DroneDJ

A pair of drone shows experienced starkly contrasting fortunes over the weekend, with a spectacular event above Disneyland Paris setting a European record for the most UAVs performing at once, while another in Melbourne ended with most of the 500 craft plunging into the city’s Yarra River.

DJI has released new firmware updates for its latest smartphone gimbals, Osmo Mobile 6 and Osmo Mobile SE. The update is important because it brings all-new ActiveTrack 6.0 subject-tracking technology to phone stabilizers.

If recent leaks and FCC filings are any indication, we may be approaching the release of the DJI Air 3. However, the company has yet to provide an official date. Here’s everything we currently know about DJI’s upcoming enthusiast drone, the Air 3.

There are definite differences between being ignorant of drone rules, occasionally flirting with the limits of restrictions, and being an utter pillock in violating them. A California pilot has just pleaded guilty to what amounts to the latter, and then some.

Last year, DJI became the first drone manufacturer in the world to submit and earn US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for Remote ID protocol compliance. At the time, as many as seven of its popular drone models secured the FAA nod for adequate compliance with the Remote ID rule. Today, that list is much longer. But now, in another first, DJI has also become the only drone maker to have a previously-approved compliance status rescinded by the FAA.

In an effort to fly two major event kites from the same string – and encourage comingling of aerial activities at their heart – the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) are pairing up to host twinned drone and advanced air mobility (AAM) conferences next month at the same time and venue.

Middle-mile aerial transport specialist Dronamics has added another milestone atop its achievement of being the first accredited drone cargo airline in Europe with the reception of designation codes from the world’s main air transport organizations, placing it on operational par with the legacy freight and passenger carriers of the world.

Editor’s Update [October 2023]: You can now buy the Hover X1 pocket drone on Amazon.

Drone maker ZeroZero Robotics has extended the Indiegogo campaign funding the production of its innovative self-flying camera device that weighs less than an iPhone. The company has raised more than $1,187,000 to date and shipped over 2,200 Hover X1 drones across the globe.

Maintenance and technical support are being suspended for one of the most iconic DJI drones. Come July 15, 2023, DJI will stop providing service support for Phantom 4, the product that revolutionized the consumer drone market.

In sign the global leader of the consumer and enterprise UAV market is broadening its lobbying efforts against US blacklisting of its aerial tech, DJI has joined a small group of domestic companies to form the Drone Advocacy Alliance, which vows to battle spreading bans of craft “based simply on where they are manufactured.”

DJI today announced it is discontinuing Care Refresh+. This after-sales service plan from the company offered users an additional replacement for damaged devices while extending the official warranty coverage period of drones and handheld products.

After dishing out pretty much every possible image and specification detail on the still (officially) unannounced DJI Air 3 UAV Wednesday, ascendant leaker Igor Bogdanov immediately moved on to his next mission: Revealing the global drone giant’s work to introduce what he says is a UAV specially made for aerial deliveries.

The highly-anticipated DJI Air 3 has leaked fully ahead of its official announcement. The new DJI drone hit the US FCC database recently, indicating that its potential launch date is not too far.

Drones have now been directly involved in saving the lives of more than 1,000 people around the globe, says DJI. The world leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology says it has compiled hundreds of separate incidents worldwide where drones have played a crucial role in search and rescue missions. 

A drone pilot in Canada is feeling wallet pain following a collision with reality that resulted in a fine of over $3,000 ($2,270) for piloting his craft within the restricted airspace of Ottawa International Airport – a prohibition he told arriving police he wasn’t aware of.

Drone detection, identification, and mitigation specialist Dedrone is introducing an update of its DedroneTracker.AI, incorporating enhancements inspired by client feedback to the cornerstone application of the company’s counter-UAV tech.

XTEND, the developer of a human-guided operating system for drones and robots, is joining forces with ModalAI, a Blue UAS framework manufacturer of autonomous drone technology.

New York state officials are providing funding for additional drones to monitor downstate beaches following a series of shark attacks off NYC and Long Island weekend and vacation spots, and the frenzy of news coverage those produced.

Rising global temperatures are forcing authorities in France to limber up the habitual straight-jacket restrictions on operating drones in Paris, and allow designated craft to hover on high to hunt out spots in and around the capital where people can cool off.

Amazon Prime Day 2023 is here, and so are amazing deals on a range of useful drone accessories, such as ND filters, spare propellers, and memory cards. Though the deal to steal is DJI Mini 3 with DJI RC for $729 (20% off), here are the top drone peripherals to shop for before they sell out.

The best Prime Day 2023 deal from tech giant DJI has finally landed! Amazon Prime members can now buy the Mini 3 Pro (DJI RC) combo for just $729, which is a cool 20% discount on its typical selling price.

Arrive, a drone delivery mailbox manufacturer formerly known as Dronedek, says it has raised more than $1.3 million from 428 investors. This is the second time the Indianapolis-based company’s crowdfunding campaign has brought in more than $1 million.

Amazon Prime Day is upon us and Insta360 is offering some fantastic early deals on its drone-ready, tiny action cameras and smartphone gimbals. Here are the top ones to shop before they sell out.

As has repeatedly been the case in its nearly year and a half defense against Russia’s invasion, Ukraine has filled gaps – and created new opportunities for itself – within the array of commercial drones it has deployed by producing inexpensive yet highly effective UAVs, most recently with the remarkably potent Wild Hornets now being flown.