A group of lawmakers has sent a pointed letter to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), expressing concerns over the widespread use of DJI drones in American agriculture. According to these lawmakers, Chinese-made drones have the potential to compromise US food security and provide the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with access to critical data. DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer, has firmly rejected these claims, calling the allegations baseless and defending its role in the agricultural sector.

Public safety drone consulting specialist Skyfire has announced its acquisition by Echelon AI, a company that develops advanced AI algorithms for drones. The two companies will combine to form SkyfireAI, a new entity aimed at propagating the use of AI in drone technologies for public safety and global defense applications.

Drone inspection specialist Cyberhawk has introduced AVIATE, a new service aimed at helping organizations kickstart or expand their drone programs. AVIATE stands for Accelerated Visual Integration and Technology Enabler and brings together Cyberhawk’s decade-long expertise in drone inspections to support companies in adopting drone technology.

In a promising development for sea rescue operations, the Port of Helsinki in Finland has conducted a successful test to see if drones could transport rescue buoys to people in distress at sea. The pilot took place in Helsinki’s Eastern Harbour, Vuosaari, where a drone flew a rescue buoy to a fire department staff member acting as a victim in the water.

Drone fleet management platform AirData has announced integration with Teledyne FLIR’s dual payload professional aircraft SIRAS. The partnership aims to enhance public safety and industrial missions by streamlining data management and operational readiness for drone users.

So, 2024 is quickly shaping into the year of ultra-capable yet ultra-lightweight nano drones. After HoverAir X1 Pro Max and DJI Neo, drone maker Vantage Robotics has unveiled Trace, a new pocket-sized drone for covert aerial reconnaissance. Trace weighs only 153 grams but carries a multi-camera system and can fly for up to 30 minutes with a single battery.

The US House of Representatives has approved a bill to ban the operation of new drones from Chinese manufacturer DJI in the United States. This legislation — HR 2864 or the Countering CCP Drones Act — is part of a broader wave of measures directed at China, which lawmakers are reviewing this week.

DJI has released new firmware updates for its popular Mini 4 Pro and Air 3 drones, adding a feature many users will appreciate — support for the newly launched DJI RC-N3 remote controller, which was introduced alongside the indoor-friendly DJI Neo drone.

DJI has rolled out a huge firmware update for its professional-grade cinematography drone, the Inspire 3. The update brings a host of new features and enhancements aimed at improving flight performance, camera capabilities, and user experience for filmmakers, photographers, and drone enthusiasts alike.

A rare, limited-time deal on the DJI Avata first-person view (FPV) drone combo with DJI Goggles 2 can save you $600! The Avata Pro-View Combo with Goggles 2 is typically listed for $1,388 but is available for $788 today (and only today).

DJI has unveiled an innovative medium telephoto lens with the widest aperture and longest focal length of any DJI DL Lens: the DL 75mm F1.8 lens. This lens is specially designed for the Inspire 3 drone, which features the Zenmuse X9-Air gimbal camera.

Goggles 3 is the latest immersive FPV (First-Person View) headset from DJI, designed to enhance the drone flying experience. Its compatibility with multiple DJI drones and controllers makes it a valuable addition to any FPV enthusiast’s drone toolkit.

So, DJI has officially unveiled the Neo, its cheapest 4K selfie drone yet, while Zero Zero Robotics has expanded its flying camera lineup with the HoverAir X1 Pro and X1 Pro Max. But how do these three innovative drones compare? Let’s find out…

DJI released its newest drone offering, Neo, an ultra-light, hands-free, and budget drone that still packs everything you need to capture the moment without compromises. A first-of-its-kind drone for the company, it will compete directly with Hover Air’s X1 Pro and X1 Pro Max.

DJI drone users, if you’ve been syncing your flight records with the company’s servers, it’s time to take action. DJI recently announced that it will no longer support the option to sync flight logs in the United States. Now, the company says access to previously stored flight data will end in mid-October for DJI Fly users, and by November 7 for DJI Pilot users. All flight data stored in the cloud will then be permanently deleted.

Volarious, a Singapore-based company known for its tethered drone technology, has launched its latest product: the V-Line Pro for the DJI Matrice 350 (M350) RTK drone. This new system allows the DJI M350 to stay airborne for extended periods, making it ideal for a variety of operations, from surveillance to event monitoring.

Drone technology company Red Cat Holdings has announced the closing of its acquisition of California-based FlightWave Aerospace Systems. The acquisition officially brings FlightWave Edge 130 into Red Cat’s family of low-cost, portable uncrewed reconnaissance and precision lethal strike systems.

GoPro has unveiled two new action cameras: the feature-packed Hero 13 Black, priced at $399, and the ultra-compact 4K Hero, priced at $199. Both models are designed to cater to different types of users, from seasoned adventurers and filmmakers to casual enthusiasts.

Elsight, a specialist in connectivity solutions for uncrewed and autonomous systems, has launched an aftermarket upgrade kit for two of DJI’s most popular commercial drones, the Matrice 30 and Matrice 350. Elsight’s DroneCommX solution is designed to enhance the functionality and security of these drones, which are widely used across various sectors including public safety, law enforcement, and emergency response.

Japanese drone manufacturer ACSL has made a couple of exciting announcements today. The company has introduced a new thermal camera option for its SOTEN drones and also expanded its US team by appointing three leading industry figures to its advisory board.

Swiss drone maker Wingtra has just rolled out a major update to its WingtraCLOUD platform, introducing fully integrated, advanced map processing capabilities. With this enhancement, the company hopes to make aerial insights more accessible to professionals in sectors such as construction, mining, and urban planning.

The world’s biggest consumer drone maker DJI has issued a detailed response to recent US congressional concerns regarding its relationship with Texas-based Anzu Robotics.

Detroit-based Airspace Link, a leading platform in drone integration, is stepping up its game by entering the Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) market. The company has announced significant upgrades to its FAA-approved AirHub platform, offering new tools to help drone operators manage air traffic more effectively and safely across the United States.

DJI has officially teased the launch of its latest drone, the Neo, set for release on September 5 at 9 am ET. While DJI has tried to keep most details under wraps, a slew of leaks and insider reports have provided a glimpse of what this compact, user-friendly drone will bring to the market.