DroneDJ

Sale and consumption of pot is, of course, legal in California ­– so long as producers, retailers, and consumers do their business according to regulations. But because not all actors in the sector are following those rules, drones are being brought in to help authorities crack down on illegal marijuana growers.

Use of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) on missions requiring both accuracy and rapidity are growing throughout business applications – and are the main focus of first responder work. Maximizing that combination of speed and precision of drones – while avoiding crashing – was also at the heart of recent promising research.

The US Air Force considers its microwave-shooting weapon against large swarms of enemy drones so successful that it’s now doubling down to enhance it further. So in addition to its so-called THOR anti-drone system, the Air Force is out to develop an electronic, craft-smashing hammer to complete the thematic program.

A company known for products ranging from phones to air fryers to security cameras has taken a bold, four-legged step into the world of robotics. Xiaomi has announced the CyberDog, an Open-Source ground-based robot.

It’s Wednesday again. How did that happen so fast? No idea, but that means it’s time for our regular DroneDJ panel, discussing the latest news from the world of drones.

The world’s largest drone manufacturer, DJI, is permanently closing its flagship retail store in Hong Kong from August 16. A notice placed on the store’s entrance since August 9 says the move comes in the wake of the “evolving needs” of the market and the company. But there are other factors that could have prompted DJI to take this decision.

French football club Paris Saint-Germain just took a big step closer to achieving its dream: flat-out buying its first European title through another huge-salaried player to its star-bloated roster. And to celebrate the budget-busting arrival of Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi, the club could think of no better manner than recreating a blah version of a rival club’s spectacular single-shot video drone flight through its stadium.

Did you see the image that comes with this story? Of all of the Iceland volcano drone videos we’ve seen, this one – showing lava literally overflowing the entire volcano – is perhaps the most spectacular.

We’ve seen some oddball drones over the years. But it looks as though this one couldn’t possibly fly. At least, not until you learn the secret behind the cyclocopter drone.

If you’ve been waiting to get your hands on DJI’s forthcoming Mavic 3 Pro… get used to that feeling. Originally anticipated for release in Q4 of this year, the product won’t be available for prime time until January of next year. That’s right: Q1 of 2022.

Most people know Insta360 for its hardware. With excellent cameras like the ONE R, ONE X2 and the GO 2 (full review coming shortly on DroneDJ), the company has built a well-deserved reputation for its hardware. But Insta360 also has great software. And today, it’s lifting the wraps on its Insta360 App with significant upgrades, including faster exports and a new, cleaner interface.

Drones and ground-based robots are starting to work together. When it comes to enterprise work, particularly industrial inspections and surveillance, you just can’t beat the combination when it comes to some applications. And so it’s both not surprising and pretty forward-thinking that DroneDeploy has acquired New Zealand-based robotic software company Rocos.

A new ad commercial from the UAE’s Emirates Airline has taken the internet by storm. It shows a cabin staff member in the iconic red Emirates hat and uniform, standing atop the tallest point of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Many have wondered if the nail-biting video was real or fake. So now, Emirates has released behind-the-scenes footage showing how this seemingly insane feat was made possible – and that too with a single drone!

Despite the anti-China winds blowing across US politics and related bans of Chinese technology by government administrations, DJI drones continue to dominate the fleets of American first responder services – just as they do commercial craft sales.

Drones can often be faster and more efficient in search operations of lost or immobilized people in forests than helicopter or plane fly-overs, or rescue parties scouring terrain on foot. Still, their efficacity is limited by the inability of onboard tech to visually penetrate dense tree canopies. That may soon change.

There’s a reason authorities in many countries are issuing new, stern warnings about not operating drones or other equipment around sea birds or animals. Cases of human harassment of wildlife are escalating, often with dramatic effects – as footage taken by a drone of a bull shark attack in Australia seems to demonstrate.

DJI Mini SE – a sub-250-gram, sub-$300 beginner’s drone – is now available for purchase in the United States. The entry-level drone has hit the US market with a price tag of $299. Here’s where you can get your hands on the cheapest drone from DJI…

Most of the drones we consider at DroneDJ tend to be in the champagne category of price and performance. But there are a wide variety of drones available at a nearly every price point. What do you get in a drone in the “domestic wine” range? Maybe more than you’d think, but perhaps less than you hoped. DroneDJ reviews the Potensic T25 drone.

Huh. The DJI Mavic Pro 2 is showing as being out of stock on the DJI online store.

DJI’s agricultural drones, Agras T30 and T10, which were released in China late last year, are now available for purchase in more than 100 countries internationally. In the meantime, DJI has already sold more than 50,000 Agras units across the world this year alone during a phased launch.

The US State Department is dispatching a fleet of drones to Costa Rica as part of a program it hopes will allow local authorities to crack down on international drug trafficking in the country.

DHL, the first parcel service provider in the world to directly integrate a drone logistically into its delivery chain, has reportedly discontinued the Parcelcopter project. The last prototype that the company developed for consumer drone deliveries was in 2018. And now, DHL has confirmed to news reporters in Germany that it no longer intends to continue testing Parcelcopter or manufacture its own drones.

Officials in a Russian seaside resort city say a drone was deployed over the weekend to rescue a drowning swimmer ­– the first use of their new automated system for emergency response.

The all-star rugby team made up of British and Irish players knew their three test matches against reigning world champion South Africa would be tough – and they were right, losing the series 2-1. Yet before Saturday’s decisive defeat inflicted in the closing minutes of the game, Irish rugby star Connor Murray obtained a bit of advance payback: shellacking what a Reddit contributor says was a South African TV drone with a bull’s-eye warm-up kick.