Bruce Crumley

Air taxi developer Joby has offered a few reminders of why it has gained the reputation for being among (if not the) leading advanced air mobility (AAM) companies with an update to investors revealing it had completed 84% of its Stage Three certification work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

As part of the effort to strengthen its domestic UAV production for defensive deployment against Russia’s continuing invasion, Ukraine is testing a drone specially developed to accelerate and improve the detection and elimination of deadly landmines.

The innovative producer of tactical UAVs designed specifically for police, fire, and other emergency responder operators, BRINC, has announced the first deliveries of its latest LEMUR 2 drones to US public safety clients, opening a new chapter in the already eventful history of the young startup.

Diversified drone hardware and services company Volatus Aerospace is expanding on what had already been a steady stream of new business contracts in its domestic Canadian market with a deal in the US worth up to $60 million providing aerial infrastructure inspections for a major utility firm.

Ascendant cargo delivery drone startup MightyFly has been recruited by the US Air Force’s emerging tech development unit, AFWERX, in a contract initially focusing on the company’s fully autonomous self-loading payload system for next generation freight aircraft.

US politicians responding to soured relationships and strong distrust of China have again tabled legislation seeking to prohibit use of technology produced by companies from the nation, with popular and widely deployed DJI drones clearly the primary focus of those efforts.

As DroneDJ readers (and anyone else paying even passing attention) have realized by now, DJI has become a veritable (and suspiciously unrepaired) sieve of nominally confidential product information – the most recent example being the liberal flow of photos of the rumored Matrice 3D enterprise drone in advanced stages of development. How did such a tight-lipped company become a leak machine?

Aerial food delivery specialist Flytrex has announced authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permitting it to perform beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights in markets across the US, an exemption to operate above homes and people without ground observers it plans to use in accelerated scaling of its activities.

Responding to political criticism and even some concern within the next generation aviation sector, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said it will team up with the US Air Force to study the operation and effective integration of advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft into the nation’s airspace.

Leading instant logistics and UAV transport specialist Zipline has announced a new partnership with healthcare giant Cleveland Clinic involving an evolving operation that will begin with drone delivery of medication directly to patients’ homes.

Drone pilots in the European Union who are frustrated with the 120-meter altitude limit built into DJI’s latest Mini 4 Pro operating system now have a chance to soar considerably higher using a firmware update – though they’ll need to take action fast and be certain they’re ready to stick with their decision.

France’s budding UAV services startup Delivrone has teamed up with one of Europe’s most ambitious and fast-moving drone delivery companies, RigiTech, to initiate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) missions between French hospitals – including rare nighttime flights.

New image leaks offer indication of DJI’s continued preparation of its rumored Matrice 3D drone, a smaller, non-foldable version of the  Matrice 30 that’s likely to operate from the company’s Mini Dock for regularly flown enterprise missions.

Prepare for drones to yet again reach places they’ve never hovered before, as Fox Sports deploys the first UAVs ever flown during World Series coverage when the Arizona Diamondbacks start their best-of-seven battle against the Texas Rangers tonight.

Drone and general aviation communications, navigation, and surveillance company uAvionix has moved to expand and enhance its range of awareness solutions by acquiring onboard and ground-based aircraft detect and avoid startup Iris Automation.

In their overlapping efforts to defeat Russia’s invading army while increasingly relying on domestic production of materials to obtain that objective, officials from Ukraine have said they’ll rapidly augment the number of drones the nation manufactures to tens of thousands per month.

Swedish medical drone specialist Everdrone is upgrading its aerial first response capabilities with the launch of its E2 drone, a craft designed to accelerate, diversify, and improve the critical care provided in emergencies.

In a move reflecting the national interests in the race between next-generation aviation companies to bring advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles to market, Japan’s SkyDrive has received 12.4 billion yen ($82.7 million) from the government to support the development of the startup’s electric vertical takeoff and landing craft (eVTOL).

Its reputation resplendent in large part due to the critical performance of its tech in service of Ukraine’s defense against invading Russian forces, German drone and robotics company Quantum-Systems has completed an eye-opening €63.6 million ($66.8 million) Series B funding round, pushing its total financing beyond the €100 million ($106 million) threshold.

The US Senate has confirmed aviation veteran Michael G. Whitaker to lead the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at the time when the nation’s system for managing traditional aircraft shows signs of serious strain, and the agency struggles to integrate nearing advanced air mobility (AAM) services like air taxis into the national airspace.

Here’s a fun little item that’ll lift enduringly grounded spirits around Gatwick and Dublin airports with a boost of schadenfreude. According to media reports, a UAV sighting caused flights to be halted for over hour in and out of the Chinese city of Shenzhen – headquarters and home of global drone giant DJI.