Joshua Spires

Drone manufacturer FIMI has released its latest drone, the X8 Mini, as a direct competitor to DJI’s Mini line of drones. The drone is designed to slot in at just under 250 grams, but with a catch. A “pro” battery must be used to keep it under the 250-gram weight limit.

Defense company Anduril Industries has announced it has acquired drone manufacturer Area-I, expanding its hardware portfolio. The move will create new opportunities for the company for its software-defined capabilities such as mission autonomy and intelligent teaming.

A former Air Force analyst pleaded guilty to leaking documents on the US’s drone strikes against terrorist targets, including al-Qaida. The leaker pleaded guilty just a few days before he was set to go on trial for infringing on the Espionage Act.

A user has posted a photo of their DJI FPV Goggles V2 with an abnormal-looking green line partially going across the display. The user posted the photo yesterday after the green line began to appear only after using the goggles a few times.

Fortem Technologies has announced its Fortem DroneHunter counter-drone product will seamlessly integrate with the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control system (FAAD C2). FAAD C2 was recently announced by the US Army Joint Counter-UAS Office (JCO) as the interim command and control standard for countering small drones.

Iran-backed Houthi forces have continued to hit key Saudi oil targets over the last few weeks, causing massive amounts of damage and delays. The forces are continuing to use their newest drone with a range of more than 900 miles, the Samad-3.

Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has partnered with Northern Territory Airports to install drone safety signage. The signs come as no surprise as the Alice Springs airport, located in the Northern Territory, saw an increase in drone activity during the pandemic.

SSEN Transmission has stepped its drone presence up a notch by utilizing Cyberhawk’s iHawk drone data collection platform. The platform’s introduction has allowed SSEN to inspect and monitor over 11,500 transmission towers and almost 150 substations across the Scottish Utility Network.

Agriculture spraying drones in the UK are currently being held back by outdated rules and regulations. As a result of this, investment into the sector is also severely limited, holding back advancements and major benefits.

Indiana-based DRONEDEK is working on a future that will see drone-friendly mailboxes collect your packages for you. The founder Dan O’Toole thought of the idea when he envisioned many scenarios where a package would end up in the front yard, allowing anyone to get to it.

Tethered drone manufacturer Elistair has secured around $6 million (€5 million) in a Series B funding round. The money will allow the company to accelerate its expansion plans in the United States while reinforcing its presence in Europe.

Counter-drone company Citadel Defense has secured a contract worth $5 million with the US Department of Defense (DoD). The new contract is for the company’s portable Titan counter-drone system, which will be deployed for small drone threats.

Drone videos from WKRN in Tennessee have revealed the true extent of the flooding in the Nashville region and the damage caused. The floodwaters have destroyed the first floor of many houses and vehicles, and closed schools and essential shops in the area.

Drones have been placed on a temporary ban in India’s entire Puducherry region as prime minister Narendra Modi plans his visit to the region. The news was shared on Monday by the District Magistrate Purva Garg. This type of ban is something we have begun seeing more and more often due to past events.

The USS Michael Monsoor, a navy destroyer, will be controlling a swarm of drones and autonomous boats during an upcoming naval exercise part of the US Navy’s futuristic battlefield plan. The USS Michael Monsoor is a Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer.

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati are turning to drones to deliver the required devices to make telehealth appointments possible. The group is looking for ways to allow families without smart devices or a decent internet connection to access telehealth.

The South African police force is making its officers a little more high-tech with access to drones and body cameras to improve safety and collect more evidence in a shorter amount of time. The news comes on the back of the recently announced Easter road safety campaign.

The Milwaukee Sheriff’s department has pitched the idea of a new drone unit to the public in an effort to communicate better how it intends to use the public safety technology. The department will be using a DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise drone with a thermal camera, speaker, and mapping capabilities.

As things continue to escalate in Yemen, Saudi-led military forces have announced they have taken down Houthi armed drones and destroyed explosive-packed boats.

Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar Defence has hit a milestone with its latest drone, AKINCI, as the third prototype completes its maiden flight. The drone is currently in mass production as it prepares to deliver units to the Turkish Armed Forces.

Seaplane Hong Kong is looking to the future as it one day aims to transport passengers around the country via drones for as little as $25. The goal is to make hiring a transport drone as easy and painless to do as ordering a car from a ride-sharing service today.