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U.S. CBP deploys drones in multiple ways to complete its mission By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill (The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol deploys a wide range drone types of to help fulfill its mission to safeguard the nation’s borders, enhance its economic prosperity and protect the American people. CBP’s pilots fly everything from small… Read more: How CBP Leverages Drones to Secure Borders and Enhance National Security: DRONELIFE Exclusive Interview

FAA Urges Drone Pilots to Avoid Wildfire Areas to Prevent Accidents and Delays in Firefighting Efforts A drone collided with a firefighting aircraft over the Palisades fire on Thursday, grounding the firefighting aircraft and raising concerns about drone safety near active wildfires. The FAA and local officials are emphasizing the dangers of unauthorized drone flights… Read more: Drone Collision with Firefighting Aircraft Highlights Safety Risks in Restricted Airspace

KDDI and DJI Flycart 30 Prove Vital in Overcoming Logistics Challenges After Heavy Rains in Ishikawa Prefecture This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association. by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb Natural disasters are a fact of life in rural Japan, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have devastating… Read more: Drone Technology Saves the Day: Rescuing a Rural Apple Harvest in Japan

Shifting Partnerships Highlight Challenges in Building Cost-Effective and Scalable Drone Delivery Systems Walmart’s recent decision to end its partnership with DroneUp marks a significant moment for the drone delivery industry. The retail giant terminated its collaboration with the logistics provider and reportedly divested its stake in the company. This move reflects both the evolving dynamics… Read more: What the Walmart and DroneUp Breakup Reveals About Drone Delivery Models

Milestone Highlights Progress in BVLOS Pipeline Inspections Phoenix Air Unmanned (PAU) has announced the successful completion of a 320-mile pipeline patrol in just 7.6 flight hours using a single unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Conducted for Shell Pipeline Company (SPLC) in Louisiana, the achievement surpasses the project’s goal of patrolling 300 miles in a single flight… Read more: Phoenix Air Unmanned Completes 320-Mile Pipeline Patrol in Single Day

Partnership with Amentum Supports Department of Homeland Security Airspace Awareness Efforts Pierce Aerospace announced a $10 million subcontract from Amentum to support the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate. This agreement focuses on advancing Remote Identification (Remote ID) technology to enhance airspace awareness. Supporting Homeland Security with Remote ID The contract, awarded… Read more: Pierce Aerospace Secures $10M Contract for Remote ID Technology

Cutting-Edge UAV Technology Strengthens Marine Resource Protection The Department of Fisheries in Maharashtra has launched an innovative fisheries surveillance project, marking the first drone-based enforcement initiative of its kind in India. Collaborating with ideaForge Technology Limited and Schnell Drone Technologies Ltd., the project leverages advanced UAV technology to monitor and protect the state’s marine resources… Read more: Drones Enhance Fisheries Surveillance in Maharashtra

European-American Innovation Addresses Drone Battery Supply Chain Challenges As the United States faces a critical shortage of drone batteries driven by rising tensions with China, a European-American collaboration offers a promising solution. Tulip Tech, a European-based company specializing in high-performance drone batteries, has announced the opening of its new US offices. The launch event, held… Read more: Tulip Tech Opens US Offices Amid Growing Drone Battery Crisis

New Parachute Recovery System Supports Regulatory Compliance for Flying Over People AVSS Introduces the PRS-M4S AVSS – Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions Inc. (AVSS) has announced the launch of its PRS-M4S Parachute Recovery System, designed for the newly unveiled DJI Matrice 4 Series. This product offers compatibility with both the DJI Matrice 4 Enterprise and DJI… Read more: AVSS Launches PRS-M4S for DJI Matrice 4 Series: See How it Works!

Expanding Drone Technology Enhances Safety for Communities and First Responders All images credit Flying Lion, used with permission. Flying Lion, Inc., a leading drone service provider, has announced a major achievement in Drone as First Responder (DFR) operations. By the end of 2024, the company successfully completed 55,773 DFR flights, with more than 35,000 conducted… Read more: Flying Lion Achieves Milestone: Over 50,000 Drone as First Responder Flights Completed

New Drones Enhance Mapping, Inspection, and Public Safety with AI Capabilities DJI has unveiled the Matrice 4 Series enterprise drones, featuring cutting-edge sensors, AI-powered tools, and a suite of capabilities aimed at improving aerial operations across various industries. The launch highlights DJI’s ongoing innovation in drone technology, even as the U.S. government continues efforts to… Read more: DJI Introduces Matrice 4 Series: Advanced Tools for Enterprise Drone Operations

In the first episode of Weekly Wings Season 2, hosts Paul Rossi and Terry Neff explore key developments in the drone industry as the new year begins. They kick off with discussions on U.S. Army training operations in Romania using Skydio and Anduril drones for reconnaissance and the evolving role of American-made drones in defense… Read more: Defense Innovations, Drone Safety and EVTOL Tech: on the January 7 Episode of Weekly Wings

The latest in an occasional column on bringing products to market in emerging technologies, by industry marketing expert Amy T. Wiegand: Go-to-Market Propeller.  Go-to-Market Propeller is the practical support a growing industry needs – getting from innovation to sales.  In this article: the importance of competitive analysis. by Amy T. Wiegand Competitive analysis solidifies the… Read more: The Importance of Competitive Analysis in Emerging Aviation Technology: Go-to-Market Propeller

New Infrastructure Supports Waterway Patrol, Rescue, and Retail Delivery in Anji, China A2Z Drone Delivery has introduced a multi-use drone dock network operating beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). This innovative system supports urban waterway patrols, water rescue operations, and regional retail deliveries in Anji City, China. The rollout represents the company’s initial foray as… Read more: A2Z Drone Delivery Unveils Multi-Use BVLOS Drone Dock Network

New Drone Offers Advanced Features and Comprehensive Support for Industrial Cleaning Apellix, an aerial robotics company based in Jacksonville, FL, has introduced its latest innovation, the US1 Power Wash Drone. This new system is designed to make industrial and commercial cleaning safer, more efficient, and cost-effective by incorporating advanced features and offering comprehensive customer support.… Read more: Apellix Launches US1 Power Wash Drone: Safer and More Efficient Cleaning for Industrial and Commercial Use

FAA BVLOS Waiver for American Robotics Advances Remote Operations Capabilities Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS) has announced that its subsidiary, American Robotics, received a new Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This waiver allows expanded drone operations over people and moving vehicles, managed remotely from the company’s Baltimore… Read more: Ondas’ American Robotics Secures FAA Waiver for Expanded Drone Operations

Expanding Public Safety Capabilities with Drones Flock Safety, a company known for its suite of public safety solutions, has acquired Uniform Sierra Aerospace. Uniform Sierra Aerospace, a U.S.-based provider of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) for public safety, brings its expertise in American-made, National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)-compliant drones to Flock’s growing portfolio. This acquisition… Read more: Flock Safety Acquires Uniform Sierra Aerospace: Enhancing Drone Technology for Public Safety

New UAV Regulations, Effective January 1, 2025 Nevada Senate Bill 11 (SB11), effective January 1, 2025, places new restrictions on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by public agencies and law enforcement. The law prohibits the purchase or operation of drones and related equipment from certain entities, including those flagged by the U.S. Department… Read more: Nevada Law Restricts Public Safety Agencies from Using DJI Drones, Limits Drone as First Responder Applications

Join us on Tuesday, January 7, at 3:00 PM EST for the first episode of the Public Safety Drone Review in 2025. This month’s session will address some of the most pressing topics shaping the drone industry in the new year, including proposed bans on Chinese-manufactured drones, new models for Drones as First Responder (DFR)… Read more: Upcoming Public Safety Drone Review Tackles Key Issues for 2025, Featuring Matt Sloane of SkyfireAI

Exclusive Distribution Deal Highlights Strategic Growth in Japan’s Expanding Drone Market for Commercial and Defense Applications This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association. by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb Colorado-based fixed wing drone developer PteroDynamics recently announced a new exclusive distribution partnership with Japan-based technology company Cornes Technologies.… Read more: PteroDynamics Partners with Cornes Technologies to Bring Transwing UAS to Japan