On Sept. 30, 2024, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) completed a major milestone with the full-scale fatigue testing of an MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The team completed the “second lifetime” of fatigue testing, which is equivalent to 80,000 operating hours and represents an important step in validating the design of the airframe system. […]
– Leidos , a Fortune 500 innovation leader, announced AirShield, the new name for its latest solution for counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) missions. The next step in the evolution of the system’s architecture will include expanded capabilities featuring both kinetic and non-kinetic effectors. The reintroduction comes amid the company’s desire to highlight how its successfully […]
– Bentley patent filings discovered indicate that the company is developing a drone for use in its cars that will be based around the car’s “Flying B” logo. The drone will be housed in the nose of the vehicle and can be deployed in a number of ways, both from inside and outside of the […]
The Kalashnikov Group announced the successful testing of its latest unmanned aerial system, the Goliath, amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Plans are underway to potentially integrate this drone into tactical security agencies’ first response units to enhance combat effectiveness. Kalashnikov confirmed the successful trials of the Goliath drone in Ukraine, highlighting its potential for […]
A new study by ornithologist Dr. Roy Armstrong and ecologist Caitlin Henderson has found no evidence of disturbance among seabird colonies in Orkney as a result of recent drone flights conducted by Windracers. This discovery is important for drone operators planning to serve Scotland’s remote island communities, where many sensitive bird species are located. The […]
Using Yamaha FAZER R G2 and DJI Flycart 30, JDrone Supports Construction, Forestry, and Disaster-Relief Operations in Challenging Terrain by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb Tokyo-based cargo drone operator JDrone recently announced they had begun their cargo service on Aug. 1, 2024, filling a need for highly flexible cargo services in the heavily forested […]
Drones Are Becoming Essential Tools in Disaster Recovery and Preparedness By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Drones are increasingly being deployed as a lifesaving tool in the response to natural disasters – as evidenced by the role UAVs have played in responding to a series of highly destructive hurricanes in the U.S. Southeast, and wildfires […]
The cruise industry has always been about grandeur, from world-class dining to lavish onboard entertainment. And with the North American debut of Princess Cruises’ newest ship, Sun Princess, the cruise line turned to what we’re calling the grandest sort of debut ever: a drone show.
Princess Cruises isn’t the first cruise line to incorporate a drone into its embarkation celebration, but its incorporation makes it clear that drone shows are a bold new trend in cruise entertainment.
Sun Princess embarked on its first North American journey on Friday, Oct. 11 as part of a special sailing for media, travel agents and other invite-only guests. And to kick it off, hundreds of drones took to the sky in a stunning choreographed performance on the shore just across from the ship. They display incorporated nods to Princess Cruises, from the overt (like the cruise line’s logo) to the nerdy (like hearts). Those are a nod to the 1970’s-era sitcom The Love Boat, to which Princess played a starring role. And yes, the drone show even included The Love Boat theme song.
I was there to document the whole thing. Check it out on my Instagram account, or watch it below:
Once considered a high-tech novelty, drone shows are fast becoming a signature way for brands — cruise lines or otherwise — to create buzz.
And particularly or cruise lines, it’s a perfect fit. Unlike traditional fireworks, drones offer customizable, entertainment that can be tailored to tell a story – in this case, one of luxury, adventure, and innovation.
Drones are also seen as more environmentally-friendly than fireworks. And Princess Cruises is one of the leaders in sustainable cruising. Its practices include using cleaner-burning fuels, advanced wastewater treatment systems, and energy-efficient technologies across its fleet. Princess Cruises has also made major efforts to reducing single-use plastics (you won’t find paper plates or silverware). It’s also invested in cutting-edge technology like shore power, allowing ships to plug into local electrical grids and reduce emissions while docked.
If the Sun Princess is any indication don’t be surprised if drone shows become a fixture on cruise lines, setting sail into a new era of embarkation entertainment.
A new counter-drone focused variant of the 8×8 Stryker light armored vehicle armed with a laser directed energy weapon, laser-guided 70mm rockets, a 30mm automatic cannon, radars and other sensors has broken cover. Defense contractor Leonardo DRS and its industry partners are actively pitching the vehicle to the U.S. Army, which is looking to significantly grow its short-range air […]
– Numerica Corporation, a key player in air and missile defense, has announced the introduction of the company’s new multi-mission sensing platform, Spark radar. Spark is a wideband hemispheric radar that provides sensing for Active Protection Systems (APS), short-range air defense (SHORAD) and counter-uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS) in a single, combined package. Spark enhances military […]
On Sept. 30, 2024, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) completed a major milestone with the full-scale fatigue testing of an MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The team completed the “second lifetime” of fatigue testing, which is equivalent to 80,000 operating hours and represents an important step in validating the design of the airframe system. […]
