New FCC filings highlight company-specific national security concerns alongside broader supply chain risks behind the original Covered List decision. Senator Rick Scott has challenged arguments from DJI and Autel Robotics against their inclusion on the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Covered List. In an October 14 letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Scott cited … [Read more...] about Senator Cites Classified Security Findings in Defense of DJI and Autel Restrictions
chinese drones
New Survey Shows Just How Dependent Construction Is on Chinese Drones
ABC finds nearly all drone-using respondents rely primarily on DJI, highlighting the challenge of shifting to alternative platforms by DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magil As the U.S. government puts the squeeze on foreign drone manufacturers, it is likely to significantly increase costs for the drone users in the construction industry, virtually all of whom fly Chinese-made … [Read more...] about New Survey Shows Just How Dependent Construction Is on Chinese Drones
Two Shenzhen Rivals, Two Different Paths to the U.S. Market
As Insta360 expands across cameras and drones, restrictions on DJI could create an opening for its increasingly direct Chinese competitor. News and Commentary.  DJI and Insta360 are neighbors as well as rivals in Shenzhen, China’s technology hub. Both have built global businesses around cameras and advanced imaging. Increasingly, they are also competing for the same … [Read more...] about Two Shenzhen Rivals, Two Different Paths to the U.S. Market
Proposed Patent Bill Could Have Major Implications for Drone Industry Intellectual Property
Prohibiting Adversarial Patents Act would make certain patents unenforceable while leaving ownership intact A newly introduced bill in Congress concerning "adversarial patents" could extend U.S. scrutiny of certain foreign technology companies into a new area: intellectual property rights. The Prohibiting Adversarial Patents Act of 2026 (PAPA), introduced by Rep. Scott … [Read more...] about Proposed Patent Bill Could Have Major Implications for Drone Industry Intellectual Property
Senators Press Federal Contractors on DJI Drone Use, Expanding Scrutiny Beyond Government Agencies
U.S. lawmakers are expanding their efforts to limit the use of Chinese-manufactured drones, shifting focus from federal agencies and spectrum access to the contractors that build and maintain some of the nation’s most sensitive infrastructure. In letters sent December 18, Senators Maggie Hassan and Gary Peters pressed major U.S. construction firms about their relationships with … [Read more...] about Senators Press Federal Contractors on DJI Drone Use, Expanding Scrutiny Beyond Government Agencies









