News

Updated Guidelines Aim to Enhance Safety, Innovation, and Growth in Crewed and Uncrewed Aviation The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a new initiative to modernize spectrum rules for advanced air mobility systems, a sector that combines crewed and uncrewed aircraft for efficient transportation of people and cargo. The FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM),… Read more: FCC Proposes New Spectrum Rules to Advance Air Mobility Technologies

Innovative car and solar chargers join the DJI Power Series, offering solutions for RVs, vehicles, and emergency backup systems. by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb DJI has continued their expansion into non-drone related industries with their new super-fast chargers for their existing battery bank systems, expanding the ever-growing DJI Power ecosystem. Both the new… Read more: DJI Expands Beyond Drones with New Super-Fast Chargers for Power Storage Systems

A New Chapter for Autonomous Middle-Mile Logistics Windracers has unveiled its latest self-flying cargo aircraft, the ULTRA MK2, at a launch event in London. Designed to enhance middle-mile logistics, the ULTRA MK2 offers double the power output, a 50% increase in payload capacity, and a significant reduction in fuel costs compared to its predecessor. “The… Read more: Windracers Introduces ULTRA MK2 Cargo UAV: More Power, Payload, and Efficiency

Coaxial Innovation from Massachusetts Massachusetts-based Ascent AeroSystems offers something unique in the crowded drone market. During a recent visit to their headquarters, DRONELIFE explored what sets this promising U.S. manufacturer apart. Their innovation lies in a coaxial drone design—a sleek cylindrical form powered by counter-rotating rotors. It’s a departure from the typical quadcopter, offering advantages in performance,… Read more: Inside Ascent AeroSystems: A Revolutionary Approach to Drones

New Technology Aims to Enhance Emergency Response Times The Hempstead Police Department announced plans to deploy a new Drone-as-First-Responder (DFR) system later this year. This initiative, powered by the Flock Aerodome DFR system from Flock Safety, will mark the first such deployment in New York State. Faster and Safer Emergency Responses The Flock Aerodome DFR… Read more: Hempstead Police Department Introduces Drone-As-First-Responder System from Flock Safety

Axon Introduces Drone Swap Program to Help Agencies Transition to Secure, American-Made Drone Technology Public safety agencies in the U.S. increasingly rely on drones to enhance situational awareness, support search-and-rescue missions, and improve operational efficiency. However, evolving regulations and national security concerns are posing challenges for agencies that depend on drones, particularly those manufactured overseas.… Read more: SkySwap Program: A New Path for Public Safety Drone Compliance

Dubai’s DXV Facility Sets the Stage for Advanced Air Mobility with Skyports and GCAA’s Vision for Urban Transport Transformation by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb The rapid progress of the middle eastern drone industry received a big boost from Dubai with the recent news that the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has granted technical… Read more: Pioneering the Skies: UAE Approves First Commercial Vertiport for Air Taxis

Collaboration Brings Advanced Agriculture Drones to U.S. Market Drone Nerds, a leading provider of enterprise and agricultural drones, has partnered with ABZ Innovation to expand its lineup of agricultural spraying drones. This collaboration aims to provide American farmers with diverse, multifunctional solutions to meet the demands of modern farming. ABZ Innovation, a Hungary-based company specializing… Read more: Drone Nerds Expands Support for American Farmers with ABZ Innovation Partnership

The recent New Jersey drone panic has made it clear: people want to know what’s flying in low altitude airspace.  Why can’t we provide the level of clarity demanded?  What’s needed to make it happen?  This guest post by MatrixSpace‘s Dan O’Shea explains the current gaps in airspace awareness technology and infrastructure.  DRONELIFE neither accepts… Read more: Closing the Gaps: Why Low-Altitude Airspace Awareness Is Critical for the Future of Aviation

DEXA’s NEPA Testing Highlights Noise Mitigation and Environmental Responsibilit Noise is a major concern for consumers and a critical factor in gaining community acceptance for drone delivery technology. As companies refine their systems, addressing noise issues is a priority for successful integration into daily life. DEXA (Drone Express), a company specializing in autonomous drone delivery,… Read more: Addressing Noise Concerns: A Key to Community Acceptance of Drone Delivery Technology

New Appointment to Support Advocacy and Policy for Commercial Drone Industry The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA), a non-profit organization focused on advancing the commercial uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) industry, has announced Liz Forro as its new Policy Director. Forro brings years of experience in aviation policy and regulation to her new role, where she will… Read more: Liz Forro Joins the Commercial Drone Alliance as Policy Director

DJI Flip Combines Safety, Portability, and Professional-Grade Features in a Lightweight Design DJI, a global leader in drone technology, has introduced the DJI Flip, an all-in-one vlog camera drone designed for safety, portability, and high-quality photography. This release comes as the U.S. government continues to limit the use of professional DJI drones, yet the company… Read more: DJI Launches DJI Flip: A Compact Vlog Camera Drone for Safe and Stunning Aerial Photography

New Organization Aims to Enhance Drone Show Safety Following Orlando Incident Stakeholders have formed the International Drone Show Industry Association (IDSIA) to promote safety and quality standards for drone shows worldwide. This development comes in the wake of a recent accident at a drone show in Orlando, Florida, which injured a young spectator.  Investigation into this… Read more: Drone Show Association Formed to Develop Industry Standards and Safety

5-Year Agreement Aims to Enhance Grid Resilience Amid Growing Wildfire Concerns Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has signed a 5-year agreement with Sharper Shape to use their CORE (Cloud Optimized Remote Evaluation) software for utility asset management. This partnership, which began in 2019, will help PG&E create a digital twin of its infrastructure using LiDAR… Read more: PG&E Embraces AI-Powered Asset Management with Sharper Shape’s CORE Software

New lightweight digital video transmission system offers high-quality imaging and low latency for competitive racers and photographers by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb Drone giant DJI has recently announced their newest product aimed at the thriving FPV drone market- the DJI O4 Air unit series, their flagship digital video transmission products that bring a… Read more: DJI O4 Air Unit Series: A Game-Changer for FPV Drone Racing

EagleView produces high-resolution images in the wake of disasters By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Soon after two powerful and devastating hurricanes, Helene and Milton, struck Florida within weeks of each other last fall, data analytics company EagleView Technologies was on the scene, capturing high-resolution aerial images of the destruction to aid recovery efforts and assist… Read more: EagleView’s High-Tech Response to Natural Disasters: Capturing Devastation from Above

U.S. CBP deploys drones in multiple ways to complete its mission By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill (The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol deploys a wide range drone types of to help fulfill its mission to safeguard the nation’s borders, enhance its economic prosperity and protect the American people. CBP’s pilots fly everything from small… Read more: How CBP Leverages Drones to Secure Borders and Enhance National Security: DRONELIFE Exclusive Interview

FAA Urges Drone Pilots to Avoid Wildfire Areas to Prevent Accidents and Delays in Firefighting Efforts A drone collided with a firefighting aircraft over the Palisades fire on Thursday, grounding the firefighting aircraft and raising concerns about drone safety near active wildfires. The FAA and local officials are emphasizing the dangers of unauthorized drone flights… Read more: Drone Collision with Firefighting Aircraft Highlights Safety Risks in Restricted Airspace

KDDI and DJI Flycart 30 Prove Vital in Overcoming Logistics Challenges After Heavy Rains in Ishikawa Prefecture This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association. by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb Natural disasters are a fact of life in rural Japan, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have devastating… Read more: Drone Technology Saves the Day: Rescuing a Rural Apple Harvest in Japan

Shifting Partnerships Highlight Challenges in Building Cost-Effective and Scalable Drone Delivery Systems Walmart’s recent decision to end its partnership with DroneUp marks a significant moment for the drone delivery industry. The retail giant terminated its collaboration with the logistics provider and reportedly divested its stake in the company. This move reflects both the evolving dynamics… Read more: What the Walmart and DroneUp Breakup Reveals About Drone Delivery Models