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DJI is doubling down on drone software. And this time, it’s targeting one of the most overlooked parts of the drone mapping workflow: how 3D data is actually viewed and shared.

DJI is doubling down on one of the biggest shifts happening in the drone industry right now: moving from simply capturing data to actually understanding it in real time.

If there’s one thing construction teams everywhere can agree on, it’s this: visibility is everything. And now, DroneDeploy is doubling down on that idea through a new partnership with Cairn Homes — Ireland’s leading homebuilder — to bring advanced drone reality capture tech across more than 25 residential developments. The goal? Make construction smarter, safer, and far more data-driven.

The Federal Communications Commission is making its next big move in the race to dominate drone technology, and it’s tying that push directly to President Donald Trump’s national strategy for what officials are calling “American drone dominance.”

XTEND is doubling down on one of the biggest challenges in modern warfare: how to stop hostile drones, without making things worse in the process. The AI-driven robotics company, backed by Eric Trump, has announced a new partnership with ParaZero Technologies as part of its broader $1.5 billion public-market merger. Together, the companies are rolling out a fully autonomous drone interception system that can detect, chase, and capture enemy drones mid-air using a physical net. Yes, a net.

Drone threats aren’t slowing down in Europe, and neither is DroneShield. The Australia-based counter-drone and electronic warfare specialist has officially opened its new European headquarters in Amsterdam, signaling a deeper, more permanent push into one of its fastest-growing markets.

Sphere is tightening its grip on autonomous drone deployments with a set of practical upgrades to its HubT platform, but the biggest shift is how the system is now built.

Grey Arrows Drone Club just did something UK drone pilots have quietly needed for years. And if you’ve ever second-guessed where you’re allowed to take off, this could be a game-changer.

DJI drones that once felt like serious investments are now showing up at prices that would’ve seemed unrealistic even a year ago. Thanks to the Amazon Big Spring Sale, models across the lineup are seeing steep discounts, opening the door at just $149 and making it very easy to imagine how different your travel content could look this time around. In fact, if you picked up a drone last year, or paid full price anytime before that, these deals are the kind that might sting a little.

Wingtra is stepping into 2026 with a clear message for the surveying world: the future of mapping might not need ground control points at all. The Switzerland-based drone company recently launched the SURVEY61 payload, designed to work with the WingtraRAY drone. And the pitch is hard to ignore — survey-grade accuracy down to 3 cm (0.1 ft), without the traditional need for GCPs (ground control points). For an industry where time, labor, and safety risks are tightly intertwined, that’s a potentially big shift.

The new DJI Avata 360 drone is arriving with a feature-rich day-one firmware update that significantly expands what this immersive FPV drone can do right out of the box. The initial firmware rollout, headlined by v01.00.0100 for the aircraft, arrives alongside updates for the entire ecosystem, including the DJI RC 2, DJI Goggles 3, and DJI FPV Remote Controller 3, as well as the latest DJI Fly app.

The DJI Fly app has officially been updated to version 1.20.0, adding support for the newly launched Avata 360 drone. The update also confirms Avata 360’s compatibility with the DJI RC 2, DJI Goggles 3, and DJI Goggles N3.

DJI has kicked off the global rollout of the Avata 360, positioning it as its most immersive consumer drone yet. In many parts of the world, that means orders are either already live or pre-sales have begun. In the US, though, things are playing out a little differently, again.

DJI’s 360° drone launch may already be underway globally, but US buyers could be stuck waiting. A newly updated banner on DJI’s official Amazon US storefront now points to March 30 at 8 a.m. EST as the release timing for its upcoming DJI Avata 360 drone, subtly overriding the March 26 worldwide launch window.

In a move that shows just how fast warehouse automation is evolving, Corvus Robotics has teamed up with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits to scale autonomous inventory drones across one of the largest beverage distribution networks in the US.

The Wing team has announced plans to expand its ultra-fast residential drone delivery service across the San Francisco Bay Area in the coming months, marking a full-circle moment for the company that was originally born inside Google X back in 2012.

Drones responding to 911 calls are no longer experimental. Across the US, police departments are already using Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs to get eyes on emergencies faster than patrol units. In many cities, drones arrive in under two minutes, well before officers. But even with that progress, the tech still has friction. Drones need to stop and recharge. Coverage areas are limited. Connectivity can fail in the worst moments. Now, BRINC says its new Guardian drone is built to fix those exact problems.

Smartphones today can shoot cinematic 4K, handle low light, and even mimic DSLR depth. But there’s still one thing they can’t fix on their own: movement. That tiny shake when you walk. That awkward jitter when you pan. That “almost good” clip that never quite looks professional. That’s exactly where DJI’s Osmo Mobile gimbals step in. And right now, they’re unusually affordable.

For most drone pilots, a flight ends with a smooth landing and maybe some great footage. For one Florida man, it ended with an 81-year prison sentence.

The US Army just made one thing very clear: small drones aren’t just helpful anymore; they’re essential. In a record-setting move, Skydio has secured an order worth more than $52 million to supply over 2,500 of its X10D drones to the Army. That makes it the largest small drone procurement from a single manufacturer in Army history — and perhaps even more surprising, the entire process from bid to award wrapped up in under 72 hours.

The world may be watching geopolitical tensions rise, but in the world of drone technology, a different kind of war is breaking out. Following DJI’s lawsuit over disputed drone patents, Insta360’s founder has come out swinging — and his response makes one thing clear: this fight is about far more than six patents.

Just as DJI is gearing up to unveil its first-ever 360-degree FPV drone, the Avata 360, the company has launched a legal offensive against its fastest-rising rival, Insta360. And this time, the battle isn’t about specs or features — it’s about who owns the underlying technology powering the next era of drones.

Earlier this month, multiple drones impeded Barksdale Air Force Base’s airspace, endangering airborne planes and grounding the base’s aircraft until the drones were gone. While this sort of incursion is not uncommon and usually is a result of unaware enthusiasts, the Department of Defense believes this was a more sophisticated and targeted act against Barksdale.

There’s a reason scientists are increasingly turning to drones to understand climate change, and a new mission in Greenland shows exactly why.