The Snipe quadcopter is already in the hands of the US government Drone-maker AeroVironment has developed a handheld quadcopter that it says can be carried by soldiers on the battlefield and quickly deployed to get an aerial look at a potentially hostile location. The drone, called Snipe Nano Quad, has retractable rotor arms so it can be carried in a compact form and unpacked when needed. It weighs just 140 grams (5 ounces). It’s equipped with cameras that can send a visible or infrared image back to a handheld controller unit. The infrared view provides a way to see the body heat of a person who may be hidden. The drone has a top speed of around 20 miles per hour and a radio range of about 1 kilometer. It has a battery life of about 15 minutes, and its size means its difficult to spot when in the sky, said the maker. AeroVironment/IDGNS A control unit for AeroVironment’s Snipe drone. Twenty of the drones were delivered in April to the U.S. government, the company said. It didn’t name the customer agency, but AeroVironment recently signed a contract to supply small drones for border protection work and has a lucrative continuing business with the U.S. Army for its RQ-11 Raven hand-launched drone. AeroVironment has been developing small-size drones for several years. Its perhaps most well-known research project is a hummingbird drone that maintains flight by quickly flapping two wings, similar to a hummingbird. Related content opinion Apple's Patreon fee will hurt the wrong people The company's decision to charge a 30% fee on Patreon subscriptions unfairly taxes creatives. By Jonny Evans Aug 13, 2024 6 mins Apple App Store Apple Mobile analysis Apple, this is the time to seize the moment If they regulate you like the market leader, you might as well become the market leader, right? By Jonny Evans Aug 13, 2024 5 mins Mac Apple Mobile news analysis Seeking DMA compliance, Apple gets to business Apple’s new fee system begins to define the value of what it brings in terms of customer reach, platforms, and developer support. By Jonny Evans Aug 09, 2024 6 mins Apple App Store Apple iOS opinion Why health might be Apple's AI profit center Like me, analysts believe Apple will eventually charge a fee for access to some Apple Intelligence features. I argue that its biggest opportunity in the space is around AI-augmented fitness and healthcare. By Jonny Evans Aug 08, 2024 6 mins Apple Generative AI Mobile Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe