Commercial drones have made their name by observing the world below. Now a new class of missions is moving the aircraft up into the atmosphere itself. The Utah Division of Water Resources is exploring drone-based cloud seeding to replace the crewed aircraft it tested from 2022 to 2025. That puts unmanned aircraft at the meeting point of aviation, meteorology, autonomy and water … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Why Drones May Change How We Operate in the Atmosphere
Drone Industry
They Predicted a $127 Billion Drone Market. Ten Years Later, Here’s What They Got Right.
In 2016, Michael Mazur and Adam Wiśniewski helped author one of the drone industry’s most widely cited forecasts, putting the addressable market for drone-powered solutions at $127.3 billion. A decade later, the AI Clearing co-founders revisit that prediction, examining where the industry developed as expected, where it surprised them, and why the next wave of value may have … [Read more...] about They Predicted a $127 Billion Drone Market. Ten Years Later, Here’s What They Got Right.
Building American Drones Means Building the Parts, PDW CEO Says
James Slider says U.S. drone leadership will depend on domestic production of motors, batteries, electronics and other critical components By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Building a system capable of supplying the U.S. military with unmanned aerial systems to meet the challenges of the 21stcentury will take a massive effort, to bring to American shores the production … [Read more...] about Building American Drones Means Building the Parts, PDW CEO Says
FCC “Military-Grade” Drone Proposal Draws Overwhelming Opposition in Public Comments
Pilot Institute analysis finds 98.6% of readable filings opposed the proposed restrictions as writte Review of 3,824 readable filings finds 3,770 opposed the FCC proposal as written, as commenters raise concerns about economic impact, public safety, agriculture and commercial drone operations The comment period has closed on a Federal Communications Commission proposal that … [Read more...] about FCC “Military-Grade” Drone Proposal Draws Overwhelming Opposition in Public Comments
Headed to Commercial UAV Expo 2026? Keynotes, DRONELIFE, and Friends and Partners to Visit in Las Vegas
Commercial UAV Expo returns September 1–3 as major regulatory changes reshape the U.S. drone market. Here’s what the DRONELIFE team will be watching, plus where to find our friends and partners on the show floor. Commercial UAV Expo returns to Las Vegas September 1–3, bringing more than 3,700 commercial drone professionals and 240-plus exhibitors to Caesars Forum. This year, … [Read more...] about Headed to Commercial UAV Expo 2026? Keynotes, DRONELIFE, and Friends and Partners to Visit in Las Vegas
