Feds charge drone pilot after MLB stadium no-fly violation
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Skydio 2 is an amazing drone, just don’t use it in the dark
Participate in the DroneU and DroneDJ Christmas Giveaway!
HO! HO! HO! Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas! Happy, Happy, Happy New Year! They say good things come in threes, and boy are they right when it comes to this awesome holiday prize package by Drone U and DroneDJ. Three lucky drone enthusiasts will unwrap a plethora of cool drone gadgets, gifts, and gizmos. All you have to do is register for this no-obligation giveaway and you’ll be automatically entered for the drawing.
Capture aerial video for $97.50 with Eachine’s 1080p FPV Quadcopter (Save 40%)
EachineDirect (98% positive all-time feedback from 3,400+) via Amazon offers its 1080p FPV Quadcopter for $97.49 shipped when clipping the on-page coupon and applying code LBL2L2T9 at checkout. Typically fetching $160, it just recently dropped to $130, with today’s discount taking an extra $33 off. Overall, you’re looking at pocketing 40% in savings and snagging this drone at a new all-time low. Armed with a 1080p HD 120-degree camera, this drone can capture aerial photos and transmit video in real-time to your smartphone for first person view flying. It features a 16-minute flight time and compactly folds away when not in use for easy transportation. There’s also built-in GPS functionality. Rated 4/5 stars from over 275 customers.
DJI camera car and gimbal could be here soon, according to patents
New patents released by DJI outline two new products that could be coming in 2020. The new patents include what looks to be an RC car designed to carry a gimbal and camera similar to the Freefly TERO. The other patent looks like a caged gimbal, possibly a smaller version of the DJI Ronin 2.
Too late for Christmas: DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 returns in 2nd week of January
It will be too late for Christmas, but the DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 returns to the official DJI online store in the 2nd week of January, next year. Eventhough the drone will be re-introduced in 2020, it will not feature ADS-B because technically it is not a new drone.
Wild West of anti-drone systems and other counter-drone tech
An article on Vice describes how wild the market of anti-drone systems and counter-drone tech has become. Methods used range from drone-jamming rifles to ground installations that fire nets to catch unmanned aircraft. The article is based on a research paper on counter-drone technology that was released by The Center for the Study of The Drone at Bard College.
Princeton student breaks Guinness World Record for quadcopter
12th grader, Zechen Wei broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest quadcopter to ascend to 100 meters or about 300 feet with a record time of 2.732 seconds. Wei is a senior at Princeton International School of Mathematics who has always had a passion for drones.
DJI becomes one of the first CASA Drone Safety Advocates
DJI is one of the first drone manufacturers in Australia to become a CASA Drone Safety Advocate. Drone Safety Advocates further improve drone safety and help consumers become familiar with drone companies that stick to the rules. Other companies to join DJI include Zero-X, C.R. Kennedy, EE Group Australia, Fly the Farm, Officeworks, and Rise Above Custom Drone Solutions.
Exposed Dronesense data shows flights of police drones
Exposed Dronesense data shows flights of police drones. Dronesense, a company that provides a platform to law enforcement and government agencies as well as private clients for flying drones, accidentally exposed a database of customer data. The information in some cases showed exactly where the police drones had flown.
Closest-ever drone sighting recorded by NetJets pilot in the UK
The latest Airprox report includes what is understood to be the closest-ever drone sighting in the UK. The report was made by the pilot of a NetJets Bombardier that was traveling from Nice, France, to London Luton Airport on August 26, 2019.
The pilot reported seeing the drone 14 miles west of the airport, at an elevation of 4,000 feet, while the jet was traveling 200 mph. Allegedly, the 14-seat, £46 million private jet passed the drone within a mere 10 feet.
Chinese gangsters use drones to spread African swine fever
Here’s a new and dishonest way to use drones. According to the SUPChina, Chinese gangsters use drones to spread African swine fever to scare farmers into selling their animals at a discount before trafficking the sick pigs across province lines and selling them in “clean” areas.
PrecisionHawk raises $32M for next generation of drone software and services
PrecisionHawk raises $32M for the next generation of drone software and services, according to a press release issued by the drone startup.
Research with drones shows that Northwest killer whales are shrinking
Research with drones shows that Northwest killer whales are shrinking in size. Drone photos show how closely the health and size of the killer whales are related to the size of their favorite prey, big chinook salmon.
Christmas drone guide 2019 – the best drones for loved ones
Christmas is right around the corner, and that means the drone lover in your life is hoping to get a new drone or an accessory to take their drone to the next level. No matter what the situation is, there is a drone on the buying guide for the drone lover in your life. Jump in and take a look.
Still, looking to buy a drone for yourself or someone you know for Christmas? Check out our updated 2020 guide.
Drone racing championship won by 12-year-old, Milk
Wanraya Wannapong, better known as Milk, has won the women’s division of the FAI World Drone Racing Championship for the second time around. The drone racing competition was held around 93 miles outside of Shanghai near Ningbo.
DJI Mavic Mini review – The perfect drone for beginners
The DJI Mavic Mini has been in our hands for just over a month now, and we can finally give our verdict on the small but powerful drone from DJI. From our testing and flying the DJI Mavic Mini we can already say the results are looking good with great flight time, a camera that is good enough and a range that is more than enough for the size.
Skydio 2 is likely to come to Australia in 2020
Skydio 2 is one of the most exciting drones to launch to date, with its fully autonomous flight capabilities and a great camera, allowing users to stay in the moment. One thing, it’s not available in Australia. Skydio 2 is a promising drone with a unique feature set, and will surely be a competitor to DJI’s Mavic series.
DJI Mavic 2 Pro touts a 31-minute flight time at $1,079 (Refurb, Orig. $1,729)
Wellbots is currently offering an exclusive discount for 9to5Toys readers on the certified refurbished DJI Mavic 2 Pro for $1,079 shipped when applying code 9TO5REFURB at checkout. Having originally sold for $1,729, we’ve more recently been seeing a new condition model fetch $1,379 at retailers like Best Buy. Today’s offer saves you $300, beats our Black Friday mention by $170, and marks one of the best discounts we’ve tracked on the quadcopter. Mavic 2 Pro pairs a 31-minute flight time with enhanced omnidirectional obstacle sensing and other high-end features. Plus, a 20MP 4K camera and gimbal system upgrade your aerial photography game. This model comes backed by Wellbots’ refurbished warranty policy. Rated 4.9/5 stars from over 500 customers and you can head over to DroneDJ for extra details.
DroneDeploy is using drones to monitor the Great Barrier Reef
DroneDeploy, the drone software company out of Silicon Valley, will soon be opening up shop in Australia. The company will help the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority monitor the deteriorating ocean habitat.
German drone manufacturer Wingcopter scores new funding
German drone manufacturer Wingcopter scores new funding. The startup company has been involved in testing the delivery of medical supplies to remote areas by drone.
Drone photos show bodies after volcanic eruption on New Zealand’s White Island
Drone photos show the location of bodies after the volcanic eruption that took place on New Zealand‘s White Island on Monday. According to reports, at least 47 people were on the island at the time of the eruption. 13 people are believed to have died. Five deaths have been confirmed, the remaining eight missing persons are presumed to be dead.
Update: The Independent reports that at least 16 people are now confirmed dead. A military rescue team successfully recovered six bodies, which had been located the night before by drones. “The operation was not without risk but thanks to sound planning and the skills of the specialist team involved we have recovered the six bodies,” New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush said in a statement.
DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 needs to be reviewed, says DJI. Why?
Earlier this month, DJI started asking affiliates to review the DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 (DJI, Amazon) as part of a larger review program. And there are a couple of things that stand out right away.
First of all, the name of DJI’s iconic drone is misspelled in the graphics that come straight from the DJI affiliate program: Phanton instead of Phantom. Minor detail, but still… The bigger question though, is why DJI asks affiliates to review the old* DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 when it is out of stock and has been extensively reviewed in the past. Is it because the P4P V2.0 will still make a comeback as we had been told it would in September or October?
*The DJI Phantom 4 Pro was introduced in November 2016, with the V2.0 following in May 2018.
Update: through our sources, we have heard that the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 will be making its return to the DJI online store soon. Fingers crossed!
Update 2: DJI did correct the typo a day after this article was first published on December 10, 2019.
DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual bought with drugs money by Sheriff’s Office
In Ohio, the Miami County Sheriff’s Office buys a DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual with drugs money that was seized after arrest and conviction. The law enforcement agency adds the “Swiss-army knife” to its fleet after having discussed the $4,500 purchase for over one year and acknowledging that the drone is a “very impressive piece of equipment.” Its ability to cover a lot of ground quickly could be “the minutes that count between life and death.”
Virtual travel could change the world with help from drones, VR and wireless
An article in the WSJ talks about how virtual travel could change the world with help from drones, VR and fast wireless networks. And even though drones might seem to be the best technology for deploying the cameras needed for digital teleportation, widespread use is likely to be years away.