DroneDJ

Drone maker DJI is once again urging users to arrange face-to-face meetings with US Senators and House Representatives and tell their elected officials to stop trying to restrict the drone market. The development follows the release of a statement by Senator Jon Tester claiming, “Cheap Chinese drones are flooding the American market, costing American jobs, and putting our privacy and national security at risk.”

Walmart is scaling back its ambitious drone delivery program by shutting down operations in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Tampa. The decision, driven by unsustainable costs, marks a notable retreat from the retailer’s 2022 expansion into large-scale drone delivery, which was touted as a revolutionary step for last-mile logistics in the US.

The UK is taking fresh steps toward integrating drones into everyday life with a new series of trials launched by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). These trials aim to explore how drones can be safely used for various purposes, including deliveries and inspections, even when they are out of the operator’s sight. The goal is to gather essential safety data and refine regulations, ultimately helping to unlock the full potential of drone technology in the UK.

Drone logistics specialist A2Z Drone Delivery has unveiled a new autonomous dock solution and a companion aircraft to support multiple simultaneous drone services. The new A2Z AirDock system enables drones to move between docks, automatically recharge, and pick up or deliver packages.

We’ve been patiently waiting for the announcement of DJI‘s new product line, Neo. With the rumored date coming up tomorrow and a ground breaking leak by Jasper Ellens, here’s a round up of everything we know thus far about the DJI Neo drone.

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has secured an exciting new waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It gives NYPA operators the unprecedented ability to conduct fully remote drone inspections without requiring a pilot or observer to maintain visual contact with the aircraft. Additionally, the waiver permits these operations without the use of traditional airspace monitoring systems, such as radar.

The US Army held an anti-drone shoot out at Fort Drum, New York earlier this month to test out various systems for taking down drone attacks. This comes as every nation seems to be increasing its drone war plans as continued use of them in battle aren’t slowing down.

HoverAir has quietly expanded its lineup with two new drones: the X1 Pro and X1 Pro Max. These models follow up on the company’s successful X1 selfie drone, offering a range of enhancements that should appeal to both recreational drone enthusiasts and new users contemplating their first flying camera. The announcement comes at a time when DJI is rumored to be launching the Neo, a new lightweight self-flying drone aimed at beginners.

Public safety drone technology specialist BRINC has partnered with advanced radar solutions provider Echodyne to push the boundaries of drone operations for emergency services. This collaboration aims to enable fully automated drone operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) without the need for visual observers — a current requirement under FAA regulations.

Ukraine’s defense department released its first video of a home built FPV drone making an attack on the much larger and way more expensive attack helicopters on the battlefield. This gives Ukraine new targets to attack as drones continue to change the way we look at war.

Insta360 has just dropped a major update to its app, bringing smarter AI and over 40 preset movement templates to simplify the creation of dynamic 360º videos. Those using the new Insta360 X4 camera to capture impossible third-person points of view and drone-like shots will especially find this update extremely rewarding. But, broadly, this update is available for all 360º footage from Insta360 cameras, including X3, X2, and RS (with the 360º lens).

Central Park visitors may soon find themselves under the watchful eye of NYPD drones, as the iconic Manhattan park faces a dramatic uptick in crime. Mayor Eric Adams has suggested deploying drones and other new technologies to address the alarming rise in sex crimes, assaults, and robberies in the area.

In an era of rapid technological change, private security is being transformed by the integration of drones. Paul “IX” Kemppainen, a seasoned security professional with a background that spans the Navy SEALs, US Secret Service, National Park Service, and SpaceX, is at the forefront of this transformation. As the founder of Las Vegas-based SISU Enlightened Protection, IX details how he is harnessing the power of DJI drones to enhance the safety of high-profile clients and complex events.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given the green light to the AVSS PRS-M3E, a parachute recovery system developed by Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions (AVSS) for the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise and Mavic 3 Thermal drones. With this approval, drone operators can now legally fly these drones over people for commercial operations.

Flytrex, the trailblazer in airborne food delivery, has just hit a major milestone, completing its 100,000th drone delivery across its North Carolina and Texas locations. The achievement makes Flytrex the only company in the US to surpass 100K commercial food deliveries by drone.

An Event38 employee shared on LinkedIn a tease of an upcoming addition to its E455 drones, SpaceX’s Starlink internet. This use would be linked to its BVLOS variant and would allow higher data rates over long distances with low latency and high reliability.

DJI has rolled out a new firmware update for its flagship Inspire 3 cinema drone, fixing pesky bugs to enhance the remote controller performance.

New York City implemented an innovative approach to emergency communications this week by deploying drones to deliver urgent flood warnings to residents. While the initiative aimed at increasing safety in flood-prone areas, it has sparked a mixed response from the public.

The release dates of the DJI Neo indoor-friendly FPV drone and Osmo Action 5 Pro camera have leaked online, and it looks like we may not have to wait too long for new DJI gear!

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.

Drone panorama image stitching platform PanoVolo has introduced a new feature called “Fill Sky” to tackle a long-standing challenge associated with 360-degree aerial panoramas. The feature comes as part of Panovolo’s latest software update, v1.7.0.

Stefan Ceciu, a new drone owner, took part in a rescue using his DJI Avata 2 to spot a sinking boat on Utah Lake on August 3. Using his FPV drone, he was able to pin point the boat and help direct rescuers to the location, saving the family’s lives.

As temperatures soar this summer, DJI drone users need to pay extra attention to their aircraft batteries. Extreme heat can lead to battery issues such as swelling or even damage. To ensure your flights are smooth and safe, refer to this comprehensive checklist by DJI that explains how to care for your drone batteries during the hot months.