NTT DOCOMO has developed a blimp-style drone that is propelled with ultrasonic vibrations, offering promising applications in homes, concert halls and other indoor spaces.

Japanese telco NTT DOCOMO has developed a blimp-style drone that is propelled with ultrasonic vibrations, offering promising applications in homes, concert halls and other indoor spaces.

Unlike conventional drones that require propellers and sometimes wings, DOCOMO‘s propellerless and wingless drone blimp simply requires helium to remain airborne. It can travel forward, backwards or up and down propelled via ultrasonic vibrations generated by several small modules to move air.

Applications

Conventional drones can cause serious injury or damage if their propellers or wings strike people or objects. DOCOMO‘s drone blimp, however, uses ultrasonic-vibration modules, so “coming into contact with the drone presents no danger,” the company says.

Soon, DOCOMO will deploy its drone blimp at concert halls and other indoor events for entertainment, information and advertising. It will also be possible to use projection mapping to display images and videos on the drone’s surfaces.

In addition, the drone can be fitted with tiny cameras for monitoring and security solutions.

DOCOMO plans to continue its development of advanced drone services as part of its efforts to “serve society” by leveraging its mobile network technologies, platform businesses and other technical assets and expertise.

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