News

In the final episode of 2024, Paul Rossi and Terry Neff dive into a packed lineup of drone industry insights and future projections. Starting with a wave of mysterious drone sightings along the East Coast, we analyze public perceptions and regulatory challenges. The hosts also explore the emerging role of laser communication in drone systems,… Read more: State of Drones in 2024 and Beyond on this episode of Weekly Wings!

Software Achieves Major Milestone in Third-Party Integration Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ: PDYN and PDYNW) has reached a significant milestone with its Palladyne™️ Pilot AI software platform. In a recent demonstration, the software enabled a small drone from a third-party manufacturer to autonomously identify, prioritize, and track terrestrial targets. This achievement builds on prior tests and… Read more: Palladyne AI Demonstrates Autonomous Target Tracking with Small Drones

Advanced Drone Technology Performs Seamlessly in Extreme Arctic Conditions IN-FLIGHT Data has achieved a significant milestone with the deployment of the DJI Dock 2 in Northern Canada, demonstrating the potential of automated drone systems in extreme environments. Cutting-Edge Technology in Harsh Conditions Operating near the Arctic Circle, IN-FLIGHT Data has brought the DJI Dock 2… Read more: IN-FLIGHT Data Reaches Full Operational Capability of DJI Dock 2 in Northern Canada

Public Concerns Over Recent Drone Sightings Prompt Temporary Flight Bans The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has expanded temporary restrictions on drone flights in response to reports of unusual activity in the northeastern United States. On Friday, the FAA announced additional Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone operations over 30 areas in southern New York and… Read more: FAA Imposes New Drone Flight Restrictions Amid Northeast Drone Sightings

New Contract Highlights Smart Loitering Munitions Technology XTEND, a company specializing in AI-powered tactical drone technology, has secured an $8.8 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD). The contract focuses on delivering Precision Strike Indoor & Outdoor (PSIO) small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS). A Tactical Advance in… Read more: XTEND Secures $8.8M U.S. Department of Defense Contract for AI-Driven Tactical Drones

Exploring UAVs for Healthcare Logistics: Reducing Delays and Improving Access to Critical Medical Supplies in the Greater Boston Area by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNab Saskatoon, Saskatchewan company Draganfly Inc, a drone solutions and systems developer, today announced the successful completion of initial flights as part of a proof-of-concept, research-and-development drone delivery project for… Read more: Draganfly Completes Initial Test Flights for Mass General Brigham Drone Delivery Project

Congress Passes NDAA FY25: Implications for Chinese-Made Drones, U.S. Manufacturing, and National Security The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025, now awaiting President Biden’s signature, includes significant provisions affecting the drone industry. The bill has sparked responses from major stakeholders, including the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and China’s DJI,… Read more: NDAA FY25: Key Takeaways for the Drone Industry

Cucuyo and Cavok UAS Partner to Demonstrate Laser Communication Technology on UAVs German-based Cucuyo and French company Cavok UAS have announced a strategic partnership, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate Cucuyo’s innovative laser communication terminal into Cavok’s professional drone platforms. The collaboration aims to test and validate the functionality of Cucuyo’s P-100 terminal… Read more: Laser Communication on Drones: A New Frontier for Resilient Data Transfer

“Osaka Diamond Routes” to Offer Scenic Air Travel and Enhanced Urban Mobility SkyDrive Inc. and Osaka Metro Co., Ltd. have revealed plans for the “Osaka Diamond Routes,” a future eVTOL network designed to enhance mobility in Osaka, Japan. The announcement was made at the “Osaka Roundtable” and outlines plans to connect four key areas in… Read more: SkyDrive and Osaka Metro Announce eVTOL Plans for Osaka

Revolutionizing Shopping in Dallas-Fort Worth: Wing’s High-Speed Drones Bring Gifts and Meals to Your Doorstep in Minutes by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb Reindeer with milk and cookies in tow this holiday season? Try drones. Wing is excited to announce that it’s partnering with DoorDash and Brookfield Properties in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, offering… Read more: Drones Deliver Holiday Cheer: Wing Partners with DoorDash for Mall-Based Drone Delivery

New Certifications Highlight NDAA Compliance and Cybersecurity Standards for Secure Drone Operations Inspired Flight has announced that its IF1200A and IF800 Tomcat drones have received Green UAS certification from the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). These certifications ensure that the platforms meet National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) compliance and cybersecurity requirements. Additionally, the… Read more: Inspired Flight Drones Achieve Both Green UAS and Blue UAS Certifications

State-Level Collaboration Advances U.S. Drone Market and Strengthens Economic Ties with Taiwan in Energy and Aerospace by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNab As the United States works to increase its presence within the global drone market by collaboration, individual states have started creating partnerships with foreign governments in order to advance their own domestic… Read more: Oklahoma Governor Stitt’s Taiwan Visit Expands Drone and Aerospace Partnerships

Sky Elements scores another world record for holiday drone show By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Sky Elements, the largest drone show company in the U.S., has been racking up world records for some time now, but its most recent record comes with a big helping of holiday cheer. Recently, the company set a new… Read more: Sky Elements Sets Guinness World Record with 5,000-Drone Gingerbread Village Holiday Show

Federal Agencies Address Community Concerns and Emphasize Safety The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Department of Defense (DoD) have issued a joint statement regarding recent drone sightings across the northeast United States. The agencies are working together to investigate reports, address public concerns, and ensure… Read more: DHS, FBI, FAA, and DoD Respond to Reported Drone Sightings

The story of mysterious drone sightings over New Jersey continues to dominate the headlines.  In this guest post from New Jersey-based Dr. Will Austin, a call for realistic assessment of what’s in the sky.  DRONELIFE neither accepts nor makes payment for guest posts. No, There Aren’t Mysterious Large Drones Over New Jersey: It’s Time for… Read more: Clearing the Air on New Jersey’s Drone Sightings

Strengthening Energy Solutions and Domestic Manufacturing for Defense Applications The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has announced a new initiative aimed at addressing critical energy storage needs for small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). The project, known as the Family of Advanced Standard Batteries for Unmanned Systems (FASTBAT-U), seeks innovative battery solutions to enhance the performance of… Read more: DIU Issues New Solicitation for Drone Battery Technology

Federal Funding Advances Drone Technology Integration for Statewide Projects The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Aeronautics Division has received a $1 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) Demonstration Program. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this grant propels the second phase of MassDOT’s initiative to integrate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),… Read more: MassDOT Aeronautics Secures $1 Million Grant for Drone-Based Infrastructure Upgrades

UAS Denmark Test Center and Scandinavian Drone Solutions streamline process for smaller drone operations The UAS Denmark Test Center at H.C. Andersen Airport has introduced a streamlined process for testing smaller drones on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. This new initiative, made possible through a collaboration with Scandinavian Drone Solutions (SDS), drastically reduces… Read more: Fast-Track BVLOS Testing Now Available at H.C. Andersen Airport in Denmark

AUVSI Adds Four UAS Platforms to Green UAS List The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has announced Green UAS certification for four new platforms: Ascent AeroSystems’ Spirit, AgEagle’s Ebee Tac, and Inspired Flight’s IF1200A and IF800 Tomcat. These certifications expand the options for secure, NDAA-compliant drones suitable for public safety, critical infrastructure, and… Read more: Green UAS Certification Expands Secure Drone Options for Public Safety and Critical Missions

Hover UAV: Jackie Jujmovic talks BVLOS flight and the future of commercial operations on this episode of the Drone Radio Show! Jackie Dujmovic is founder and CEO of Australian based Hover UAV.  Hover UAV is a trailblazer in the drone industry, helping clients advance their operations and navigate the complexities of drone regulations. By understanding each… Read more: How Hover UAV is Simplifying Remote BVLOS Operations and Shaping the Future of Drones, on the Drone Radio Show!