Camera drone giant DJI is preparing to extend what has already been a long and busy run of 2023 product releases, with a leaked teaser indicating the company will be unveiling its Mini Dock this Wednesday  – presumably in tandem with the new Matrice 3D it’s designed to accompany.

DJI is rolling out a new firmware update for its latest all-around drone, Air 3. The update comes with a bunch of bug fixes.

Air taxi developer Joby has offered a few reminders of why it has gained the reputation for being among (if not the) leading advanced air mobility (AAM) companies with an update to investors revealing it had completed 84% of its Stage Three certification work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

As part of the effort to strengthen its domestic UAV production for defensive deployment against Russia’s continuing invasion, Ukraine is testing a drone specially developed to accelerate and improve the detection and elimination of deadly landmines.

The innovative producer of tactical UAVs designed specifically for police, fire, and other emergency responder operators, BRINC, has announced the first deliveries of its latest LEMUR 2 drones to US public safety clients, opening a new chapter in the already eventful history of the young startup.

Matternet, the first non-military drone maker to achieve standard Type Certification and Production Certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has announced a significant development. The company has built a new, more efficient variant of its M2 delivery drone and it has managed to get an FAA Type Certificate approval for that as well.

UK-based Unified Traffic Management (UTM) technology provider Altitude Angel has launched a new spinoff division, Prism Detect, focusing on airspace security. The division will focus on deploying fixed and mobile “ARROW” sensor towers that would help to enhance aerial detection and drone flight approvals to critical and sensitive infrastructure sites.

Diversified drone hardware and services company Volatus Aerospace is expanding on what had already been a steady stream of new business contracts in its domestic Canadian market with a deal in the US worth up to $60 million providing aerial infrastructure inspections for a major utility firm.

Ascendant cargo delivery drone startup MightyFly has been recruited by the US Air Force’s emerging tech development unit, AFWERX, in a contract initially focusing on the company’s fully autonomous self-loading payload system for next generation freight aircraft.

US politicians responding to soured relationships and strong distrust of China have again tabled legislation seeking to prohibit use of technology produced by companies from the nation, with popular and widely deployed DJI drones clearly the primary focus of those efforts.

Alva Industries, a Norwegian company specializing in electric motor technology, has released the second generation of its ALTUS X60 industrial drone propulsion system. The new ALTUS X60 Duo boasts several improvements over its predecessor.

Europe’s largest drone delivery operator, Manna Drone Delivery, says it has officially commenced US operations by delivering Halloween candy to families in the Dallas/Fort Worth area by drone.

As DroneDJ readers (and anyone else paying even passing attention) have realized by now, DJI has become a veritable (and suspiciously unrepaired) sieve of nominally confidential product information – the most recent example being the liberal flow of photos of the rumored Matrice 3D enterprise drone in advanced stages of development. How did such a tight-lipped company become a leak machine?

Aerial food delivery specialist Flytrex has announced authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permitting it to perform beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights in markets across the US, an exemption to operate above homes and people without ground observers it plans to use in accelerated scaling of its activities.

Shield AI, a San Diego-based startup that’s on a mission to build the world’s best AI pilot for aircraft and drones, has raised a cool $200 million in Series F funding. After this new funding round led by the US Innovative Technology Fund (USIT), Shield AI is now valued at $2.7 billion.

Responding to political criticism and even some concern within the next generation aviation sector, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said it will team up with the US Air Force to study the operation and effective integration of advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft into the nation’s airspace.

Leading instant logistics and UAV transport specialist Zipline has announced a new partnership with healthcare giant Cleveland Clinic involving an evolving operation that will begin with drone delivery of medication directly to patients’ homes.

Drone pilots in the European Union who are frustrated with the 120-meter altitude limit built into DJI’s latest Mini 4 Pro operating system now have a chance to soar considerably higher using a firmware update – though they’ll need to take action fast and be certain they’re ready to stick with their decision.

France’s budding UAV services startup Delivrone has teamed up with one of Europe’s most ambitious and fast-moving drone delivery companies, RigiTech, to initiate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) missions between French hospitals – including rare nighttime flights.

New image leaks offer indication of DJI’s continued preparation of its rumored Matrice 3D drone, a smaller, non-foldable version of the  Matrice 30 that’s likely to operate from the company’s Mini Dock for regularly flown enterprise missions.

DroneSense, a Texas-based drone software solution specialist for the public safety sector, has announced new features and integrations to make mission-critical operations smarter, safer, and more efficient. Here are the key highlights…

Prepare for drones to yet again reach places they’ve never hovered before, as Fox Sports deploys the first UAVs ever flown during World Series coverage when the Arizona Diamondbacks start their best-of-seven battle against the Texas Rangers tonight.