Drone industry

Spexi, a Canada-based drone imagery powerhouse, has closed a $11.5 million Series A funding round led by Blockchange Ventures. With this injection of capital, Spexi plans to rope in more pilots to capture and deliver data-rich, ultra-high-resolution drone imagery to both the public and private sectors.

As rogue drone incidents escalate worldwide, D-Fend Solutions is stepping up to meet the challenge with cutting-edge technology and significant financial backing. The counter-drone specialist has announced a $31 million investment round led by Israel Growth Partners (IGP), alongside existing investor Vertex Ventures and new contributor Vertex Growth.

GoPro has sold a substantial portfolio of drone-related patents to Skydio, the largest US-based drone manufacturer. This patent deal represents a calculated step amid recent financial and operational hurdles for both companies.

As drone technology continues to evolve, so do concerns about data security and privacy among US drone professionals. A recent survey conducted by Teledyne FLIR highlights that a staggering 85% of drone professionals consider data security a crucial factor when selecting a drone platform. This sentiment echoes findings from the previous year, indicating a steady awareness of data protection issues.

Drone technology company Red Cat Holdings has announced the closing of its acquisition of California-based FlightWave Aerospace Systems. The acquisition officially brings FlightWave Edge 130 into Red Cat’s family of low-cost, portable uncrewed reconnaissance and precision lethal strike systems.

The United States National Drone Association (USNDA) has officially announced its formation, with offices in Washington, DC, and its national headquarters situated at Full Sail University in Florida. The USNDA aims to advance drone technology across various sectors by collaborating with students, faculty, and industry leaders through academic and technological partnerships.

Switzerland-based drone technology leader, Wingtra, has secured a solid $25 million backing in its Series B1 funding round, drawing investments from a diverse group of prominent US, Swiss, and Austrian funds and family offices.

Cyberhawk, a drone inspection and surveying services company, has announced a remarkable 55% revenue growth for the fiscal year 2024. The company’s total revenue soared to $28.7 million, driven by strong performances in key regions such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Middle East.

US lawmakers may be trying hard to block Americans from using Chinese drone tech, but the Chinese government is busy paving the way for its drone companies to further dominate international markets. China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced a relaxation of export curbs on some of its most advanced consumer drones, effective Sept. 1.

Lithuanian startup Granta Autonomy has just come out of stealth mode, announcing a successful $1 million seed funding round to manufacture fully autonomous drones for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

Baltimore-based custom industrial drone manufacturer Watts Innovations is shutting down after eight years in business.

EU Drone Port, a specialized testing center based in Barcelona, has been officially recognized by the European Commission as a Notified Body for drone certification. This recognition follows accreditation by the National Accreditation Entity and notification by the State Aviation Safety Agency, making it one of five drone certification gateways in Europe.

Arrive Technology, an Indianapolis-based drone delivery mailbox manufacturer formerly known as Dronedek, has announced its second rebrand in little over a year. The company is now called Arrive AI — a name that better reflects the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the autonomous last mile (ALM) industry.

Finnish defense company Patria has acquired commercial drone manufacturer Nordic Drones. Nordic has been making drones for over a decade now, focusing on mapping, measurement, inspection, control, and authority tasks.

Red Cat Holdings, a key player in drone technology, is acquiring California-based aerospace company FlightWave Aerospace Systems. FlightWave is known for its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones, sensors, and software solutions. This acquisition will bring FlightWave’s advanced Edge 130 Blue sUAS offering into Red Cat’s range of uncrewed systems used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).

Drone Industry Insights (Droneii), a Germany-based research firm focusing on the commercial drone industry, is seeking inputs for its annual Drone Industry Barometer report. Here’s why it matters to you.

US government agencies, public safety agencies, and private industry conducting sensitive aerial missions can now refer to new guidance before purchasing any drones. The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) have released a memo with procurement guidance and recommendations for security-focused drones. The development comes at a time when a bill proposing to ban DJI drones is expected to move in Congress amid data security concerns.

Drones as First Responder (DFR) tech specialist Aerodome has secured $21.5 million in Series A funding to enhance its solutions and expand its engineering and go-to-market teams. The funding round, led by CRV with contributions from Andreessen Horowitz, Karman Ventures, Immad Akhund, and Ford Street Ventures, brings Aerodome’s total funding to $28 million since its seed round in October 2023.

Republican leaders on the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party are urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to open an investigation into the Drone Advocacy Alliance (DAA). The industry coalition group has been actively involved in the discussion surrounding the potential ban on DJI drones in the US and has vehemently opposed legislation that proposes a new tax system to radically increase DJI drone prices.

Lucid Bots, the manufacturer of cleaning drone Sherpa and other robotic products that automate dangerous, labor-intensive tasks, has raised $9.1 million in Series A funding to scale the operations team and expand its products into new markets.

Axon, the company behind the infamous Taser drone project, has announced plans to acquire Virginia-based counter-drone technology developer Dedrone. Axon says having drone solutions in its portfolio will help it protect more lives in more places.