Cross-country trip highlights, drone video

by Rob Cantor.

It's hard to believe how the drone holds so steady in gusty wind. The wind was quite strong on the ridge especially at the spot where it was launched at the flat cut into the ridge for the U turn, at the exact beginning of this video, yet the drone hangs in air without being jostled. I asked Rob about that and he told me the drone communicates with eleven satellites to hold its place. That did not explain how the drone avoids moving even an inch. Not jostled around at all. No corrections show. Its blades must behave as gyroscopes holding it in place. The drone returns to its base when power becomes low. And it has a fine camera too. The launching spot is where the two baby rattlesnakes were spotted causing some excitement at the top.

"For first time drone delivers package to residential area"

AP:  The route was established using GPS. A pilot and visual observers were on standby during the flight but weren't needed, [Flirtey CEO] Sweeney said.

He said the package included bottled water, food and a first-aid kit.  "Conducting the first drone delivery in an urban setting is a major achievement, taking us closer to the day that drones make regular deliveries to your front doorstep," Sweeney said.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval congratulated the company "on successfully completing the nation's first fully autonomous urban package delivery." 

"I am thrilled that Flirtey is not only testing its cutting-edge technology in Nevada, but also creating jobs through its headquarters relocation to Reno," Sandoval said in a statement.

Drone lift video of water jugs...

Flash Flood yesterday over Southern Utah

Link to video