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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 5 stories for you, New DJI Action 5, Air 3S hits FCC Database, Pilot Institute Community, a Drone finds missing Louisiana girl, and a press release on drone incursions into wild fire aircraft operations.
First up, DJI has released the new Action 5! The action 5 comes with a new 1/1.3â sensor (the same size as the Mini 4 Pro), 10-bit D-Log M, HLG, horizon steady, subject tracking, a barometer/hydrometer, 47GB of internal storage, magnetic mounting, 4 hour battery life, 113 degree max operating temperature, and connection with the DJI Mic 2s! Whew, lots cool specs, weâll be getting on to check out and post some content on! Next, the Air 3S has hit the FCC database! Weâve seen quite a few leaks about the Air 3S, including some images with an RC-N3 series controller, what appears to be a larger sensor in a dual camera setup, and potentially larger batteries.Rumors have also included that batteries may be compatible with the current Air 3. Weâve seen some decent images of the Air 3, weâll have to wait and see if DJI publishes an announcement any time soon!Third up, a big Pilot Institute update. This week we launched the Premium Community with the goal to help part 107 pilots use their certificate to get paid work. In premium you'll find tons of interviews and workshops, we'll be releasing exclusive content every month. And, if you're a fan of News Update, we have an extended version every week called Post Flight. Each episode we discuss News Update stories in more detail and give our personal opinion on the facts. Visit Pilotinstitute.com/community to check it all out!Third up, a drone in Louisiana located a missing child this week. A 10 year old Louisiana girl was reported missing early in the day on Sunday. Searchers were unable to locate the girl, and a company from Arkansas, Drone Management Services, stepped in to assist.Using what appears to be a Mavic 3 Thermal, Co-Owner Josh Kolber located the girl sleeping on the ground.Great use of the drone Josh! Last up, the National Interagency Fire Center has published data this week about 21 incidents where drones have operated near wildfires.In 10 of these events, firefighting aircraft operations were suspended. Generally, firefighting aircraft operate within a TFR, meaning other aircraft including traditional aircraft are not permitted in that area. Be sure to check the TFRs before you take off, especially in wildfire prone areas. Alright, thatâs all weâve got! Greg will be back on Monday, so heâll see you then for the live Q&A!
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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 5 stories for you: Drone ban updates, Green Day concert paused for drone flight, FLIR and AirData partner, 3 men in a stolen vehicle were found using a drone, and SkyeBrowse updates everyone to Lite Processing!
First up, The house has voted to pass the Countering CCP Drones Act.This is a setback that was expected but it changes little. Representative Stefanik stated during her speech âOver the last seven years, the US government has publicly confirmed time and time again that DJI drones are being used to collect information on US critical infrastructure and pose significant risks to US national security,âNot sure where the evidence is, but weâd love to see it. The Countering CCP drones act was also passed with the House NDAA, so the bill has already passed before.Both bills still must still go through the Senate prior to landing on the Presidentâs desk. It doesnât matter what vertical youâre in, now is a great time to weigh in on this issue, and educate your senators and representatives.If youâre having trouble with where to start, head over to the DAA website, which is linked below. Next up, Green Day rushed off stage this week after security spotted a drone in the stadium.Detroit Police confirmed the interruption to the show was due to a drone and that the operator was located and detained.Currently, itâs unclear what drone was flying or how close it was to the band. An important note was that this did not qualify for a stadium TFR, and no TFR was in place. This brings up an interesting situation where a Part 107 pilot could legally operate over the stadium with a category 1 or 2 drone.Weâll keep you updated when we see more. Third, FLIR and AirData UAV have partnered to provide SIRAS flight tracking.If youâre unfamiliar with the FLIR SIRAS, itâs a quadcopter with a 640x512 FLIR Hadron series sensor designed for industry and public safety.The integration with AirData uses SIRASâs offline log-export and isnât connected to the internet. For users of the SIRAS, AirData is a great tool and one that we use for tracking our aircraftâs flights, battery cycles, and determining what when wrong if things do.Fourth, a shout out to some students from Gaston County Police.Gaston County police used a drone this week to assist in recovering a stolen vehicle and arresting 3 men who fled the stolen vehicle after a car chase.The drone was utilized after officers lost sight of the vehicle when it drove into a soybean field.A Gaston County Police Officer was part of the drone unit, and launched to determine where the vehicle went. Once the police officer found the vehicle, they began to track the suspects, locating them in the field attempting to evade police.All 3 suspects were taken into custody without incident. Great use of the drone! Next, SkyeBrowse has updated everyone on the Freemium plan to Lite processing!This will increase the quality of all models from folks with free accounts.If you're unfamiliar with SkyeBrowse, the program uses video from nearly anything to make 3D models.You can sign up for free and start making models immediately.Models can be accessed on any device and can be easily marked up for measurement and shared as needed.And to wrap up, check out this clip for something coming next weekâŠhttps://dronexl.co/2024/09/10/us-house-votes-to-ban-new-dji-drones/https://dronexl.co/2024/09/05/green-day-interrupted-mid-song-by-drone-threat-at-detroit-concert/https://www.flir.com/suas/https://airdata.com/abouthttps://www.instagram.com/p/C_jIAlFTnbf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&img_index=1
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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 5 stories for you; Updated Countering CCP Drones language, representatives call for Anzu investigation, FAA proposes over 300,000 in fines, two drones-for-good stories about rescue, and Best Buy strikes again with a DJI leak.
Story Links:https://dronexl.co/2024/08/27/lawmakers-dji-drone-loophole-anzu-robotics/https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-proposed-341413-civil-penalties-against-drone-operatorshttps://dronexl.co/2024/08/26/dji-neo-drone-spotted-at-best-buy/https://dronexl.co/2024/08/26/faa-drone-violations-penalties/https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4792/text?s=1&r=1
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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 3 stories for you, More DJI Leaks, DroneUp layoffs, and failed drone smuggling in South Carolina.
First up, a bunch more DJI leaks have come out this week including the Air 3S and more Neo Leaks!New images of the Air 3S show what appears to be a much larger gimbal on an Air 3 frame.Leaked images also confirm the name of the new drone as the Air 3S. Images also show specs including a Sony CMOS sensor, 14EV dynamic range, and onboard panorama composition of 13,000x6500 pixels. The pictures are getting better so we might be getting closer to release!The Neo has also had a recent leak by an Australian online store.The store shared specs, some of which weâve seen before. Key features include 135g, hand takeoff and landing, 4K video, smart track, direction track, motion control, remote audio recording, and goggles compatibility. Control methods also include voice control, phone control, or RC control. For a complete list of specs, visit DroneXLâs article linked below! Next up, DroneUp is scaling back operations and is closing 18 delivery hubs. DroneUp ended hubs in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Tampa, resulting in 70 job losses or about 17% of DroneUpâs workforce. Deliveries in the future will be limited to 15 locations in the Dallas area. You can see DroneUpâs response to DroneXLâs request for comment by saying:âLayoffs are an unfortunate part of a business that is literally defining its own industry. Like so many innovators before us, the decision to automate often leads to similar circumstances but we acknowledge that this is a difficult time, especially for those with whom we've parted ways.While we are deeply grateful for their service, DroneUp remains committed to a strategy that supports our commercial partners and their customers. The lessons we have learned in the last several years has informed a strategy to reshape the last-mile of delivery with DroneUp's Ecosystem platform that is economically feasible for sellers and scalable for buyers.It remains our ambition to grow DroneUp, nationwide. Doing so would rely on a bigger workforce in roles that will be defined by what regulators permit, and what partners and their customers need.âWeâll keep you updated when we see more. Last up, deputies in South Carolina confiscated large drones being used to drop contraband into the Ridgeland Correctional Institute.While responding to known take off locations nearby, deputies found the two men flying the drone and attempted to stop them.The men ran and escaped into nearby woods. When searched, the vehicle contained marijuana, tobacco, a cellphone, AirPods, and a large drone. Donât be that guy, and donât fly over prisons. Have a great week, and weâll see you on Monday for the Live! https://dronexl.co/2024/08/21/details-dji-air-3s-drone/https://dronexl.co/2024/08/19/dji-neo-drone-listing-imminent-release/https://dronexl.co/2024/08/17/large-drone-contraband-seized-failed-prison-drop/https://dronexl.co/2024/08/16/mayday-for-droneup-delivery-plans-lose-altitude/
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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 3 stories for you, Man sacrifices drone to save lost people, Autel Evo Lite Enterprise, and Drones inspect KLM Aircraft.
First up, 7 people were rescued after their boat started sinking in Utah Lake.Police were notified of a sinking boat, but were unable to locate them. While staging rescue crews at the marina, a local man flying his drone for fun overheard and offered to help. Stephan Ceciu was flying for fun initially, but assisted in the search, locating the sinking boat and sending their location to officials.The 7 people were successfully rescued and the boat was towed back to the marina.Itâs unclear how far the drone was flown away from the operator or what kind of drone it was. However, did not have enough battery to return to home and landed in the lake. Great job Stephan and weâre sorry about your drone! Next up, Autel has released the Evo Lite Enterprise Series!The new series weigh 866g, and include thermal and visual payload options.The Lite Enterprise has a 40 minute flight time, 4K video, and 12km range. The Lite Thermal has a 640x512 resolution thermal camera, 16X digital zoom, and a temperature range of 0C to 550C. So far, no pricing has been released but weâll keep you posted when if we see more! Last up, a new partnership between Dutch Drone Delta and KLM will use drones to inspect KLMâs aircraft.The new program will use DJI Matrice aircraft with AI enabled software to perform inspections and report damage to the pilots or other users. Images of the operation appear to show a Matrice 300 or 350 with a P1, LiDAR, and other payloads inspecting an Airbus A330. This is a pretty cool use for drones that will benefit air carriers by reducing downtime for inspections! Have a great week, and weâll see you on Monday for the Live! https://shop.autelrobotics.com/collections/autel-evo-lite-serieshttps://kutv.com/news/local/man-sacrifices-drone-in-effort-to-help-find-sinking-boat-with-7-passengers-in-utah-lakehttps://dronexl.co/2024/08/06/autel-robotics-evo-lite-enterprise-series/https://dronexl.co/2024/08/07/drones-aircraft-inspections-schiphol-airport/
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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 4 stories for you, Countering CCP Drones Act Update, First Category 2 Drone, a brand new DJI drone model and the FAA authorizes commercial BVLOS flights without a visual observer.
First up, a new senate amendment to the 2025 NDAA hopes to add the Countering CCP Drones Act.If enacted, the countering CCP language would revoke all FCC approvals for DJI and Autel products, effectively banning new mo dels and grounding current fleets.The NDAA still has to be voted on by the Senate, but the addition of the Countering CCP language would align the House of Representatives NDAA bill and the Senate bill on the issue. Now is a great time to reach out to your representatives and senators as we near the election to let them know this language would devastate our industry and reduce Public Safety's ability to effectively save lives.Weâll update you as this progresses.Next up, the first Category 2 Drone has hit the DOC List! The DJI Matrice 3D and 3DT are now approved for operations over people under categories 2 and 3 using the AVSS parachute system!If youâre unfamiliar with the Matrice 3D, itâs DJIâs Dock 2 aircraft. Both of the Matrice 3D and 3DT are variable categories between cat 2 and cat 3 depending on the winds.More approvals should begin to hit the DOC list as AVSS tests more parachutes! Next, there are some DJI leaks for a new drone!The DJI Neo hit the FCC database this week, showing a 2S, 1435mAh battery.According to DroneXL, DJI follows a â30% Ruleâ in battery to drone weight, suggesting the drone will weigh about 170g.Leaked pictures also show a possible prototype similar to a DJI Mini-series drone. Currently, there are no leaked specs for the drone and we can't verify the leaked images are indeed of this model.We'll keep you updated when we see more!Last up, the FAA has finally authorized the first commercial drone operation beyond visual line of sight without using a visual observer. The approval goes to Zipline and Wing Aviation. I'm guessing this is an approval without a waiver under part 135 since other operators have been able to do this under part 107 waivers.The FAA stated that companies are sharing planned flight routes with other authorized airspace users by using Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) systems.We are still expecting to see a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) later this year that would normalize BVLOS operations for drones.Finally, a quick Community update. We have our July Drone photo contest winner! This month's winner is Derek Paulsen, with his photo of a "Beautiful Mountain Lake Outside Glacier National Park". Congratulations to Derek, who will receive a custom made pilot institute trophy and a $250 gift card. We'll have another contest in August, so stay tuned for those details.That's it for now, have a great weekend, and weâll see you on Monday for the Live! https://dronexl.co/2024/07/26/senate-amendment-countering-ccp-drones-act-ndaa/https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/https://dronexl.co/2024/07/26/dji-neo-drone/https://dronexl.co/2024/07/26/faa-avss-first-category-2-drone-flight-over-people/https://www.avss.co/drone-parachutes/drone-parachute-recovery-system-for-dji-m3td-or-m3d-for-dji-dock-2/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-authorizes-first-commercial-use-of-bvlos-drone-operations/
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The first story this week is not the best one, a man was arrested for flying a drone over the SpaceX launch facility in Cameron County, Tx. The man was identified as 32 yr. old, Reynold Daniel Chavez, admitted he was flying his drone to see the rockets and said he didnât know the airspace was restricted.At this stage, weâre unsure what legal ramifications Chavez will face. But he was charged with âoperation of an unmanned aircraft over a critical infrastructure facility.â The incident highlights the need for all UAS pilots to know the rules and regulations as well as the airspace they fly in. Whether flying under part 107 or recreationally, flying safely helps protect the industry we love. Weâll share updates on this story as more information comes in.Alright, in our next story some more exciting news. We have some new leaked photos and even a video of two new drones. First, what looks like a new DJI Air. It was first speculated to be an DJI Air4 and then later an DJI Air3s. Either way, these new leaks appear to show a much larger gimbal and dual cameras.Could we be getting a 1 inch sensor? The original DJI Air3 came out almost exactly one year ago, on July 25th 2023. And, itâs a great drone we still fly today, so weâre excited to see what kind of upgrades weâll get with a newer model.This time, several pictures showing a possible Mavic 4 prototype. What is clear is the very visible Hasselblad name branding and a design that looks similar to the current Mavic 3 series.The leaks seem to show a larger gimbal with a 3 camera setup, which could indicate bigger image sensors. You can also see several sensors on the top and bottom of the drone, another possible upgrade could be to obstacle avoidance or tracking features. Again, weâll have to wait and see. But the possibilities are exciting!Next up, an accusation involving drones at the Olympics. A drone was seen flying over the New Zealand womenâs soccer team during practice. The New Zealand Olympic Committee stated, âTeam support members immediately reported the incident to police, leading to the drone operator, who has been identified as a support staff member of the wider Canadian Women's football team, to be detained,âA formal investigation has been launched to review the event. The Canadian Olympic Committee responded with a statement saying, âThe Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair-play and we are shocked and disappointed. We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected, and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee,âWeâll have to wait to see what information is uncovered from this story, but we will report back with any updates.Lastly, as mentioned, Greg is at the EAA airshow with a lot of team. This year we have booths 209,210 and in Hangar B booth 2141. No live on Community today and no live on Monday. But, Greg will be back for next weekâs News Update weâll see you then! https://dronexl.co/2024/07/24/man-arrested-drone-spacex-texas/https://dronexl.co/2024/07/22/dji-mavic-4-prototype-drone/https://dronexl.co/2024/07/22/dji-air-3s-drone-video/https://dronexl.co/2024/07/22/dji-air-3s-drone-video/
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First up is your âDonât be that guyâ segmentâŠA video was posted this week of a drone pilot flying over the Blue Angels near Pensacola Beach, FL. The drone appeared to be in the flight path of the jets, though slightly higher.The footage has since been deleted off of social media. Please do not be that guy and do not interfere with other air traffic.Weâll keep you updated as we see how this story progresses.Next up, the FAA finally released a FRIA map!This new interactive map functions similarly to the UAS Facilities map, but displays FRIAs instead of airspace! The map includes information about each FRIA including the site name, Affiliated CBO, approval & expiration date, and address.This is a great site along with FRIAmap.com for recreational flyers to find FRIAs! Last up, a burglary suspect was taken into custody after a drone observed them breaking into multiple vehicles.A DFR drone returning from a mission was used to survey a parking lot at a busy area when the operator noted a man acting suspiciously. After watching the man for a short time, the police operator observed the man use a screw driver to break into a vehicle, where he spent several minutes before breaking into another vehicle.Police units responded and were directed to the vehicle the man was in, where he was arrested. This is an interesting, secondary use of a DFR drone. Have a great week, and weâll see you on Monday for the Live! We'll be in booths 209/210, and 2141Meet the team, get swag, see the airplane, and try out our new VR systems for airplane training!https://dronexl.co/2024/07/17/reckless-drone-pilot-endangers-blue-angels/https://dronexl.co/2024/07/12/faa-map-drone-remote-id-fria-areas/https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8f274117010f4eb1a50f64c1719be12bhttps://www.friamap.com/https://ktla.com/news/local-news/police-drone-in-southern-california-busts-burglary-suspect-in-the-act/
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First up is an update to the Chinese drone ban discussion.The Senate version of the 2025 NDAA was released this week, without the Countering CCP Drones Act language in the bill.This is a great win, but we canât let up. The NDAA is an act that must pass every year and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said that Congress plans to put together a China-focused bill later this year. Please continue to educate and talk to your Senators and Representatives. Let them know that this and other legislation that would ban Chinese drones is not okay. To see how you can get involved, visit the DAAâs website! Next up, a drone show in Washington State lost 55 drones due to a malfunction.Starlight Drone Shows was scheduled to perform a drone show over Angle Lake, WA on the 4th of July.Despite initial GPS locks, 55 drones out of 200 lost GPS and landed in the lake.None of the drones flew away or went into the Geofence, showing that programming worked as expected.The remainder of the show was cancelled and 145 other drones were successfully recovered.Starlight was in charge of the Sun N Fun show that we attended in April in Lakeland Florida with over 500 drones, which went flawlessly for 2 nights during the show. Weâll keep you updated if we see more about what caused the GPS loss. Third up, Freefly has released Astro Prime! The new Astro Prime has a 28-minute flight time with a Sony LR1, a new battery system guaranteed to 500 cycles, and a pro controller.Payloads include a Sony LR1 as a main camera with additional payloads including Wiris cameras, Sony Alpha 7R-IV, Green Valley Lidar, Sentra Multispectral cameras, Internal labs LiDAR, Hovermap LiDAR, Rock Robotic LiDAR, Micasense multispectral cameras, and more. The Astro Prime is also NDAA Compliant and Blue UAS, made in Woodinville, WA. Pricing for the Astro Prime is $27,000 for the aircraft only while a kit including batteries, controller, and aircraft is $32,250.Pretty cool aircraft from Freefly!Last up, Watts's Innovations appears to have shut down and is "Shifting to new horizons".It's unclear what the new horizons are, but we wish the folks over at Watt's Innovations the very best!Have a great week, and weâll see you on Monday for the Live! https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/press-releases/sasc-completes-markup-of-national-defense-authorization-act-for-fiscal-year-2025https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy25_ndaa_bill_text.pdfhttps://droneadvocacyalliance.com/https://www.flyingmag.com/drones/questions-remain-after-july-fourth-drone-show-falls-apart/https://dronexl.co/2024/07/08/freefly-astro-prime-drone/https://store.freeflysystems.com/collections/astrohttps://wattsinnovations.com/
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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week. An assaulted drone pilot wins in court, SkyeBrowse's latest update, and our yearly PSA about flying drones near wildfires! Let's get to it.
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week. An assaulted drone pilot wins in court, SkyeBrowse's latest update, and our yearly PSA about flying drones near wildfires! Let's get to it.A drone pilot won a court case after being assaulted during a property shoot in Tucson, Arizona. Zach Zywiak, a real estate photographer, was attacked by a neighbor while operating his drone.The court ruled in Zywiak's favor, dismissing the neighbor's claims and focusing on the physical assault. The person who attacked him claimed that Zywiak harrassed him first, but the judge had a hard time believing that someone who was hired to film a million dollar listing would go out of their way to assault a neighbor.Following the incident, Zywiak said he implemented new safety measures, including wearing a drone operator vest and using a 360-degree camera.Next up, SkyeBrowse has announced major upgrades to its 3D modeling platform, significantly enhancing speed and quality. The updates include a 40% boost in loading speeds and improved interior mapping capabilities.With SkyeBrowse, you can quickly process complex interior spaces from short videos rather than hundreds of photos. The platform now supports better 8K, 4K, and 2K textures, depending on the subscription tier.If you're not familiar, SkyeBrowse is used by multiple verticals, including law enforcement, real estate, and emergency services, by making 3D modeling more efficient and accessible.And now it's time for our yearly PSA regarding flying drones near wildfires. The shortest was to say this is: don't be that guy. But more seriously, if you fly your drone near firefighting operations, they will stop their operation, potentially leading to more acres burnt, houses burning down, or even lives lost.Illegal drones disrupted firefighting efforts during a brush fire in Del Mar Heights, California on June 25. These operators forced the delay of three water drops, potentially worsening the fire. Authorities identified an individual lawnching drones during the operation, but it is unclear if charges will be filed. The fire burned 23 acres, forced evacuations, and was only 50% contained by the next morning.Another similar story was reported out of Oregon at the Upper Applegate Fire in Jackson County 3 days earlier.Again. Don't be that guy.And yes, I know, DJI released an e-bike. I love mountain biking but this is not something we will cover on this channel...unless it starts flying. What would you like DJI to make next? An air fryer? An electric laundry basket? Perhaps a speed boat? Let us know in the comments.And that's it. Hope you had a happy 4th of July, no live on Community today, have a good weekend and we'll see you on Monday for the live!
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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 3 stories for you, DJI Air 3S Leaks, Chairs of Homeland Security calls for declassification of national security risks for Chinese drones, and a man arrested for shooting at a drone.
First up, DJI Air 3S Leaks!More leaked images show the possible Air 3S or Air 4 with the same exact body style as the Air 3.The leaked image also appears to retain the dual camera setup and the obstacle avoidance. Itâs unclear what upgrades may be added to the new drone, but speculations include a larger sensor size, longer flight time, and potentially more smart features. Weâll have to wait for more leaks or an announcement from DJI!https://dronexl.co/2024/06/25/dji-air-3s-leak/Next up, the chairs of Homeland Security and Energy and Commerce Committees have called on the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Energy to declassify security risks posed by Chinese drones. Mark Green and Cathy Rodgers, House Representatives, requested the declassification of security threats found by the government.Their letter includes the publication of found issues to law enforcement agencies, the federal government, and the American public for a better understanding of possible security threats found in the drones.The two Committee Chairs requested a briefing no later than July 2nd, 2024. Weâll keep you updated as this unfolds. https://homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024-06-18-Green-Rodgers-to-CISA-DOE-re-PRC-Made-Drones.pdfFinally, a man was arrested this week in New York after shooting down his neighborâs drone. Joseph Dishaw was arrested for menacing and criminal possession of a weapon after state troopers responded to a report of a drone being shot down. Dishaw allegedly became angry when his neighbor flew his drone over his property and shot down the drone using a shotgun. Itâs unclear if there will be any federal charges for shooting at the aircraft.Weâll keep you updated if we see more.
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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 6 stories for you this week: DJI Ends Sync, AVSS Parachute for Mavic 3 Enterprise, GAO report on remote ID, University of Michigan sued for airspace rules, DJI Air 4 Leaks, and Public Safety responds to Stefanik proposed bills.
First up, let's talk a pretty big story that happened at the end of last week after we published news update: DJI has ended their âSync Flight Dataâ function as of this week.If youâre unfamiliar with it, this feature allows flight records to be synced to the DJI cloud and imported into other apps such as AirData UAV or Aloft Air Control. AirData and Air Control have posted information on workarounds, with AirData utilizing their app to synch data from the drone, and Aloft allowing for manual uploads of flight logs. This move by DJI is only applicable in the United States and is likely a response to repeated accusation that the data is made available to the Chinese government. With the end of the program, law makers will now need to find new excuses to try to ban DJI.For more info, check out the links below.The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has published a report this week about the implementation of remote ID.The GAO found that while RID is now mandatory, the FAA has not spent time educating law enforcement on the technology, with many departments reporting they knew nothing about it.The study also looked at law enforcement access to RID and aircraft registration, and the GAO noted that there is not currently an interface allowing law enforcement to access registration information.The report also mentions network remote ID technologies as a necessary solution to help law enforcement to "access real-time information needed to track and investigate unauthorized drone activity." . The report also stated that âStakeholders representing a commercial drone group said that there is a general lack of willingness by industry to develop network-based Remote IDâ.The GAO issued 3 recommendations to the FAA;develop resources to assist state, tribal, and local LE to use remote ID;develop a plan and timeline for a remote ID interface;identify a path forward for how to provide real-time, networked data about the location and status of drones.Note that Network Remote ID is a topic of discussion in the new FAA Reauthorization Act. Weâll keep you updated if we see more.Fourth up, we have a lawsuit from the Michigan Coalition of Drone Operators against the University of Michigan.The lawsuit claims that the University has rules attempting to govern airspace above the campus and that these rules violate state and federal laws. Weâll have to wait and see how this one plays out but good on the Michigan Coalition for fighting for drone operators and their unencumbered access to the airspace. Hopefully this sends a message to other organizations trying to illegally restrict airspace access, sadly lots of universities are in this bag.Air 4 Leaks???Lastly, 3 first responders associations have joined hands and published opposition to the DFR Act and the Countering CCP Drones Act.Drone Responders, the Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA), and the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) have issued a joint press release in opposition to Representative Stefanik's proposals.
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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have four stories for you this week: NDAA Markup, Commercial UAV Workshops, WingtraCloud, and two new courses from Pilot Institute!
Now is the time to make our voices heard in the US Senate.The Senate Armed Services Committee is considering its version of the National Defense Authorization Act.The Houseâs NDAA bill includes the Countering CCP Drones Act, which would ban DJI Drones. Itâs also important to ensure the Drones for First Responders Act or the Countering CCP Drones Act isnât included in the billâs language.As a reminder, the Countering CCP Drones Act plans to ban Chinese drones by revoking to preventing new FCC approvals, which would affect EVERYONE, including public safety agencies.The DFR Act would ban Chinese drones in 5 years after creating an incremental tariff, which would affect everyone, including public safety agencies that would lose financial aid after 5 years and have to pay for expensive drones without subsidies.The Senate will vote on their version of the act next week, between June 11th and June 13th, so the time to act is NOW. Please visit the DAAâs website to contact your senator! https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/Next up, Commercial UAV Expo is around the corner!Iâll be on a panel with Desiree Ekstein, Jared, Janacek, Vic Moss, Kenji Sugahara, and Amy T Wiegand discussing Regulations and Compliance, BVLOS, Airspace Management, Remote I, Operations Over People and Vehicles, and more. The talk is on Tuesday, September 3rd from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM and I hope to see you there! https://www.expouav.com/session/now-beyond-2024-essentials-for-every-drone-pilot/Last up, Wingtra released WingtraCLOUD this week! WingtraCLOUD is a new software solution for flight planning, site-based file organization, 3D Planning, and coordinate systems. The primary goal of the new software is to streamline surveyors' workflows and enable more data capture. It doesnât look like WingtraCLOUD currently integrates an image processing system but integrations are available according to Wingtraâs website. Weâll keep you updated if we see more! https://wingtra.com/wingtracloud/Lastly, two new courses: LiDAR and Search and Rescue.Have a great week, and weâll see you on Monday for the Live!
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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week: Anzu Raptor passes security checks, NV Mosquito busting drone, and SkyeBrowseâs new partnership with RSET.
First, Anzu Robotics has successfully completed White Knight Labâs penetration test.Penetration testing of the Anzu Raptor included static and dynamic traffic analysis, Data transmission security, and removal of references to Chinese domains. These tests reinforce that the Raptor is a secure platform, and that all of the droneâs data remains on US-based Aloft Servers.https://dronexl.co/2024/05/28/anzu-raptor-security-penetration-test/Next up, Nevada is using drones to combat mosquitos.The operation will dispense a granular product in remote areas where mosquitos are prevalent to target the mosquito larvae. The un-named product is traditionally dropped via helicopter away from residential areas, businesses, and buildings. Thereâs no word on the particular drone that will be used for this mission, only that it measures 9 feet by 9 feet and can carry 100lbs of the anti-mosquito payload. Weâll keep you updated if we see more interesting uses of drones!https://dronexl.co/2024/05/29/mosquito-busting-drone-northern-nevada/Last up, SkyeBrowse has partnered with RSET.If you are unfamiliar, RSET uses virtual reality to assist in training public safety and military customers.RSET will now accept Skyebrowse models for Disaster response training, Active shooter drills, and firefighting exercises. This is a pretty awesome use of 3D models! https://dronexl.co/2024/05/29/skyebrowse-rset-3d-training-simulations/Have a great week, and weâll see you on Monday for the Live!
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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week: Drones for First Responders Act Introduced, Drone Pilots Canât Map in NC, and DJI Air 4 Rumors.https://droneadvocacyalliance.com
First up, a follow up on the misleadingly named Drone For First Responder act from Congresswoman Elise Stefanik from New York.As we mentioned last news update, the bill introduced last week would increase taxes on drones imported from China by 5% per year, up to 50% + $100. This means pricing recreational pilots out of the hobby. And pretty much ending the ability for FPV pilots to build their own drones... Why? Let's see.If a cheap toy drone costs $130 today, it will cost 50% more in 4 years, plus $100. So you'll pay $300. The alternative? A US drone that doesn't exist from a company that we don't know about, because no American manufacturers are currently building this kind of drone.A Mavic 3 Pro that costs $2200 today would cost $3400 in 4 years. Of course until a year later where you wouldn't be able to buy it because it will be banned from import.In 5 years, the bill would BAN drones that contain a Flight Controller, Radio, Data Transmission Device, Camera, Gimbal, software, network connectivity hardware, or data storage manufactured in China.This would effectively ban all DJI, Autel but also EXO, Holy Stone, Ruko, EMAX, BetaFPV, and more premade drones.So what about the FPV pilots that I mentioned before? Well, drones that utilize systems manufactured in China, such as Team Black Sheep, T Motor, iFlight, and even Spektrum would also be banned. It gets better, and of course I'm sarcastic. Funds from these new tariffs would be used to fund First Responders purchasing new drones. 60% of the funds collected would go to first responders, 20% to farmers and 20% to critical infrastructure pilots. But in 5 years, all the funds end. Meaning first responders, farmers and critical infrastructure pilots will be left on their own to buy drones that have been over-inflated, without any grants.This would decimate the entire hobby. Many thought the FAA was interested in killing the hobby. They were never interested in that but it certainly seems like Stefanik's office is, along with the supporter of the bill, including AUVSI.Weâve included a link to the DAA, where you can reach out to your representative and let them know this is not okay.https://dspalliance.org/the-u-s-drone-industry-is-under-attack-again/https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/Next up, an appeals court said that the North Carolina Surveyors Board didnât violate a drone pilotâs rights by telling them to stop advertising and offering aerial mapping services. If you havenât heard of this story, A drone pilot in NC received a cease and desist letter from the stateâs surveying board for engaging in â mapping, surveying and photogrammetry; stating accuracy; providing location and dimension data; and producing orthomosaic maps, quantities, and topographic information.â.The current court decision effectively bans mapping in NC for those who arenât a surveyor. Michael Jones of 360 Virtual Drone Services plans to further appeal the decision. Let us know what you think about this in the comments.https://finance.yahoo.com/news/drone-pilot-cant-offer-mapping-215413201.htmlFinally, we have some DJI Air 4 Rumors.Leaked images show possible Air 4 batteries and rumors include some specs.Specs include 1â sensors, Mechanical shutters, Variable Aperture, two cameras, and O4.Interestingly the leaks seems to suggest the drone may come with the ability to map, which would likely cater to entry-level drone pilots looking to get their feet wet without spending $3500 on a Mavic 3 Enterprise. Weâll have to wait and see if these rumors are true!https://dronexl.co/2024/05/18/dji-air-4-rumors-what-we-know-so-far/Have a great week, remember, no Live on Monday this week.
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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week: FAA Reauthorization, DJI Mini 4K, and Robinson Helicopters purchased Ascent AeroSystems.
First up, congress appears close to FAA reauthorization.The reauthorization is over 1,000 pages, with topics including BVLOS drone operations, fine increases for consumer violations, legislation over near collisions, quality control for large aircraft manufacturers, and FAA staffing. Congress now will need to vote in favor of the bill before it heads to the Presidentâs desk. During this time, we need to stay up to date on possible regulations going through Congress that may get lumped into the bill.The DAA has a new campaign opposing a section of the FAA Reauthorization that would prohibit the DOT from using any money for drones made in China along with the expected-to-be-introduced Drones for First Responders Act.Check out the DAA Link below to make your voice heard and we'll keep you updated when we see more.https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/Next up is the DJI Mini 4K.The drone is currently available for sale on DJIâs Amazon site, with no mention on DJIâs official website.The Mini 4K supports recording up to 4K 30fps, and 2.7K up to 60 fps. Other specs remain similar to the old Mini 2 series, with a 31-minute flight time, 3 axis gimbal, smart features like quickshots, panoramic shots, and RTH.The Mini 4K comes in at $299 for the drone and controller, and the Fly-more combo with extra batteries at $449. This offers a more cost-effective option for those looking for a 4K drone, as compared to the Mini 3 at $419 for the drone and controller, and $589 for the fly more combo. Let us know what you think about this new DJI release! https://dronexl.co/2024/04/29/dji-mini-4k-drone/Last up, Robinson Helicopter has acquired Ascent AeroSystems. If youâre unfamiliar with Ascent, they make the Spirit Drone which is a coaxial tube-like drone primarily used by the military and some industries. The Spirit has a max takeoff weight of 13.5 lbs, an IP56 Rating, and a maximum flight time with a payload of 38 minutes.Ascent also makes the NX30, with a 15lb payload, 65-minute endurance, and 35-mile range. Robinson CEO David Smith hopes to ramp up production of Ascentâs drones to hundreds a month. Weâll keep you updated if we see more from Robinson and Ascent! https://dronexl.co/2024/04/24/robinson-helicopter-drone-maker-ascent-aerosystems/Alright, thatâs it, have a great weekend! -
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 4 stories for you this week: New Drone Act in Congress, Aloft adds SGI, the DAC recommends Changes for Stadium TFRs, and the new DJI Agras!
First up, is the soon-to-be proposed "Drones for First Responders Act". Not to be confused with DFR: Drones AS first Responder, which is actually something useful. This bill is introduced by Elise Stefanik, NY republican, who was being the proposed full DJI ban we discussed a few weeks ago. So you know we're in good capable hands here.The new act aims to transition public safety operations away from Chinese-made drones by increasing tariffs, providing grants to purchase US-made drones, set a limit on when imported drones must not contain Chinese parts (2030), and provides grants to US manufacturers.There's no word though on if US manufacturers will be able to produce the same amount of drones and what will happen if production is limited.The act claims that drones manufactured in China have a risk of potential data vulnerability. So I'm gonna ask the same question I've been asking for the last few years: if they are a threat, why are we allowing them to be used for the next 6 years under this proposal?Keep in mind, this is NOT a bill nor a legislative proposal yet and is subject to change.We don't have a bill text at this time, but we'll let you know when we see one.https://dronelife.com/2024/04/21/new-legislation-balances-national-security-concerns-with-support-for-u-s-drone-industry-drones-for-first-responders-act/Second up, Aloft has added automated SGI waiver requests into Air Control! In case you donât know what an SGI waiver is, it stands for Special Government Interest. SGI waivers allow for public safety and other UAS operators to fly in emergency operations that may require entering a no-fly zone or flying beyond visual line of sight. To get an SGI waiver, a department or operator had to call the FAAâs SOSC. Aloft Air Control is now approved to provide these waivers as needed. This should help all those public safety agencies and those who operate as volunteers.https://www.aloft.ai/blog/aloft-introduces-automated-sgi-waivers-in-aloft-air-control-streamlining-access-to-restricted-airspaces/Next up, the DAC is recommending changes to stadium TFRs! Stadium TFRs close over 125,000 square miles of airspace annually and impact thousands of legitimate UAS operations.The DACâs recommendation includes a drone-specific TFR that would be limited to the fence line of the stadium, reducing the restriction by 99% to just 11 square miles. Pretty cool for those operators who fly in cities! https://www.einpresswire.com/article/704774366/drone-advisory-council-announces-recommendation-to-modernize-airspace-restrictions-at-sporting-eventsLast up, DJI is continuing to release new drones!The Agras T25 and the Agras T50 were released this week. Along with these new Agras, DJI released Smart Farm, which allows for plot management and daily operations. The new T50 comes with Active Phased Array RADAR, a four-sprinkler Kit, and 9-minute fast charging batteries.The T50 has a maximum payload of 50kg of spreading payload or 40kg of spray payload and can spray 50 acres per hour.Weâll keep you updated if we see more from DJI!https://dronexl.co/2024/04/22/dji-agras-t50-agricultural-drone/Alright, thatâs it, have a great weekend and weâll see you next week on Monday for the live!
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Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week: Drone Shop Owner arrested for prison drops, Baltimore bridge collapse, possible Avata release next week?
First up, next week appears to have two DJI releases!The first release appears to be a possible gimbal which is set to release on the 9th. Leaks on the new gimbal suggest an RS4 Pro and suggest battery compatibility and new accessories. Unlike the possible RS4 Pro, the next release has several leaks.Set to release on the 11th appears to be a new DJI Avata!Leaked specs and pricing from DroneXL suggest a 1/1.3â CMOS sensor, D-Log, O4, and 23 minute battery life. Pricing has also been leaked, with the drone only coming in at $410 and the fly more combo at $960. Weâll keep you updated if we see anything else about either of these releases! https://dronexl.co/2024/04/03/dji-avata-2-leaks-specs-prices-features/https://dronexl.co/2024/03/28/dji-rs-4-pro-gimbal-leaked-photo/Next up, the bridge collapse in Baltimore is a No Drone Zone.If youâre unfamiliar, a container ship hit a bridge pylon on the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore resulting in the bridge collapsing. To reduce possible airspace congestion, a TFR has been issued for the area surrounding the bridge. Authorities including as the NTSB are using drones and helicopters as part of the investigation, with the NTSB releasing videos and images of the collapse. The FBI has issued a statement saying: âThe FBI's message is simple: All drones are to stay away from the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. This is to ensure the safety of all first responders and crews in the area as well as to not interfere with their work," said William J. DelBagno, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Baltimore Field Office. "You will be charged federally if you fly a drone in a restricted area. It is harmful to the recovery operations, and it is illegalâDonât be that guyâŠhttps://dronexl.co/2024/03/31/fbi-no-drone-zone-baltimore-bridge-collapse/Last up this week, a drone shop owner in Georgia was arrested for using drones to smuggle contraband into Prison.Georgia Department of Corrections arrested business owner Robert Schwartz from Thunder Drones on charges including contraband drops and inmate communications.Police said during the investigation they stopped over 170 prison drops, seized more than 50 drones, 51 lbs of ecstasy, 22 firearms, and 273 cellphones.The investigation began in November of 2022 and has led to 146 arrests.Weâll keep you updated if we see anything else about this story. https://dronexl.co/2024/03/29/drone-shop-arrested-georgia-prison-contraband/Alright, thatâs it, have a great weekend and weâll see you next week on Monday for the live! - Näytä enemmän
