Drone crash-avoidance add-on

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Commercial drones are emerging as a mainstream venture for everyday consumers. With dozens of options on the market, finding affordable drones is fairly simple, but replacing damaged ones can be costly. Panoptes Systems, a spinoff from Aurora Flight Sciences, exists to accelerate the introduction of unmanned aircraft into American airspaces by enabling safe and efficient operation. They’ve developed eBumper4 which can automatically avoid collisions. The eBumper4 is the first obstacle avoidance product for consumer drones, said Elena Micich, Panoptes’ products VP. It has the capability to protect and control a drone in tight spaces. Designed as a retrofit kit, eBumper4 is an add-on for some of the more popular consumer drones – like DJI Phantom 2 and the 3D Robotics Iris+. It works like an automatic braking system for a car; and protects drones against collisions with objects. Central Mississippi Note: Aurora Flight Sciences is a developer and manufacturer of advanced aerospace vehicles with its HQ in Manassas, Va., and operates a production plant in Columbus, Miss. (Intelligent Aerospace 07/29/15)