This came across my desk today courtesy of Mobile Europe (hope the picture is a fake)
Sony Mobile takes to the skies in drone initiative with ZMP
Extract of the article is:
Sony Mobile has jointly founded its own drone company, which will offer enterprise solutions using unmanned aircraft.
The smartphone company has formed Aerosense with Japanese robotics company ZMP, with the business set to be incorporated next month.
Sony said Aerosense would use image capture and cloud-based data processing to deliver the likes of measurement, surveying and inspection services.
Sony will provide its camera, sensing, telecoms and robotics technology for the new company.
Google and Facebook are among the other companies testing drones, with both looking to use them to bring wireless connectivity to areas that do not have it.
In March, Google's product chief Sundar Pichai said its drone program could be extended to Europe, with remote connectivity bolstered by its Project Loon initiative, which uses hot air balloons.
Operators have been using drones for network maintenance, with du in the Middle East recently teaming up with Nokia Networks to examine the health of its infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Cosmote in Greece has also used drones for network inspection, with it teaming up with Ericsson for the project.