Drone-makers vie for slice of civilian airspace
Europe

Drone-makers vie for slice of civilian airspace

Updated 1220 GMT (2020 HKT) July 12, 2012
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The lightweight Sixton-A drone produced by Italian firm Alpi Aviation. Barry Neild/CNN
Are drones the civilian surveillance of the future? UAV constructors are hoping to create industry growth and open drones to civilian applications. Barry Neild/CNN
The Watchkeeper drone made by European defense contractor Thales. Barry Neild/CNN
A model of one of the Aerie series of drones, capable of taking off vertically, but flying like a plane. Barry Neild/CNN
The ultra-lightweight iStart can be carried in a backpack and launched by hand. Barry Neild/CNN
A video still shows a computer-generated image of a proprosed D-Dalus drone, powered by experimental "cyclo-gyro" engines capable of rotating the craft through 360 degrees. BARRY NEILD/CNN/IAT21