Leaks are in the air as we likely near another release of DJI’s flagship drone line, the Mavic 4. Amazon also had a big week, but not in a good way; its drone delivery operation is on pause as it works on issues with its MK30 drone.
Flying tip of the week: Not really a flying tip, but in case you’re a purchaser of a new DJI drone, it appears Customs and Border Protection are still holding up new shipments for weeks on end. So if you’re wondering where it might be, know that most shipments do get cleared eventually; you just might need to add some time onto when to expect it.
Consumer news
Leaks of the upcoming DJI Mavic 4 have been hitting the internet in the last few weeks. If the leaks are correct, the Mavic 4 will continue with the triple camera setup and a similar body redesign to the Mini 4 Pro. This will increase aerodynamics, enhance battery life, and potentially improve cooling for internal components.
A new battery out of South Korea promises to double the flight time of drones and perform better in harsher conditions. South Korea’s BEI unveiled its new battery technology that could allow drones to fly up to 70% farther than those with traditional lithium-ion batteries. The new battery can also operate for up to 40 minutes in temperatures as low as -4°F.
Enterprise news
New York City’s Department of Sanitation is looking to build out a fleet of drones to crack down on garbage violations and abandoned cars. While the city claims it will improve the quality of life in the city, critics argue that it’s an overstep of surveillance and a reduction of the public’s privacy.
Amazon has paused its drone delivery service in Texas and Arizona after a crash of its MK30 drone at a company test site in Oregon. While no crashes took place during commercial operations, the company is still grounding its fleet until its software can be updated.
Defense and Public Safety news
BRINC is offering $15,000 in credits for each non-purpose-built drone in agencies’ fleets in the hope of modernizing drone use across the country. The agencies will even be able to continue using the drone in their fleets while they work on scaling up their use of newer, purpose-built drones for public safety.
The South Korean drone industry has taken off with an increase in exports of 260% in 2024. This has been thanks to US regulations banning the use of Chinese drones like those from DJI and Autel over security concerns. The US accounted for 42% of South Korea’s drone market, and that is likely to increase as drone fleets become the norm for many public safety agencies across the country.
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