0:00:27 > 0:00:28Drones.
0:00:29 > 0:00:30Drones.
0:00:30 > 0:00:35Drones.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37A thing of constant fascination and innovation.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40So much so, last year the government of the United Arab Emirates
0:00:40 > 0:00:47held a contest with a massive $1 million prize up for grabs.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51Teams from around the world were invited to take part
0:00:51 > 0:00:57to demonstrate how their unmanned, aerial vehicles could improve lives.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01We saw everything from fog dissipation to window cleaning.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Not content with last year's event,
0:01:04 > 0:01:10Dubai is aiming to be the centre of drone innovation.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14We have been back to the UAE to meet the pilots set to turn drone racing
0:01:14 > 0:01:19professional and establish themselves as world champions.
0:01:24 > 0:01:30Pilots, start your rotors.
0:01:30 > 0:01:3332 of the best drone pilots from across the globe
0:01:33 > 0:01:39have gathered in Dubai for the very first World Drone Prix.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42At stake, a huge prize pot of $1 million with the first prize
0:01:42 > 0:01:49of $250,000 for the fastest team.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52They will be flying custom quadcopters
0:01:52 > 0:02:00around this specially constructed circuit.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Don't worry, they won't move during racing because
0:02:02 > 0:02:08this would make an already difficult track almost impossible.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10You advise what the track should be like, the circuit itself.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14What did you tell them what a good idea would be to introduce
0:02:14 > 0:02:15to the track?
0:02:15 > 0:02:19In the previous races, we have only done this
0:02:19 > 0:02:21on the ground, we wanted to introduce elevation and get it up
0:02:21 > 0:02:26off the ground so it can be an aerial sport.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29So we introduced the tower and they have to go up and over
0:02:29 > 0:02:34and it becomes a roller-coaster.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37The pilots must complete 12 laps of the track,
0:02:37 > 0:02:41making at least one pit stop per race to swap batteries.
0:02:41 > 0:02:46We are in the crew's area backstage, if you like, at the race.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48We will meet some of the teams.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53This is the Dutch team.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56We were just flying in a field, now we are in the top 32
0:02:56 > 0:02:57of the world.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01I am helping them set up the rig.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06The competition have come in to help them set up their rig.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10This is a drone racing team at work, relaxing just before the race.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Is this the pit crew technician doing the really hard work?
0:03:14 > 0:03:18Soldering, rewiring things.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Those soldering irons will be busy because the drones are
0:03:21 > 0:03:24fitted with a host of electronics including GPS tracking
0:03:24 > 0:03:28and forward facing cameras.
0:03:28 > 0:03:36And now the semifinals are about to begin.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Last-minute tweaks have been made,
0:03:39 > 0:03:41and fighting talk rings out across the circuit.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44Speed is my game, so we will do well.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Our team motto is "Do damage."
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Didn't come here for second.
0:03:49 > 0:03:57Navigators, pilots and pit crew take their positions.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02The sun is going down, and the race gets off in earnest.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05And they're off!
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Time for me to get in on the action as well.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13When I put these goggles on, I can see what the pilots
0:04:13 > 0:04:18can see now, as they are racing.
0:04:18 > 0:04:23Put them on, I get the pilot's eye view of the track.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26All I can see from here is in standard definition.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29They tried to do it in HD, but there was too much latency
0:04:29 > 0:04:34and the pilots have to see exactly what is happening.
0:04:34 > 0:04:35They have just had a crash.
0:04:35 > 0:04:36Able to recover?
0:04:36 > 0:04:38No.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42That is, as they say, game over.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44This is it, the final.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49The tension in the air is palpable.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54Confidence is diminished, game faces are on,
0:04:54 > 0:04:56and now it is time for maximum focus.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59How do you feel going into this race?
0:04:59 > 0:05:02No pressure?
0:05:02 > 0:05:05And they are off.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23The video wasn't good, but it looked perfectly clean.
0:05:23 > 0:05:29When you lose, you will blame something other than yourself.
0:05:29 > 0:05:36There is a lot on the line, that's for sure.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38So the final race has been run,
0:05:38 > 0:05:42but there is some confusion as to who has actually won.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Ladies and gentlemen, to the track race award.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49And it is going to...
0:05:49 > 0:05:54Tornado from the UK!
0:05:54 > 0:06:04It is a sweet victory for the 15-year-old British pilot,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Luke Bannister, as he scoops the $250,000 first prize,
0:06:06 > 0:06:08which he will share with the team.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10How does it feel to be a winner? Amazing.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13I couldn't have done it without my team.
0:06:13 > 0:06:19Dream come true, so honoured.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21As fast as these things are,
0:06:21 > 0:06:24keeping them up in the air for a length of time is a problem.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Pilots can get through 40 batteries in a day.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30You generally only get about 15 to 20 minutes' life
0:06:30 > 0:06:32out of one battery.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36But a UK company is working on a way of increasing flight time
0:06:36 > 0:06:38from minutes to hours.
0:06:38 > 0:06:46And Jane has had an exclusive look at its first flight.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49I have been flying drones for a few years now on Click.
0:06:49 > 0:06:59Even managed to crash one.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Behind the scenes, we are always aware of how little time we have
0:07:02 > 0:07:06to get the perfect shot before we run out of batteries.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08Now there could be a natural solution
0:07:08 > 0:07:10to substantially increased flight time.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Intelligent Energy in Loughborough
0:07:13 > 0:07:15have been experimenting with hydrogen fuel-cell technology.
0:07:15 > 0:07:20We have been given exclusive access to their first test flight.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22It's the first time we've seen a drone
0:07:22 > 0:07:24flying with a hydrogen fuel cell.
0:07:24 > 0:07:34The fuel cell weighs about 1.6 kilograms.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38This drone can fly for up to two hours on one fuel cell,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41around six times longer than the average with a normal battery.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Refuelling with compressed hydrogen is faster,
0:07:44 > 0:07:48taking just a few minutes versus recharging a battery.
0:07:48 > 0:07:53Intelligent Energy have been testing this technology since 2001
0:07:53 > 0:07:57but have focused on drone flights for the last 18 months.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Tell us how it works.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02This is the fuel tank, so this is where the hydrogen is.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04These are the fuel cells.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08We have a fan that takes a small amount of heat away
0:08:08 > 0:08:12but helps the airflow.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15You combine the hydrogen with oxygen from the air with these fans,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17and that produces electricity.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Well, hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe
0:08:20 > 0:08:28and is usually used in industry.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31In the industrial industry, we are looking at agriculture,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34oil and gas, mapping, forestry and any other industries
0:08:34 > 0:08:39that needs drones for inspection or otherwise.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41We will get into the consumer space,
0:08:41 > 0:08:46but initially our target market is the commercial space.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Increasing flight time to an hour, or even up to two hours,
0:08:48 > 0:08:51reduces their costs considerably.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54The company expects to have fuel cells
0:08:54 > 0:08:55ready for commercial use next year.
0:08:55 > 0:09:00But we will have to wait a bit longer for a consumer version.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07Today I have gone back to school.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10I am learning to programme the new chip on the block.
0:09:10 > 0:09:15The data is going from the computer...
0:09:15 > 0:09:18The BBC has finally unleashed the Micro Bit.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22Announced for July, the tiny programmable computer is being
0:09:22 > 0:09:28given free to a million schoolkids in the UK,
0:09:28 > 0:09:30in the hope it will inspire a new generation programmers.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33In just a few minutes, it is possible to create short
0:09:33 > 0:09:35programmes that turn the Micro Bit into a name badge,
0:09:35 > 0:09:41roboracer or even a spacecraft.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45We are learning how to turn it into a dice, so when you shake it
0:09:45 > 0:09:49you get a random number between one and six.
0:09:49 > 0:09:54Problem is, it's giving a number between zero and six.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56The good thing is, everyone is already trying to solve that
0:09:56 > 0:10:01problem to get rid of the zero.
0:10:01 > 0:10:06The Micro Bit is not a fully fledged computer like a Raspberry Pi,
0:10:06 > 0:10:09it is more like an introduction to the idea of programming,
0:10:09 > 0:10:14more simple.
0:10:14 > 0:10:21But it does have an LED display, thermometer,
0:10:21 > 0:10:23motion sensors, a compass and Bluetooth.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25But even if it's not directly competing with other widget
0:10:25 > 0:10:29computers, it has arrived later than promised, which may make it
0:10:29 > 0:10:31difficult to incorporate into lesson plans
0:10:31 > 0:10:34for the remainder of this school year.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37It is using everything I have learnt at school,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40but it is opening me up to a lot more opportunities,
0:10:40 > 0:10:44such as allowing me to use the LED.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48You can take it anywhere with you, as well.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Excellent, did you enjoy it?
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Yes!
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Thank you very much.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00Let's hope it does prove as inspirational as the BBC Micro
0:11:00 > 0:11:02and the whole home-computer revolution of the 1980s.
0:11:02 > 0:11:10That is exactly why I got into this lark in the first place.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13That is all we have got time for this week.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16Follow us on Twitter.
0:11:16 > 0:11:24Thanks for watching, and we will see you soon.