Dubai is now home to a trash-eating 'shark' drone

By Esan Swan, CNN

Updated 1009 GMT (1809 HKT) October 31, 2018

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The WasteShark by RanMarine not only collects floating waste but also filters water and collects water quality data. So far it has operated in Dubai, South Africa and the Netherlands.

Scroll through to discover more innovative drones around the world.

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Parrot's thermal edition drone can provide a live feed identifying heat signatures, such as those given off by a human body, or the hot spots of a burning building. As an inspection tool manually controlled by humans, it can be used by first-responders and in disaster-relief efforts. <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/25/technology/parrot-bebop-pro-thermal-search-rescue-agriculture/index.html"><strong>Read more.</strong></a>

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Parrot Bebop Pro Thermal – Parrot's thermal edition drone can provide a live feed identifying heat signatures, such as those given off by a human body, or the hot spots of a burning building. As an inspection tool manually controlled by humans, it can be used by first-responders and in disaster-relief efforts. Read more.

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No gravity? No problem. The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency's JEM Internal Ball was dispatched to the International Space Station in June 2017 to take photos and videos of astronauts at work. If that sounds like vanity, it's estimated ISS occupants spend approximately 10% of their working hours photographing their findings. <a href="/2017/07/18/tech/cute-japanese-space-drone/index.html" target="_blank"><strong>Read more.</strong></a>

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JEM Internal Ball – No gravity? No problem. The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency's JEM Internal Ball was dispatched to the International Space Station in June 2017 to take photos and videos of astronauts at work. If that sounds like vanity, it's estimated ISS occupants spend approximately 10% of their working hours photographing their findings. Read more.

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Capable of speeds of 100 kmph (62 mph), Delft Technical University's <a href="https://www.tudelft.nl/en/ide/research/research-labs/applied-labs/ambulance-drone/" target="_blank">ambulance drone</a> prototype carries a defibrillator which can be dispatched for use in the event of a heart attack. <a href="/2017/10/09/health/ambulance-drone-teching-care-of-your-health/index.html" target="_blank">Read more.</a>

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Ambulance Drone – Capable of speeds of 100 kmph (62 mph), Delft Technical University's ambulance drone prototype carries a defibrillator which can be dispatched for use in the event of a heart attack. Read more.

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Honeybee decline is a worrying issue, integral as they are to pollination. Industrial design major Anna Haldewang has developed a drone called Plan Bee, which mimics the action of a bee, sucking pollen from one plant and expelling it onto others to enable cross-pollination. <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/02/15/technology/bee-drone-pollination/index.html"><strong>Read </strong><strong>more. </strong></a>

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Plan Bee – Honeybee decline is a worrying issue, integral as they are to pollination. Industrial design major Anna Haldewang has developed a drone called Plan Bee, which mimics the action of a bee, sucking pollen from one plant and expelling it onto others to enable cross-pollination. Read more.

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A rendering of a DP Cargospeed route with drones and trucks working within the supply chain. Drone delivery services are taking off in Dubai, and are just one way drones are becoming integrated into everyday life.

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DP Cargospeed – A rendering of a DP Cargospeed route with drones and trucks working within the supply chain. Drone delivery services are taking off in Dubai, and are just one way drones are becoming integrated into everyday life.

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In January 2018 in New South Wales, Australia, the Little Ripper UAV proved vital in rescuing two men caught in rough surf. Lifeguards used the drone to drop an inflatable life preserver in minutes, which the swimmers clung on to to make it to shore. <a href="/2018/01/18/tech/drone-rescue-swimmers-australia/index.html" target="_blank"><strong>Read more.</strong> </a><br /><br />

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The Little Ripper UAV – In January 2018 in New South Wales, Australia, the Little Ripper UAV proved vital in rescuing two men caught in rough surf. Lifeguards used the drone to drop an inflatable life preserver in minutes, which the swimmers clung on to to make it to shore. Read more.

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In extreme sports, headcams are so passé. The Airdog ADII drone will follow riders on snow, water, dirt track -- wherever -- using a GPS-enabled wristband capturing aerial shots while you make your aerial moves. <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/07/12/technology/airdog-drone-adii/index.html"><strong>Read more.</strong></a>

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Airdog ADII – In extreme sports, headcams are so passé. The Airdog ADII drone will follow riders on snow, water, dirt track -- wherever -- using a GPS-enabled wristband capturing aerial shots while you make your aerial moves. Read more.

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Dubai is a playground for future transport prototypes. The 18-rotor autonomous Volocopter was trialled in the emirate in 2017 and reportedly has a flight time of 30 minutes and cruising speed of 30 mph -- enough to get you from the airport to the Burj Al Arab with time to spare.<strong> </strong><a href="/2017/11/29/middleeast/dubai-transport-revolution-global-gateway-episode-four/index.html" target="_blank"><strong>Read more.</strong></a>

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Volocopter – Dubai is a playground for future transport prototypes. The 18-rotor autonomous Volocopter was trialled in the emirate in 2017 and reportedly has a flight time of 30 minutes and cruising speed of 30 mph -- enough to get you from the airport to the Burj Al Arab with time to spare. Read more.

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