As the farming season starts in the US, the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) is urging drone operators to be extra careful near low-flying crewed agricultural aircraft. The safety of ag aviators is crucial because they help farmers on over 127 million acres of land to increase productivity and protect crops.
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Ishveena Singh is a versatile journalist and writer with a passion for drones and location technologies. She has been named as one of the 50 Rising Stars of the geospatial industry for the year 2021 by Geospatial World magazine.
Asylon bags new FAA approval for BVLOS drone operations
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given security robotics company Asylon new approval for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations using the US-made DroneSentry drone-in-a-box system. The waiver removes the requirement for on-site personnel.
Expand Expanding CloseNew firmware for DJI Power 1000 superfast portable charger
Tech giant DJI has released a new firmware update for the newly-released Power 1000 portable charger that can power common household devices and provide superfast charging for DJI drone batteries.
Expand Expanding CloseNew DJI Mini 4K camera drone arrives on April 29
DJI has quietly announced the release date of a new 4K mini camera drone for beginners: DJI Mini 4K.
Expand Expanding CloseDJI launches Agras T50 and T25 drones globally with upgraded SmartFarm app
The DJI Agras T50 and Agras T25 agriculture drones are now available for purchase in the US and other international markets. Building on the popular Agras drone line, the T50 is built for larger-scale growing operations while the lightweight T25 is designed to be more portable for smaller fields. Both drones are compatible with the DJI SmartFarm app which has been upgraded for comprehensive aerial application management.
Expand Expanding CloseNew AUVSI, DIU initiative to enhance drone cybersecurity
The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) says it has signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). The agreement establishes a pathway for drone component manufacturers with Green UAS certification to directly share their data with DIU. The goal is to potentially incorporate Green-certified components onto DIU’s Blue UAS Framework list.
Expand Expanding CloseRobinson Helicopter scoops up drone maker Ascent AeroSystems
America’s biggest non-military helicopter manufacturer, Robinson Helicopter Company, has acquired Ascent AeroSystems, a company that designs and manufactures rugged “coaxial” drones for the industrial, public safety, and defense markets. Through this acquisition, Ascent can now build its drones at Robinson’s cost-effective, vertically integrated manufacturing unit in California.
Expand Expanding CloseAmazon ends California drone delivery, shifts focus to Arizona
Amazon is calling it quits on Prime Air services in one of the two cities where they launched their drone delivery program back in 2022. The news of the Lockeford, California, delivery site shutdown comes on the same day the company announced a new aerial initiative in Arizona’s West Valley area.
Expand Expanding CloseDJI Mini 4 Pro gets new firmware — its second in two weeks
Less than two weeks since the last update, DJI is rolling out a new firmware version for the Mini 4 Pro drone users today.
Expand Expanding CloseZipline hits 1,000,000 commercial drone delivery milestone
Autonomous drone delivery startup Zipline says it has made one million commercial deliveries to customers. It’s a feat that would have taken a human pilot 120 years of flying! In addition, the company has announced new partnerships with Panera Bread, Memorial Hermann Health System, and Jet’s Pizza starting in the greater Seattle, Houston, and Detroit metro areas respectively.
Expand Expanding CloseAloft launches live UTM telemetry for Skydio drones
Drone fleet management and airspace data specialist Aloft Technologies is joining forces with US drone maker Skydio to integrate live UTM (Uncrewed Traffic Management) telemetry. Available today for all enterprise, government, and public safety customers, you can now see your Skydio aircraft flying in real-time within the full context of the Aloft airspace maps and applications.
Expand Expanding CloseA2Z Drone Delivery releases new safety features, hardware for smart winch
Commercial aerial logistics solutions provider A2Z Drone Delivery has released several new safety features for its popular smart drone winch RDS2. And alongside the software-enabled features, that can be accessed via a firmware update, the company is also releasing a new weatherproof cover for the winch as well as a new auto-releasing bag hook able to deposit packages without a recipient awaiting the delivery.
Expand Expanding CloseBest mini camera drone to buy in 2024
Creating a smaller, less fancy product usually means making sacrifices in terms of performance. But, today, even mini drones — that fit into your pocket and weigh less than 250 g — can capture stunning cinematic shots and photos, and that too at a fraction of the cost of larger, more advanced models. Here are the best mini drones on the market right now, based on price, ease of use, camera quality, and flight time.
Expand Expanding CloseAnzu Robotics launches Raptor drone series as DJI alternative
[Updated April 21 with DJI’s response]
Texas-based Anzu Robotics has announced its entrance into the US drone market with the launch of Raptor and Raptor T industrial aircraft. These drones have all the qualities of a great DJI alternative because they have been developed through a strategic licensing agreement with DJI itself but in a way that satisfies key geopolitical and cybersecurity concerns for most enterprise and public safety users.
Expand Expanding CloseDJI M3E drone series just got a huge new firmware update
DJI has released a new firmware update for the Mavic 3 Enterprise drone series. The comprehensive update brings several exciting features including the ability to map vertical and slope missions, manual White Balance camera settings, and real-time view from obstacle avoidance sensor cameras.
Expand Expanding CloseNew DJI Air 2S firmware adds support for EU C1 certification
DJI has released a new firmware update for the Air 2S drone. The software package brings good news for users who wish to obtain a C1 class identification label for their aircraft under Europe’s new drone regulations.
Expand Expanding CloseDJI’s superfast portable chargers now available to buy in US
Tech giant DJI has officially introduced in the US market its portable charger series that can power common household devices and provide superfast charging for DJI drone batteries.
Expand Expanding CloseDJI bringing 4K camera to Mini 2 SE drone?
The Mini 2 SE is one of the most popular travel-friendly camera drones from tech giant DJI. However, it is capable of shooting only 2.7K videos, and those looking for 4K have to turn to the pricier Mini 3 series or the Mini 4 Pro. But that could change with DJI planning to upgrade the camera chip in the new Mini 2 SE models it manufactures. And in preparation for that, the company has slashed the price of the current Mini 2 SE from $299 to $279!
Expand Expanding CloseuAvionix bags FAA contract to ensure conflict-free BVLOS drone comms
Montana-based avionics solutions provider uAvionix says it has been awarded a contract by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to scale C-Band frequency management for regional drone communications. The initiative will enable multiple drones from different manufacturers to operate near each other while maintaining reliable and deconflicted command and control (C2) within the limited range of spectrum available for low-altitude operations.
Expand Expanding CloseNew Insta360 X4 camera delivers incredible 360-degree views in 8K
Insta360 has taken the wraps off its highest resolution ever 360-degree action cam, the X4. Capable of capturing immensely detailed and sharp videos in 8K, the new Insta360 X4 doubles as both a 360-degree camera and a regular wide-angle action camera.
Expand Expanding CloseNew firmware updates for DJI Mini 4 Pro, Air 3 drone models
Tech giant DJI has released new firmware updates for two of its latest and most popular drones, the travel-friendly sub-250-gram Mini 4 Pro and the dual-camera powerhouse Air 3.
Expand Expanding CloseDJI Avata 2 vs. Avata FPV drone: Worth upgrading?
The newly released DJI Avata 2 is meant for those who want to add an element of excitement to their flying sessions. Promising safety, sharp imaging, and immersive flight experience, DJI’s latest first-person view (FPV) drone is designed to be paired with the new DJI Goggles 3 video headset and DJI RC Motion 3 joystick remote controller. But how exactly is Avata 2 different from DJI Avata? Here’s a detailed guide to help you understand just that…
Expand Expanding CloseMichael Robbins to lead AUVSI as president and CEO
The Board of Directors of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has named Michael Robbins as the association’s new president and chief executive officer. AUVSI is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing uncrewed systems and robotics.
Expand Expanding CloseNew Elios 3 drone software merges data from previous inspection flights
Switzerland’s Flyability has released a new software extension for Elios 3, a drone developed especially for indoor and confined-space inspections. The Asset Management extension simplifies Elios 3’s processing and reporting workflows by merging data from subsequent flights into a single digital twin of the asset — with no additional post-processing.
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