Hand-thrown drone is launched



DUBAI // A British defence company specialising in designing, developing and operating unmanned systems has launched a small precision product that has “eyes in the sky”.

The 75-centimetre wingspan Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), called iStart, is to be used for surveillance.

“It gets unfolded, shaken and thrown into the air with a ground control station to log in details about where it’s meant to look and land,” said Dr Yoge Patel, chief executive of Blue Bear, which launched the product.

“It’s a very high-precision flight. It has a high level of automation and autonomy. You don’t need to fly this plane, you just unpack it and throw it into the air.”

The launch is automated by a flight control system that comes into play as soon as there is movement.

“The avionics will do all the thinking,” Dr Patel said. “The cameras are clipped on for day and night.”

She said the iStart, made of foam, was easier to use than current UAVs.

“It’s important because quite a lot of guys who want to use this don’t know how to fly vehicles,” Dr Patel said.

“Its purpose is to get eyes on the target or your surveillance information very quickly so it’s a very efficient operation. Five minutes into the air will give you the information you need.”

Getting a look at a target without a human operator to intervene can sometimes prove difficult.

“This vehicle can do 74 per cent eyes on target, even in the most severe weather,” Dr Patel said. “Precision landing gives you a degree of security. You don’t want to send your men out and make them vulnerable and you don’t want to have your men exposed.”

She will introduce the system to Dubai Police at the airshow this week, and said they had “expressed interest”.

“It’s very low footprint and low-operator workload,” Dr Patel said. “It’s the smartest vehicle you’ll find in this size.”

cmalek@thenational.ae

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

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Sunday's games

Liverpool v West Ham United, 4.30pm (UAE)
Southampton v Burnley, 4.30pm
Arsenal v Manchester City, 7pm

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
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Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')

Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)

 

Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books

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Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas

Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa

Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Family reunited

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.

She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.

She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.

The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.

She was held in her native country a year later.

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Tips from the expert

Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.

  1. Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
  2. It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
  3. Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
  4. Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4