FAA and DoD Explore How Drones, Counter-UAS Systems, and Airports Can Share Airspace XPONENTIAL panel highlights growing cooperation between civil and military agencies on drone traffic management and airspace security As drone operations expand around airports, military installations, and critical infrastructure, regulators and defense agencies face a growing challenge: how … [Read more...] about FAA and DoD Are Building the Rules for Drones Operating Near Sensitive Airspace
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Urban UAV Operations Need More than Drones
Cloud Century has implemented more than 200 drone docks in China, learning what urban drone operations require. In this guest post, Cloud Century’s Meng Xu says the future low-altitude economy depends on infrastructure, autonomous operations, drone docks, and AI-assisted operational intelligence. DRONELIFE does not accept or make payment for guest posts. Urban UAV Operations … [Read more...] about Urban UAV Operations Need More than Drones
Industrial Policy and Wright’s Law: A New Perspective on Building the U.S. Drone Industry
At the AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2026 conference this week, Red Cat Holdings executive Brendan Stewart delivered one of the more historically grounded and economically detailed discussions of the event, arguing that rebuilding the U.S. drone industry will require long-term industrial policy, manufacturing scale, and patience. Stewart, Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Government … [Read more...] about Industrial Policy and Wright’s Law: A New Perspective on Building the U.S. Drone Industry
Project ULTRA Aims to Normalize Drone Operations in Shared Airspace
FAA, DoD, and industry partners use Grand Forks test environment to develop scalable systems for UAS, logistics, and counter-UAS coordination At AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2026 in Detroit, officials from the FAA, Department of War (DoW), test sites, and industry described a growing effort to normalize drone operations within the National Airspace System (NAS). The initiative, known as … [Read more...] about Project ULTRA Aims to Normalize Drone Operations in Shared Airspace
Michigan’s Bet on the Low Altitude Economy: How M Air Connects Aerospace Innovation and Detroit Manufacturing
At XPONENTIAL 2026 this week, leaders from University of Michigan outlined an ambitious vision for the future of drones and advanced air mobility (AAM): one where Michigan becomes a central hub for the emerging low altitude economy by combining aerospace innovation with Detroit’s industrial manufacturing strength. DRONELIFE had the opportunity for a meaningful discussion with … [Read more...] about Michigan’s Bet on the Low Altitude Economy: How M Air Connects Aerospace Innovation and Detroit Manufacturing
