Qasimi, RAK Ceramics used this method to produce some of the most celebrated hospitality projects in the United Arabs Emirates. RAK Ceramics is one of the construction companies that supplied construction materials for the Burj Dubai.

Various Forms of Hands-Free Technology

Hands-free technology is very popular because it represents the wave of the future. For example, Google Glass allows the construction crew to record, received, transmit and evaluate data without wasting time. With these devices, crews do not have to pause whatever they are doing to pick up cameras or send messages to their colleagues.

Clearly, hands-free technology promotes both efficiency and accuracy and improves safety. Construction crews can focus on the job at hand instead of ancillary tasks, and this consequently decreases the potential for accidents such as falls.

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Tablets

Tablets and other smart devices make digital communication easier than ever. These devices make it possible for construction crews to communicate with each other and have access to work orders online. Additionally, screws can also use these computing devices to capture images and show them to their clients and check on the status of relevant documents such as permits conveniently.

Professional construction devices provide every member of their crew with at least a tablet to enable them to track and manage their work more efficiently. Tablets also help these crews to stay in contact whenever they are working in different locations. While the construction industry still holds some habits from decades ago, these high-tech gadgets are evolving and will become indispensable construction devices of the future.

3D Printing

3D printing technology holds a significant potential for the construction industry as constructors can apply it on whole range of construction materials. Many companies have used this technology to create shelters for victims of natural disasters using water, sand, and clay, and this shows it is here to stay.

3D printing comes with other benefits as well. By allowing construction crews to hand over the actual construction process to a printer, it eliminates the possibility of human error. This ensures complex geometrical designs are not the sole preserve of the wealthy alone.

Drones

Drones are literally changing the construction landscape when it comes to surveying potential construction sites and monitoring them. While it continues to evolve, many companies are currently hiring drone pilots to survey construction sites in both remote and heavily populated locations. Furthermore, construction site foremen are also using this innovation to monitor actively how their crews are working. Drones make it easy to monitor workers and promptly survey the progress of certain areas on construction sites.

Additionally, this technology will also play some roles that are indirectly related to the construction of the home of the future. Given the pace of innovation in the construction industry, individual ownership of drones will be commonplace in the very near future. Construction companies will be able to send their own drones to companies that supply construction materials such to be loaded with these materials and bring them the construction site.

From prefabricated building materials to drones and everything in between, it is clear why construction companies across the world are focusing on technology. These innovations offer efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

By  Rachael Murphey

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Technology  

Advancing technology has begun to infiltrate every aspect of our lives, so it is not surprising it is making a large positive impact in law enforcement. New forensic technologies are so advanced they appear to be science fiction at time, but they are assuredly science fact.

New forensic technologies are becoming so advanced, but they are definitely science fact. Using these new technology also helps preserve the integrity of the constitution. It is becoming extremely difficult to get away with serious crimes now, especially murder. You can feel safe knowing the five new and advancing technologies below are going to eventually deter crime and keep your family safe once the lowlifes of society know they will always be caught.

High-Speed Ballistics Photography

One of the new technologies forensic specialists are using in the field is high speed ballistic photography. Field specialists use special cameras to figure out how gunshot wounds, bullet holes, glass shatters and blood patterns are created. Identifying and matching ballistic trajectories with impact and exit wounds can only be done by someone well trained in breakthrough forensic science. You might look into degrees in criminal justice online if you’re interested in learning more about these processes.

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Video Spectral Comparator 2000

This machine is one of the newest and most valuable technologies available for forensic scientists and CSI personnel. The machine allows the special investigators to identify hidden or obscure writing on a piece of paper. Also, it accurately lifts indented writing. Finally, it is possible for the machine to lift writing from severely water or fire damaged paper.

The XFT Device

The XFT was designed specifically with Xbox in mind. It is becoming more common for criminals to hide illegal data in hidden files on the Xbox hard drive, and the XFT allows forensic investigators to have access to the hidden files and record them for court hearings.

DNA Sequencer

People have seen enough shows to know how crucial DNA is in a forensic investigation, but most people do not have a clue what advanced DNA sequencers can do. DNA profiling only goes so far because the sample can be too degraded to submit into evidence or get an accurate rating. When samples are too degraded, they can now turn to advanced DNA sequencers. They are able to obtain a unique DNA match from old bones or teeth by using DNA nucleobases.

Magnetic Fingerprinting and Automated Fingerprint Identification (AFIS)

Police officers, crime scene investigators and forensic specialists are able to easily and expediently compare a print with an entire virtual database. Recently, no-touch wanding and magnetic fingerprinting have been incorporated into the procedure, which allows investigators to get a pristine fingerprint from a crime scene minus any contamination.

Hyperspectral Imaging Drones

Decomposing human bodies make surrounding vegetation reflect light differently and produces darker soil. This allows drones with hyperspectral imaging to pinpoint locations to search for dead bodies. This saves time and money on searches so that the bodies can be found more quickly and identified. This technology will both help justice be served to the guilty and protect the innocent.

Sometimes the damage has already been done, but you need to take comfort in knowing these breakthroughs and continuing advancements will help keep society safer. Forensic science is a growing and advancing field. It is something you should investigate more if you love science and want to fight crime.

By  Dixie Somers

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Author Bio - Dixie is a freelance writer who loves to write about business, finance and self improvement. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters.

Technology  

Enjoying technology is not limited to sitting in front of a computer. As we explore here, our gadgets are increasingly important tools for helping with our outdoor hobbies as well.

When people try to indulge in their passion for technology, most are confined to their homes or offices, tinkering in their cubicles, garages, or desktops. They are unable to enjoy the equal delights of outdoor activity. For people who have a genuine passion for both technology and the great outdoors, here are five hobbies you should definitely try.

Backpacking

There's no one-size-fits-all definition for backpacking. Generally, however, it encompasses travelling while carrying one's belonging in a backpack hence the term. Backpackers are prone to a myriad of safety hazards on the road, from insect bites to heat stroke. Fortunately, modern technology has imbued backpackers with equipment and accessories meant to make the adventure safer and more enjoyable, such as robust wireless speakers and smart tents.

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Kayaking

If you grew up in an area where rivers run freely, you may have picked up kayaking. Whether you do it to relax or for training and competitions, kayaking can be enjoyable but physically fatiguing as well. Technology helps reduce the latter by improving your paddling through Smart Paddles. A monitor hooks up to the front of your kayak and is connected wirelessly to your smartphone. From there, it will analyze your paddling efficiency and advise accordingly.

Fishing

Avid anglers can now use technology to see what species of fish are swimming beneath the waters. The GPS trackers and smart finders are impressively accurate when it comes to pinpointing the exact location of fish, making it easy even for the first-time angler to bag their first one.

Birding

Less known to the world compared to hunting or fishing, birding is fun in equal measure and is perfect for someone who loves birds. In a nutshell, you travel around the country, or the world even, in search of different species of birds. With technology, navigating yourself across foreign terrains and spotting these majestic creatures in flight or rest are made easier. High-powered binoculars and accurate navigation systems will be your faithful companions on the road.

Drone Operating

Drones are at the core of current government Intel operations. But scaled down to consumer level, drones can be fun. Throughout just a short period of time, drones have quickly evolved into more advanced and highly capable machines. This signals an even brighter future for drone capabilities and the need for more drone operators to safely guide them in the air. Sign up with drone training programs, such as CineChopper University, if you are interested with learning how these machines work firsthand.

These five hobbies can make it more fun to go outdoors, whether alone or with a group. It combines the precision and capability of modern technology with the serenity or stimulation of outdoor activity.

By  Lizzie Weakley	Embed
Author Bio: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. Lizzie enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her 3-year-old husky Snowball.

Robotics  

Working like a pair of aerial spiders, a newly released video shows how quadrotor drones could be used in construction. Working with the flying robots, researchers created a functioning rope bridge that they could walk across.

A research team at Switzerland's ETH Zurich has used quadrotor drones in an experiment that might hint at the future of robotic construction. A video released by the team (below) shows quadrocopters autonomously assembling a rope bridge. This is part of a body of research in aerial construction, a field that addresses the construction of structures with the aid of flying robots.

In the video, a rope bridge that can a person walking across is built by quadrotors, showing for the first time that small flying machines are capable of autonomously realizing load-bearing structures at full-scale and proceeding a step further towards real-world scenarios.

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Except for the required anchor points at both ends of the structure, the bridge consists exclusively of tensile elements and its connections and links are entirely realized by flying machines. Spanning 7.4 m between two scaffolding structures, the bridge consists of nine rope segments for a total rope length of about 120 m and is composed of different elements, such as knots, links, and braids.

The rope used for these experiments is made out of Dyneema, a material with a low weight-to-strength ratio and thus suitable for aerial construction. Of little weight (7 g per meter), a 4 mm diameter rope can sustain 1300 kg.

The drones are equipped with a motorized spool that allows them to control the tension acting on the rope during deployment. A plastic tube guides the rope to the release point located between two propellers. The external forces and torques exerted on the quadrocopter by the rope during deployment are estimated and taken into account to achieve compliant flight behavior.

The assembly of the bridge is performed by small custom quadrocopters. The arena is equipped with a motion capture system that provides vehicle position and attitude measurements. Algorithms are run on a computer and commands are then sent to the flying machines via a customized wireless infrastructure.

SOURCE  Federico Augugliaro

By 33rd Square

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Security  

The future of home security systems is here, and it includes increased automation, convenience and savings for users.

Home security systems have gone well beyond the simple cameras and keypads of the past. With the advent of the smart home, security systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The smart home places a large emphasis on security, and this has increased the investment into new home security systems. The future of home security systems is here, and it includes increased automation, convenience and savings for customers.

Everything is Mobile

In 2014, home security systems started to take advantage of the increased mobility of customers. Many security systems can now be controlled completely by a smart phone. Using a cell phone or other wireless connection, it's possible to arm the system, check on any movement in the home, and even adjust the air or adjust the lighting of the home. These kinds of enhancements make it more difficult for thieves to know when people are truly away from the house. According to NorthStar alarm reviews, companies will continue to enhance and refine these systems in the future, and eventually systems will include the ability to record crimes in progress, speak directly to intruders, and control all functions from a single command center in the palm of your hand.

Security Drones

Drones are becoming increasingly affordable and popular in the mainstream. One of the limitations of a home security system involves the way that cameras are set up. A fixed camera can only see what is directly in front of it. Even cameras that respond to movement are limited. As technology improves, home owners can expect to see the rise of drones that can be used to give a bird's eye view of the property and rotate to get angles that cameras would miss. These live drones can monitor your property and make you aware if someone has entered your home or is attempting to enter your home. This prevents the possibility of walking in on a home invasion in progress. Drones can even be used to snap pictures of license plates, get a better look at criminals, and protect residents from harm.

Cloud Computing

People are aware of personal assistants like Siri on the iPhone, or Cortana on the Windows phone.

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These assistants work by using trillions of bits of data in the cloud and can work more intelligently and efficiently to communicate and answer questions. You'll notice that without an Internet connection these personal assistants won't function because the amount of data these software programs require would far exceed the device capabilities of the phone. Security systems in the future will make use of cloud-based data to alert customers of high-risk times of year,

Security systems in the future will make use of cloud-based data to alert customers of high-risk times of year, inform users when there is a robbery in progress nearby.

inform users when there is a robbery in progress nearby, and generally make the home safer by giving the owner a heads-up on dangerous situations. Security systems will also be able to detect a crime in progress and alert the authorities when needed.

Protecting the Car and Home

Soon, security systems will be integrated with your car's security system. Companies are working to provide options to link these two alarm systems so you can use one mobile app to control all of your security programs. The car alarm system can be disabled, turned off, or activated remotely. This can also be a useful feature when you're trying to find your car in a sea of cars within a parking lot.

When someone breaks into your home, it's best to have a security system you can control and take with you. As security systems begin to include certain artificial intelligence-based features, the security system will be able to identify unusual activity around your house. This can help to alert homeowners about anything that could pose a threat to their family.

By Brooke Chaplan

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Author Bio - 33rd Square contributor Brooke Chaplan is recent graduate of New Mexico University where she studied journalism. She loves to hike, bike, run and explore around her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She also enjoys blogging about health, fitness, fashion and many other topics.

AI Weapons  

Summary Based on the success of their open letter promoting the development of safe artificial intelligence, members of the Future of Life Institute have started a new initiative to prevent the development of autonomous offensive weapons systems.

The team of artificial intelligence researchers, scientists and volunteers working to prevent existential risks facing humanity that issued an open letter urging the creation of safe AI has a new project.

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Support for the previous initiative has already helped launch almost 40 research projects from around the world, turning the letter’s words into action.

This success has inspired leading AI and robotics researchers to sign a new open letter aiming to avoid the misuse of AI for offensive autonomous weapons. 

The goal is to demonstrate to those involved in the currently ongoing treaty process that opposition to AI weapons comes also from the technical communities, not just from organizations focused on humanitarian issues.

Autonomous Weapons: an Open Letter from AI & Robotics Researchers

Autonomous weapons select and engage targets without human intervention. They might include, for example, armed quadcopters that can search for and eliminate people meeting certain pre-defined criteria, but do not include cruise missiles or remotely piloted drones for which humans make all targeting decisions. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has reached a point where the deployment of such systems is — practically if not legally — feasible within years, not decades, and the stakes are high: autonomous weapons have been described as the third revolution in warfare, after gunpowder and nuclear arms. 

Many arguments have been made for and against autonomous weapons, for example that replacing human soldiers by machines is good by reducing casualties for the owner but bad by thereby lowering the threshold for going to battle. The key question for humanity today is whether to start a global AI arms race or to prevent it from starting. If any major military power pushes ahead with AI weapon development, a global arms race is virtually inevitable, and the endpoint of this technological trajectory is obvious: autonomous weapons will become the Kalashnikovs of tomorrow. Unlike nuclear weapons, they require no costly or hard-to-obtain raw materials, so they will become ubiquitous and cheap for all significant military powers to mass-produce. It will only be a matter of time until they appear on the black market and in the hands of terrorists, dictators wishing to better control their populace, warlords wishing to perpetrate ethnic cleansing, etc. Autonomous weapons are ideal for tasks such as assassinations, destabilizing nations, subduing populations and selectively killing a particular ethnic group. We therefore believe that a military AI arms race would not be beneficial for humanity. There are many ways in which AI can make battlefields safer for humans, especially civilians, without creating new tools for killing people. 

Just as most chemists and biologists have no interest in building chemical or biological weapons, most AI researchers have no interest in building AI weapons — and do not want others to tarnish their field by doing so, potentially creating a major public backlash against AI that curtails its future societal benefits. Indeed, chemists and biologists have broadly supported international agreements that have successfully prohibited chemical and biological weapons, just as most physicists supported the treaties banning space-based nuclear weapons and blinding laser weapons. 

In summary, we believe that AI has great potential to benefit humanity in many ways, and that the goal of the field should be to do so. Starting a military AI arms race is a bad idea, and should be prevented by a ban on offensive autonomous weapons beyond meaningful human control.

If you’d like to join Max Tegmark, Stuart Russell, Nils Nilsson, Barbara Grosz, Tom Mitchell, Eric Horvitz, Martha Pollack, Henry Kautz, Oren Etzioni, Francesca Rossi, Raja Chatila, Noel Sharkey and others as a signatory, head over to http://tinyurl.com/awletter

SOURCE  Future of Life Institute

By 33rd Square

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 Drones  

Amid the controversy surrounding military drones, other drones have a lot of potential uses, like delivery and as life saving aids in disaster situations. We are only just beginning to understand how this technology will affect our lives.

Drones, which are also called "unmanned aerial vehicles" or UAVs, are aircraft that don't have a pilot onboard. They can be controlled remotely by a pilot on the ground or in another aircraft. Increasingly, however, they are controlled by computers, and they have many uses:

Military Purposes

Drones, as most people know, were originally designed and used by the military. The earliest drone-like devices made were Remote Piloted Vehicles or RPVs which date back to the first half of the 20th century. They were used to train anti-aircraft gunners.

These very early unmanned planes had automatic pilot systems that used gyroscopes, timers and weights to guide them to their destination. Unmanned aircraft were also used during the Vietnam War.

The Israeli military developed the first modern drones in 1973. The Israelis devised the first live video data-link systems that enabled them to steer and control a jet in real time. By 2013, over 50 countries had and used drones.

Governments

Civilian governments of all levels use drones. In Australia, various environmental agencies use drones to monitor illegal dumping and fishing operations. Other agencies have used drones to measure landfills.

Businesses

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Some businesses have used drones to make deliveries. In 2013, one pizza company in Russia tested the feasibility of using drones to deliver pizza. Other pizza companies are investigating the possibilities of drones delivering pizza.

Amazon, the online shipping company, is developing drones to deliver packages to customers—in under 30 minutes. The drone service, which is called Amazon Prime Air, is expected by some to one day replace delivery trucks.

Humanitarian Aid

After the recent earthquakes in Nepal, a Canadian team of rescue workers used drones to locate people who were trapped in inaccessible areas. They also used the drones to determine how badly buildings were damaged.

Personal

Private citizens can use drones, too. Some private use drones have cameras and tracking devices built into them. The user will wear a personal tracker around their wrist, thus enabling the drone to follow their every move.
The drone will follow the user, no matter where they go or what they do. It can follow people who are snowboarding or climbing mountains, and it will film them the whole time. Other personal drones are being developed to fetch groceries and drop off forgotten items to their owners.

While there is a lot of controversy surrounding the military drones, civilian drones have a lot of potential as useful additions to our technology-enhanced lives. Some of those uses, like locating trapped disaster victims, could save lives. Others will simply make people's lives a bit easier.


SOURCE  Drones ETC.

By Emma Sturgis

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Author Bio - Emma is a freelance writer currently living in Boston, MA. She writes most often on education and technology. When not writing, she enjoys watching old movies and indoor rock climbing.