Sony publically tested a prototype of its speedy airplane-looking drone that the company plans on putting to use serving business customers.
Looking like a chubby concorde, the VTOL takes off and lands vertically like a Harrier Jump Jet. It’s capable of flying for more than two hours with a top speed of 106 mph (170 kph) and can carry a load of up to 22 pounds (10 kg).
Sony’s joint-venture drone company called Aerosense is developing the device as part of Sony’s strategy to expand into enterprise markets.
Aerosense will cater to business by offering automatically piloted services such as inspecting infrastructure and surveying land.
“By making it automated, drones will be considerably safer because many of accidents today are caused by human errors,” chief executive of Aerosense Hisashi Taniguchi said at a news conference, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Taniguchi told The Journal that Aerosense hopes to generate ¥10 billion (US$82.6 million) in revenue by 2020.
Other technology giants like Google and Amazon are developing and testing their respective drone tech. Google X is working on a drone delivery effort and massive solar-powered drones to provide Internet access to remote areas. Amazon wants to deliver packages to Prime members within 30 minutes using drones by next year.
Jenna Pitcher is a freelance journalist writing for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter.
