Zero is a tilt-rotor that can take off and hover like a helicopter, then rotate the rotor blades by 90 degrees for cruising flight, with lift provided by the wings. Unusual features include detachable wings for converting to pure helicopter mode and the ability to recharge the batteries while on the ground by windmilling, or angling the blades into the wind so they become turbines. After years of secretive development—the first unmanned test flight was in 2011—Project Zero’s creators revealed it on March 4. It’s a two-seater, but no details have been released about its flight performance or endurance. We do know that the exterior design by Stile Bertone, previously known for working with Ferrari and Lamborghini, makes it eye-catching as well as aerodynamic.

PD 100 Black Hornet

Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, the Black Hornet by Proxy Dynamics is the world’s first combat-proven nano (6 inches or smaller) air vehicle. The British Army has deployed several hundred in Afghanistan since 2012. The diminutive craft has proven highly effective at stealthy scout missions, even in wind and rain. Black Hornet carries three cameras and GPS navigation accurate enough to call down airstrikes or artillery fire. When it approaches the end of its 20-minute flight time, it can automatically return to its start point. The Black Hornet’s small carrying case includes three helicopters and a control unit, and an operator can get one airborne in a couple of minutes. The U.S. Army is now testing the device.

Volocopter

Winner of the Lindbergh Prize for Innovation in 2012, the Volocopter is the first manned electric multirotor craft. E-Volo’s aim was to build a helo that could be run for pennies using a multirotor system that removed the need for complex mechanics. While normal helicopters require bulky and expensive pitch control assemblies to steer, the Volocopter changes direction simply by changing the relative speeds of the rotors. The initial version is a pure pleasure craft with a flight time of about 20 minutes. The follow-up under development, called VC-200, will feature an enclosed cockpit for two and an endurance of about an hour.

Quadcopter

To use the quadcopter, the operator puts the package on a base station (which is also a solar recharger) and pushes a button. The autonomous quadrotor does the rest, picking up the package, navigating to the delivery base station at the target clinic or town, and making the drop-off. Making the system affordable is challenging but achievable, says CEO Andreas Raptopoulos. Matternet’s initial goal for its fleet of low-cost unmanned vehicles is to transport small medical packages, such as vaccines and blood tests, in developing countries, especially to villages cut off from paved roads by terrain or seasonal rains. Tests in the Dominican Republic last year went well—the little fliers navigated around hazards such as trees and overhead wires, finding their way through a demanding environment. Further trials are scheduled for this year.

Crazyflie

Crazyflie packs a lot into a low-cost airframe: $149 will buy you a complete 3.5-inch quadrotor craft in kit form. Although essentially a flying circuit board, the tiny aircraft is both agile and stable and is intended as a development platform for open-source projects. Crazyflie weighs just 19 grams (2/3 of an ounce) and can carry a 5 to 10 gram (1/6 to 1/3 oz) payload. It has a seven-minute flight time and can be controlled via a PC with a USB radio dongle, Android phone, or other device. Although the first batch has only just shipped, there have already been ‘hacks’ on preproduction Crazyflies. There’s one that carries a camera, a flying LED light, wireless charging, even automated visual tracking and control. Cheap electronics and crowd-sourcing will push evolution into overdrive—expect new developments fast.

Hexadecagon

Named for its 16 rotors, the Hexadecagon is Hyundai’s idea of a flying car, displayed at the company’s recent IDEA Festival in South Korea. It can hardly be described as a manned craft at this stage; for safety reasons the pilot is a dummy and the operator stays on the ground. The IDEA Festival is an opportunity for Hyundai engineers to show off wacky new ideas – other vehicle concepts included a jointed car, a wind-powered bike and a portable car, so don’t expect to see it in the showrooms soon.

Qube

Not many police departments can afford a manned helicopter, but small quadcopters are another matter. The Qube is equipped with high-resolution color and thermal cameras and provides 40 minutes of flight time. It can be stored in the trunk of a car and be ready for action in 5 minutes. The control unit is a rugged tablet with a simple interface: Just tap a point on the touchscreen map, and the Qube goes there. AeroVironment has a successful track record supplying drones to the U.S. military and sees the Qube as a valuable asset for police and first responders. However, public concerns about privacy might restrict its use. A law recently passed in Florida, for example, requires imminent danger such as a terrorist threat or a warrant from a judge before police can deploy one.

Avian-Inspired Grasper

At present, small quadcopters are mainly used as camera platforms, but they are capable of much more. Researchers at the aptly-names GRASP lab have demonstrated a drone equipped with a lightweight gripper that can swoop down and pick up objects. Inspired by birds of prey, the researchers developed software to coordinate the gripper with the drone’s flight just as eagles move their claws as they strike. The design could be used to retrieve small objects or might be adapted to mundane tasks such as picking fruit or retrieving golf balls. A future development of the system may allow the gripper to take hold of a wire or branch, so the drone can perch at a convenient vantage point. The grabber-drone would also be quite awesome as a bird-scarer/remover.

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