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Wing Delivery Network frees drones from point-to-point operation for faster, flexible service

Wing drone delivery

Google’s corporate cousin Wing Aviation has repeatedly innovated its methods of organizing and operating UAV transport of ordered goods between retailers and customers. Now it’s taking that to another level by devising reactive, pragmatic, and automated networks of delivery drones whose flexibility and increased efficiencies are what the company thinks will be key to massively scaling the activity.

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Mississippi passes new law to quash undue restrictions on drones

drone delivery toll lane auvsi faa mississippi law

Mississippi governor Tate Reeves has signed the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems’ Rights and Authorities Act into law, which codifies that the ultimate authority over the state airspace lies with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This law is crucial because it prevents additional burdensome regulations for drone operators. At the same time, it clarifies that violations of property-based legal regimes, such as trespass, do not occur when a drone simply flies overhead.

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a plane flying in the air

DJI’s just-released Mini 3 Drone shoots vertical video and is on sale from $379 lows

Update: B&H is now offering the DJI Mini 3 by itself for $379 shipped. You’ll have to supply your own controller, but that lets you bring home the folding quadcopter for $90 less than the Amazon packages below. It’s a great option for those who already have a DJI drone in their arsenal but want to upgrade to the latest release. You can also fly right from your iPhone, too.

Amazon is now offering the very first chance to save on the new DJI Mini 3 Drone. After just launching last December right ahead of the holidays, the brand’s new entry-level experience is landing at an all-time low. Now on sale for $469 shipped, this is down from the usual $559 going rate. It’s the second markdown so far, and arrives with $90 in savings attached. This discount is also matched directly from DJI. The Fly More Combo version is also on sale, now dropping to $798 from its usual $858 price tag. 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.

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Archer begins construction of its eVTOL air taxi manufacturing plant

Archer eVTOL air taxi

Air taxi developer Archer Aviation says it finalized several key details related to the financing of its future electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturing plant in Covington, Georgia, and, as a result, has begun construction of the initial 350,000-square-foot facility of its larger production plant.

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Airobotics’ new AI-powered anti-drone system uses net, parachute to capture hostile aircraft

airobotics anti drone iron counter parachute net

Drone-in-a-box solution specialist Airobotics has launched a fully-automated anti-drone solution, Iron Drone, at the ongoing World Police Summit in Dubai. Instead of relying on GPS or RF jamming, the new AI-powered counter-drone technology uses a net and parachute system to capture the target aircraft.

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Oz’s SYPAQ sends Ukraine high-performance cardboard drones

SYPAQ Ukraine drones cardboard

Leading UAV developers DraganFlyQuantum-Systems, AeroVironment, and Teledyne Flir are among the companies that have provided cutting-edge aerial craft to Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion, but Australian firm SYPAQ Systems is distinguishing itself in that supportive effort by providing Kyiv with drones made of cardboard.

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Dublin Airport flails in response to recurring drone flights disrupting air traffic

Dublin Airport drone

Officials in Ireland have earned plaudits over the years for encouraging new technologies as drivers of innovation and economic growth, but they aren’t getting any applause for their perplexingly sluggish response in dealing with a series of drone sightings that have disrupted traffic at Dublin Airport, causing multiple flights to be redirected.

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Illinois utility expands drone inspection program with Skydio Dock

skydio dock comed drone inspection

Electric utility ComEd says it is expanding its drone program to allow pilots to operate inspection drones remotely, without being present on site. The utility has secured all the necessary waivers required from the FAA to conduct operations in which the drone flies beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of the operator. And it is currently training pilots to automate drone flights using the Skydio Dock docking and recharging station.

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The drone photo that won $15K in prizes at DJI SkyPixel contest

dji skypixel contest drone photo winners 2023

SkyPixel, one of the world’s most popular aerial photography communities established by tech giant DJI, has announced the winners of its annual drone photo and video contest. See all the top, prize-winning drone photographs here and find out how a Vietnamese photographer’s delicate composition secured the distinction of Annual Best Work with over $15,000 in prizes.

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BRINC launches the enhanced LEMUR 2 drone, tailored to public safety operators [Updated with video]

BRINC LEMUR 2 police

Specialized drone and tactical products maker BRINC is expanding its line of tech designed for emergency responders, public safety services, police, firefighting, and disaster units with today’s release of the LEMUR 2 UAV, whose range of cutting-edge capabilities has been conceived to reduce the danger posed to the lives of people working to save others.

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