In case you've just bought a new DJI drone, get ready to feel really, really bad, because the Singapore University of Technology and Design has developed the next step in drone technology, the Transformable Hovering Rotorcraft, or Thor for short.
The university presented their design at this year's International Conference on Robotics and Automation, where they showcased the impressive new drone. THOR combines the flight capabilities of rotor-based drones and fixed-wing aircraft. It has two modes specifically tasked with either hovering or cruising at speed.
The drone needs a strong motor to transition from hover mode to flight mode. The wings need to stabilize and stop rotating before they can generate the necessary lift to keep THOR in the air while it's cruising, and, according to the university's Airlab, it's found a way to consistently and reliably make the transition.
Too bad it'll be another two decades before their is a consumer version of THOR that is remotely affordable.
Related: Power company uses a flame-spewing drone to clear high voltage wires, and it's shocking