Scott Simmie

Skydio, the US-based drone company that specializes in offering relatively advanced AI in its products, has announced some key changes as the firm moves forward. It has appointed two people in key leadership roles as the company moves into a period of growth following its recent $100M Series C round of investment.

The great thing about drones (or any other field) is that there’s always more to learn. This is especially true if you want to elevate your skills up to that level where people will literally stop in their tracks to admire your work. Today, we’re happy to dive into an option we believe is worth exploring.

And the winner in the category of made-up drone song? Well, given the fact it’s the only entry we’re aware of…the award goes to Karachi Kwadz. You’ll see – and hear – why in a moment.

We are starting to witness a changed landscape when it comes to drone companies. This past weekend saw that clearly illustrated with some exchanges on Twitter.

DJI’s Inspire 2 is one of the most popular drones around when it comes to aerial cinematography. So why can’t you buy one? Good question.

It had to happen sooner or later. And we’re happy to report that it’s now: Drone video company AirVūz has struck a deal with Loop Media to bring short drone videos to a living room near you.

Hey! Welcome to the launch of our new DroneDJ podcast.

It’s called The Buzz, which is a nod to the sound our machines make. But beyond that, we’ll be discussing topics and issues that are raising a “buzz” in the industry.

Insta360, the Chinese manufacturer of awesome 360 camera products, has dropped the price of its OneR 360 Action camera, but only until September 21. If you’ve been thinking of getting one to mount on your drone (and many do), now is the time.

In January, the terrorist organization Shabab attacked a military base in Kenya that houses some US military personnel. The attack killed three Americans and caused millions of dollars in damage. Now, the US military’s Africa Command is seeking expanded authority to carry out drone strikes against Shabab, also known as al-Shabaab.

Volansi, Inc. today announced it has closed $50 million in a Series B round of funding. This follows a $25 million Series A from 2019. The new cash injection will help the company grow its staff, expand existing initiatives, and launch new projects.

Walmart and drone delivery pioneer Zipline have partnered to begin trials of drone delivery in Arkansas. It’s a sign, were one needed, that the retail giant is committed to using some form of drone delivery in the future.

A letter written on behalf of hobbyists, the drone industry, and the manned aviation sector is calling on the FAA to reconsider its proposed Remote ID proposal. It says such a move would dissuade hobbyists from building. And that sector, says the letter, serves as something of a pathway for many who later choose aviation careers.

We saw a short video the other day that really grabbed our attention. For us, it brought home one aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic: The public performance spaces that now sit in silence.

InterDrone was one of the lone holdouts. By pushing its annual conference back to December, InterDrone hoped to avoid the worst of COVID-19 and get people together. Now, wisely, it has decided to ax those plans and go virtual.

Oh, man: 2020. What a year. Pandemics. Politics. Hurricanes. And now? Wildfires stretching along the US West Coast. Nothing seems to phase us anymore. But at least some drone pilots got out and made some interesting captures.

There’s good news, and there’s bad news. The bad news? A second wave of COVID-19 is starting to emerge as the seasons change and more people move indoors and into closer contact. The good news? It’s a great time to start honing your FPV skills so that you’ll be ready for 2021.

The world’s dominant drone manufacturer says it will make software changes in the near future that will offer additional data security for users. DJI says it will modify the popular DJI GO4 and DJI FLY apps in the coming months. That will allow users to enable Local Data Mode – ensuring no data can be externally shared.

Malaysia-headquartered Aerodyne Group, which calls itself “the world’s fastest-growing drone-based solutions company,” is living up to its name. As part of its global expansion, it has announced a partnership with two established drone companies in Kazakhstan. The new joint venture is called Aerodyne Caspian.

The reasons are pretty obvious. But just in case, we thought we’d take a look at this issue. Specifically, what some people have already tried to do…and the laws that are in place to dissuade others from attempting similar modifications.

Lifeguards, rejoice: You can now issue orders over bodies of water directly by drone using a new megaphone designed to be carried by a waterproof drone. Swellpro’s new flying speaker is 100 watts, can be heard up to 40M horizontally from the drone, and could be a really useful tool for lifeguards and others.

It’s happened again. Yet another person has flown a drone over an MLB game, violating airspace law and disrupting a nationally broadcast event. We really wish this would stop.