Scott Simmie

There’s another DJI leak. And this one appears to show what is believed to be an FPV drone.

Canada’s federal government has put the export of drone technology to Turkey on pause. The move follows concern that the Azerbaijani military may be using this technology against Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Transport Canada has accepted the documentation surrounding the Quantix Mapper Vertical Take-off and Landing aircraft (VTOL). That means the aircraft can be used for Advanced Operations in Canada — which means using the drone in advanced airspace, flying it with less than 30 meters horizontal separation from bystanders, or flying over people.

Before we go any further, BAM is an acronym for the Business of Automated Mobility forum. Whether it’s driverless cars or drones carrying out tasks autonomously, there’s a business case to be made for these kinds of automated services. If you have some thoughts on this, BAM wants to hear from you.

The North Carolina Department of Transport (NCDOT) has received an FAA waiver allowing it to deploy Skydio 2 drones on Beyond Visual Line of Sight flights. The statewide waiver will allow the Skydio 2 to be deployed on bridge inspections, where the drone’s AI does the bulk of the heavy lifting.

It’s just been announced that two organizations are joining forces to create a standardized drone training program. A news release says ASTM International and Droneresponders will work together on what’s being called a Strategic Training Initiative, or STI.

The largest organization dedicated to the unmanned world, the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, will be presented on October 6. But the list of winners has been announced now, and we’re happy to share them with you.

A video came to our attention the other day. Actually, it was a message to our Facebook page. Might we have a look at this video? It came from a Swedish FPV pilot named Matin Hamarahem. And once we watched his video? Wow.

With the global pandemic still ongoing, drones will be used to disinfect Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz stadium starting October 11. That’s when the 71,000-seat stadium will allow limited audiences to attend the game.

Well, it seems this Mini is joining the Big Leagues. Software provider FlytNow, which provides fleet management software for First Responders, public safety, and security and surveillance applications, is now supporting DJI’s tiny Mavic Mini.

San Francisco-based Dedrone specializes in counter-drone technology. Its products are designed to detect, identify, and even disrupt drones that are being flown with malicious intent. It today announced that it has raised $12.1 million from investors as the company moves forward.

Ever worked at a startup? I have. It involves long hours, major milestones, and relentless drive. And that’s just when you’re an employee. It’s an even bigger responsibility when you’re a founder with a vision. Now, a new CNBC video takes a look behind the scenes with the founder of Beagle Drones, a New Jersey company that sells FPV racing drones in a complete kit. It’s a great video, and it led to us having an interview with the founder.

A man is safe tonight, thanks to a thermal camera-equipped DJI drone that was able to pick out his image during a rescue effort. And the very technology that facilitated the rescue? A Made-in-China DJI drone that the Department of Interior has effectively banned.

The Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI) has announced the winners of its annual Humanitarian and Public Safety Awards. Six organizations that have led the way in using drones for positive purposes will share in the $30,000 prize.

A company called SkyGrid has released a new app for drone operators that it says will “automate every phase of flight in one unified solution.” If you’ve never heard of SkyGrid, you should know it has some brains and money behind it. It’s part of SparkCognition, which has partnered with Boeing and is focused on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. So that, already, has our attention.

We’ve become so accustomed to DJI teasing its new product releases that we jump whenever we see a DJI graphic. If it’s something that looks like it could possibly be related to a new product, it immediately grabs our attention. And that’s the case again now.

As drones continue to grow in popularity, so too does the demand for counter-UAS technology. Police and other authorities want solutions that can neutralize a drone over an urban area without the use of projectiles or nets. The last thing anyone wants is a drone dropping down on people. A French manufacturer, Cerbair, believes its new counter-UAS system could be part of the solution.

Here at DroneDJ, we love to highlight cool drone videos. Sometimes it’s the flying. Or maybe the location, or even the edit. But something about the video has to grab our attention. This one did.

Drone manufacturers Freefly Systems and Auterion, the open source software for drones system, have jointly announced the production of a new drone. The “Astro Enterprise Drone Solution” combines the expertise from both companies in design, manufacturing, and software innovation to create a product they believe will quickly find a niche in the drone industry.

Skydio, the American drone company known for the Artificial Intelligence capabilities of its products, today announces a partnership that will lead to 5,000 drone sales and a vastly more efficient system for inspecting damaged roofs. It has joined forces with EagleView, a leading aerial imaging and data analytics company with deep expertise in machine learning and building inspections. It is, say those involved, likely the biggest commercial drone deal to date.

On our latest edition of The Buzz podcast, we’re pleased to have an extended visit with Brendan Schulman, DJI’s vice president of policy and legal affairs. In a year when issues like “Made in the USA,” data security, and Remote ID have all been shaping the drone industry, Schulman has a lot of insight — and a lot to say (follow him @dronelaws on Twitter).