DroneDJ

Even as leading drone delivery company Zipline readies the operational launch of its new Platform 2 network for commercial clients in the US, the company is fêting the anniversary of its groundbreaking healthcare distribution work in Africa ­– an activity that has already benefitted millions of people, and which is now set to be extended and diversified with the backing of trans-Atlantic government partners.

Drone logistics company Aviant has announced the launch of its home delivery service, Kyte. Drones will now deliver groceries, takeaway food, and non-prescription medicines to sparsely populated areas and vacation homes in Norway. In addition, Aviant has landed $1 million in funding from Innovation Norway to autonomously deliver vital prescription medicines directly from pharmacies to people in remote and suburban areas.

A couple of important updates for SIRAS drone operators. New US state and regional maps are now available to download for the IP54-rated professional drone. In addition, Teledyne FLIR has released a safety-focused firmware update for the SIRAS to address a potential issue affecting the communication between the drone and its remote controller.

Drone maker Autel Robotics says it is ready to unveil its latest products – Titan, designed for transportation and delivery, and Alpha, a new enterprise drone.

German developer of strategic and military drones Quantum-Systems has inaugurated multipurpose centers in Ukraine to strengthen its support of the nation’s defense against Russia’s seemingly endless invasion.

Skyports Drone Services has moved to expand its international footprint and multiply its activities across Asia with new medical UAV delivery trials to remote destinations in Thailand.

One of Insta360’s biggest sales of the year is happening right now, and you can grab a whole lot of cool photography gear, including action cameras and selfie sticks, at great prices. Here are our top picks from the Insta360 summer sale.

It will come as no surprise to DroneDJ readers that political efforts have been afoot – and gaining momentum – to blacklist drones made by global leader DJI for the threats they allegedly pose of leaking user data to the spying eyes of officials in China. A new report offers an indication of just how steep – and expensive – that legislative push to sideline those UAVs across the US promises to be.

The dangers of AI are making headlines once again. Earlier this week, leaders from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and other artificial intelligence labs came out with a warning that future AI systems could be as deadly as pandemics and nuclear weapons. And now, we are hearing about a test simulated by the US Air Force where an AI-powered drone “killed” its human operator because it saw them as an obstacle to the mission.

Canadian drone hardware, service, and training company Volatus Aerospace has announced the addition of two new specialized, certification-required activities to its broadening menu, notably the ability to provide aerial tech for use in battling the nation’s proliferating wildfires.

Israel-based hydrogen-powered UAV developer HevenDrones is keeping a very close eye on work in the UK toward creating a 165-mile “drone superhighway,” which is intended to enable a broadening range and rate of aerial activity and services across a huge swath of the nation. Although it is not yet involved in what are the still preliminary stages of that British project, HevenDrones CEO Bentzion Levinson says he believes the program’s potential for rapidly, radically transforming UAV systems, regulations, operation, and tech – including power sources like hydrogen permitting far longer flights – is enormous, and something he’d be keen to join when the time is right.

Medical technology company Siemens Healthineers says it plans to roll out a drone delivery solution to transport laboratory diagnostics materials as well as other medical supplies in Africa. The company is joining forces with Wingcopter, a German developer and operator of delivery drones, for this initiative.

Aviation giant Boeing has taken full ownership of electric takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Wisk – a step that closes out the role of cofounding backer Kitty Hawk in the startup’s activity.

DJI’s latest sub-250-gram drone, the Mini 2 SE, is an ultraportable, regulation-friendly aircraft that is exempt from registration and licenses in several parts of the world. It comes at a super affordable price point of $339, with the Fly More Combo containing extra batteries and a host of useful accessories costing only $489. But how does the new DJI drone compare to its closest competitors, the Mini 2 and Mini SE? Let’s find out…

Eve Mobility, the electric takeoff and landing (eVTOL) unit of Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, says it has passed a pair of milestones in its push to launch next-generation air taxi services, including testing vital components of its future prototype plane.

New York State has announced additional measures to protect beachgoers from sharks at Long Island State Park beaches this summer. More specifically, 10 new drones are being deployed to enhance the State’s shark monitoring capacity.

As virtually inevitable after a long series of protracted legal battles, the seemingly eternal case of a Michigan couple suing local authorities for having allegedly violated their privacy and constitutional rights by using a drone to inspect their cluttered yard is now heading to the state’s Supreme Court for final adjudication.

Terra, the all-in-one drone mapping solution from DJI, has received a new firmware update. Version 3.7.0 of the software packs in several new features including an option to reduce output resolution to facilitate browsing and editing models online. And as always, many existing features have been optimized, and occasional issues fixed.

Top US cargo carrier Ameriflight has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate drone deliveries as part of its regular services, and will soon begin using California-based UAV developer Matternet’s M2 craft and navigating systems to launch that activity.

AirMap, one of the most popular apps used by drone operators to gain a Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) nod to fly in controlled airspace at or below 400 feet, has announced the decision to shut down its LAANC service.

California heavy-lift drone specialist Parallel Flight Technologies (PFT) is moving to accelerate the growth of its business activities around the world through a pair of developments, including a purchase agreement for its flagship Firefly craft with Indian company UAV Systems Private Limited.

Offering supporting evidence to details in DroneDJ’s exclusive report on Ukraine’s covert military program preparing drone strikes deep inside Russia, UAVs struck Moscow this morning in what appears to have been a response to the wake of relentless aerial attacks on Kyiv in recent days.

Unleash live, an Australia-based provider of visual analytics and drone management software, has joined forces with AstraUTM, an uncrewed traffic management (UTM) solutions provider, to enhance the safety and efficiency of drone operations.

Developer of the battery-powered advanced air mobility (AAM) Viceroy seaglider, REGENT announced it is continuing testing of its quarter-scale version of the craft nearly nine months after the diminutive prototype successfully performed its inaugural trial outing.