DroneDJ

The unparalleled flexibility that comes with drones being able to carry a multitude of sensors, high-resolution cameras, and survey-grade mapping payloads has seen them being used for monitoring sensitive ecological areas and endangered species in several parts of the world. But a rather interesting case is now emerging from Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) where the conservation organization has teamed up with Wildlife Drones to deploy a drone specially equipped with an advanced radio-telemetry system to track and monitor vulnerable wildlife species.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) says it has delivered nine drones to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine to collect evidence of possible war crimes. As an independent agency of the US federal government, USAID has been pursuing accountability for war crimes and human rights abuse in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country.

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) ­has announced the financial approval of its five-year, 37.2 million drone program that will build on the utility’s accumulating experience in deploying UAVs for inspection, safety, and other continuing operational activities.

Ambitious air taxi developer AutoFlight added another aerial first to its collection of exploits this week with the announcement it had staged a flight of three different prototypes of its Prosperity I electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in coordinated formation.

The United States Air Force (USAF) has renewed its partnership with the Drone Racing League (DRL) for the seventh year. Not only has the USAF now become the longest-reigning DRL partner, but for the first time, the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces will have an endorsement with a DRL pilot who will fly as the official USAF Team Pilot.

As Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive against invading Russian troops attempts to increase momentum, the country is again turning to the same drones that have allowed it to defy Moscow’s far bigger and better-equipped army for nearly 18 months.

Canadian drone, equipment, and operating systems company Draganfly has unveiled its new UAV payload lowering device – a unit it’s calling “revolutionary” while marketed under the more pragmatic name, Precision Delivery System.

Vertiport operations and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions provider Kookiejar says it is joining forces with design company STILFOLD to make drone landing platforms using “industrial origami” manufacturing technology.

The US Army will be receiving considerable reinforcements of tactical Black Hornet micro drones to its current fleet, under a nearly $94 million agreement Washington has signed with producer Teledyne FLIR Defense that also involves an undisclosed number of the tiny reconnaissance UAVs heading to Ukraine.

One of the key features that make the DJI Air 3 drone a serious upgrade over its predecessor is the all-new DJI RC 2 remote controller that comes with a built-in screen.

The UK-based unified traffic management (UTM) specialist Altitude Angel is having a busy week – first with the rollout of a low-altitude drone and aircraft detection network, and then with the unveiling of UAV and future advanced air mobility (AAM) flight approval tech designed to thrust its domestic market to the top readiness leaders in emerging aerial activities.

Few incidents are better generators of headlines, public shivers, and the ire of UAV sector experts than reports of “near misses” between drones and piloted aircraft – encounters whose very definitions and delineations are often left to the subjective dread of the beholder. A recently released study, however, uses objective methods for analyzing such mid-air events, and offers suggestions for further reducing their relatively limited numbers.

Today, DJI announced its latest drone offering, an upgrade to the mid-tier Air lineup called the Air 3. Like all other DJI consumer drones, it comes with Fly More Combos. Let’s delve into what the Air 3 includes if you order one.

The release of a new DJI drone is always an exciting moment – no matter the volume of leaked information on the product beforehand – and one of prolonged anticipation as buyers get an official eyeful of the cutting-edge gear they can finally order. That’s no different today as the global UAV leader unveils its Air 3, featuring dual cameras, omnidirectional obstacle sensors, and an extended 46 minutes of flight time.

I have had the privilege of flying the new DJI Air 3 for the past week ahead of today’s release, and I must say this has been my favorite drone to review since taking this position. Here are my complete thoughts on the drone that I’m sure many of you will end up buying.

Just hours before global drone giant DJI unveils what is universally expected to be the company’s new Air 3 product today, waiting fans were treated to a large leak of information about another rumored device – an updated Osmo 4 action camera.

Swiss warehouse and logistics drone services company Verity has gotten a boost in its international scaling ambitions with a new financial infusion increasing its earlier $32 million Series B funding round by nearly 30%.

Researchers at a Russian technology organization supporting the nation’s war against Ukraine say they’ve developed an application allowing first-person view (FPV) drones to be hidden in ideal attack locations, then reactivated out of “sleeping” mode for strikes on nearby targets at appointed times.

All eyes are going to be on DJI tomorrow as the company hosts the highly anticipated “Double Up” event, but another new product from the tech giant has now made it to the FCC database. Test reports of an Osmo Action 4 camera have popped up in regulatory filings, indicating DJI could be prepping for another launch event soon.

New York City has taken the first major step toward softening its reputation as among the world’s most hostile places for drone use with the unveiling of a new permitting process aimed at liberalizing what has until now been a near blanket ban on UAV operation.

The US Army has tested an app that allows smartphones to serve as counter-UAV assets by providing visual information and location data of suspicious drones to central authorities.

As DroneDJ has noted in the past, the swiftness, agility, and powerful imaging tech drones provide have revolutionized the way surfing is photographed, affording spectators nearly first-person perspectives of what riders see. Now, a UAV has allowed one of the sport’s pros to film some arresting footage of his own – this time of fellow competitors being closely looked over by a very large shark.

The UK developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL), Vertical Aerospace, says it has completed the first untethered test flight of its future battery-powered air taxi, propelling it into an elite of sector startups that have managed to both produce prototypes and get them aloft.