DJI Pocket 4 camera becomes first real casualty of US FCC ban
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Red Cat’s Teal 2 drone marks its second on coveted Blue sUAS list
Defense and security aerial tech company Red Cat Holdings has announced the night vision-excelling Teal 2 has become the second small aircraft produced by its Teal Drones affiliate to qualify for the Department of Defense (DoD) Blue sUAS list.
Expand Expanding Close5 features I wish to see in the rumored DJI Air 3
The DJI rumor train is back in action, with multiple leakers giving clues that the Air 3 reveal is nearing. While the date hasn’t been officially nailed down yet, it feels close enough to provide you with five features I hope to see when the drone is announced.
Expand Expanding CloseInDro, Area X.O open Canada’s cutting-edge drone test facility
A group of Canadian tech sector companies including InDro Robotics, backed by government agencies, have announced the opening of the Drone and Advanced Robotics Testing and Training Zone (DARTT), which is being touted as the nation’s first full-range, cutting-edge center for drone, automated ground vehicle, and diverse robotic craft trials.
Expand Expanding CloseNew AI tool in XOS drone app store improves object tracking
XTEND, the developer of XOS human-guided autonomous operating system, is teaming up with edge artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision experts SightX. The partnership aims to boost the onboard data processing capabilities of drones, robots, and smart devices.
Expand Expanding CloseAir taxi maker Lilium’s deals in Shenzen to prime wider AAM activity in China
German air taxi developer Lilium has announced a pair of deals providing it a foothold in China to build future business activity in what’s expected to be an enormous and effervescent market for advanced air mobility (AAM) services.
Expand Expanding CloseFord patent describes drone moonroof pad allowing take off and landing from moving vehicles
It admittedly isn’t the kind of invention marking a radical departure from its previous drone-related innovations, but a recently published US patent application by the Ford Motor Co. does offer additional evidence the automotive giant is intent on integrating UAVs into its future cars and trucks.
Expand Expanding CloseNew DJI leaks suggest late June, early July Air 3 drone release
Online leakers of new DJI drones have established an admirable record for reliability in 2023 – a consistency making it hard not to suspect they may again be right in interpreting new visual finds as an indication the company may be about to release a new Air 3.
Expand Expanding CloseStrix2100 universal drone docking station rolls out from Ohio
It looks like Spright, the drone services division of air medical service provider Air Methods, is set to receive what is being called the only universal and fully autonomous drone docking station in the world. Israel-based StrixDrones tells DroneDJ that the first units of its highly advanced Strix2100 DroneDock are now rolling off the assembly line in Dayton, Ohio.
Expand Expanding CloseVolocopter adds emergency medical response to diversifying air taxi uses
Urban air mobility startup Volocopter is finding additional ways to expand uses for its battery-powered craft beyond its principal air taxi services, most recently through a new deal concluded with fellow German organization ADAC Luftrettung to deploy the planes in emergency medical response.
Expand Expanding CloseDrone pilot heavily fined (but tenderly scolded) for flight halting English pro soccer match
A UK drone pilot has been fined nearly $4,500 for an illegal flight that, among many other consequences, forced a money-time professional soccer match to be halted after the craft hovered low over players.
Expand Expanding CloseReinforced Archer and Stellantis ties aim for 2024 Midnight air taxi production launch
California air taxi developer Archer Aviation announced the reinforcement of its relationship with European automotive giant Stellantis at the opening of the Paris Airshow today, notably the tightening of their financial ties and increasing of their production plans for the Midnight electric takeoff and landing aircraft.
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SkyDrive to build its freshly redesigned eVTOL at Suzuki facility under new agreement
During this year’s Paris Air Show, eVTOL developer SkyDrive announced a basic agreement with fellow Japanese manufacturer Suzuki Motor Corporation to assist in producing the former’s SKYDRIVE aircraft. SkyDrive also announced a redesign to its eVTOL that will now transport more passengers.
Read MoreColorized LiDAR mapping with long-range DeltaQuad Evo drone
Dutch drone maker DeltaQuad says its latest Evo aircraft with a flight time of up to 2.5 hours is now integrated with a combined Yellowscan LiDAR and RGB system. As such, the fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone can offer colorized LiDAR mapping for up to 500 hectares in a single flight.
Expand Expanding CloseFirestorm Labs prepares launch of modular 3D-printed drones
In what appears to be an example of new thinking arising at the right time to meet to shifting aerial demands – especially under the influence of Ukraine’s defense of the Russian invasion – San Diego-based company Firestorm Labs is preparing to offer entirely modular drones whose 3D-printing manufacturing process aims to offer considerable flexibility and speed of production in fulfilling defense and security users’ needs.
Expand Expanding CloseIllinois law OKs police drone crowd control, bans facial recognition
A new law in Illinois gives police the authority to deploy drones in expanded scenarios – for notably monitoring crowds during large public events – but prevents law enforcement from using any facial recognition tech during aerial operations, apart from critical situations like potential terror plotting.
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DJI’s Mini 3 drone starts at $380 when you bring your own controller (Save $89), or DJI RC bundle at $609
Amazon is now offering the DJI Mini 3 Drone with DJI RC remote for $609 shipped. This package is not only the perfect way for a new pilot to get in on the aeriel photography this summer, but also at its all-time low. You’re saving $90 from the usual $699 price tag while scoring one of the first chances to save. Those who will be upgrading from an existing DJI drone and already have a controller can also make out for even less by scoring the DJI Mini 3 alone for $379.79. This one is down from the usual $469 price tag in order to land at the second-best yet. It’s within $1 of the all-time low, too.
DJI’s new Mini 3 delivers a more consumer-focused feature set that is packed into one of its most compact builds yet. The entire drone weighs in under 249 grams, while still delivering 38-minute flight times and a robust set of obstacle avoidance tech. The 1/1.3-inch sensor is already a notable solution for aerial photography thanks to the ability to record 4K HDR videos, but there’s also a rotating gimbal that makes this one of the first DJI drones to be able to capture vertical video for sharing to your smartphone. Take a look at the full specs in our coverage at DroneDJ and then head below for more.
Read MoreDJI releases patch to clean up buggy mess of Terra v3.7.0
Following reports that problems have slipped into the latest firmware version 3.7.0 of Terra, DJI has issued a quick fix for the all-in-one drone mapping platform.
Expand Expanding CloseEASA and Brazil’s ANAC partner on air taxi certification
With the recent increase in activities related to advanced air mobility (AAM) using electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to move people and cargo between places, national regulators are also finding ways to coordinate a safe and harmonized introduction of new technologies in the civil aviation system. The latest development in this direction comes from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Expand Expanding CloseQuantum-Systems’ AI-based push for drone adoption in mining ops
German drone maker Quantum-Systems is joining forces with US-based mining intelligence software company Strayos to empower mining businesses with advanced technology and AI-powered automation.
Expand Expanding CloseDrone Delivery Canada gets BVLOS approval for medical flights
Aerial transport company Drone Delivery Canada has added new capacities to its growing array of UAV activities by obtaining approval from regulators for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights of dangerous goods as part of its Care by Air program.
Expand Expanding CloseUS Army asks Blue sUAS suppliers to create small drone munition-dropping capabilities
It’s no secret Russia’s cakewalking expectations to invade and quickly take over Ukraine were upended in large part by defenders’ wide-ranging and extremely effective repurposing of comparatively cheap consumer UAVs into munitions-dropping strike vehicles. Now the US Army is moving to replicate that example, representing a potential boon for small drone partners.
Expand Expanding CloseDraganfly drones aid Ukraine rescue of Kherson flood victims
Canadian drone hardware and software solution specialist Draganfly has moved quickly to adapt the activity of its transport and situational awareness UAVs in Ukraine to provide emergency aerial support of efforts to rescue flooding victims in Kherson.
Expand Expanding CloseNational Highway’s new drone planning system makes flights near England’s roads safer and easier
The state organization tasked with managing and maintaining England’s network of major roadways, National Highway, has introduced a new drone flight management system to facilitate access and operation of pilots wanting to fly UAVs near principal ground transport arteries.
Expand Expanding CloseEASA publishes final guidelines on drone noise levels
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published its final guidelines explaining how UAS manufacturers and government agencies can measure the noise level of their drones, ensuring they are not a nuisance to people and wildlife.
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