Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: Part 108 NPRM updates, Skydio unveils two new drones for specialized operations, Auterion secures a massive $130 million in funding, and an update to the story about the Super Scooper mid-air collision. Let's get to it.
First, let's talk about some Part 108 NPRM stuff. The deadline is approaching for submitting your comment. Please take the time to write a comment about how this would affect your ability to fly BVLOS. There are currently 800 comments ONLY. There were over 50,000 comments on the Remote ID NPRM.DJI sounded the alarm this week on the NPRM. The company is warning that the rules, as they’re currently written, could effectively ground the vast majority of drones being used today, not just DJIs, and sideline thousands of skilled pilots. While everyone agrees we need a clear path forward for BVLOS, DJI points out some fundamental problems in the draft.If you haven’t yet written your comment for Part 108, time is running out. All comments must be submitted by October 6th, 2025.Next up, American drone manufacturer Skydio is expanding its lineup with two new specialized drones. The Skydio R10 is designed for tactical indoor situations where you wouldn't want to send a person. It’s a compact, 10-by-10-inch quadcopter that weighs 1.7 pounds and has built-in blade guards for navigating tight and/or dangerous spaces. It offers features for first responders, including onboard lighting, a two-way audio system to communicate with suspects or victims, and Skydio’s obstacle avoidance for flying in complete darkness. The R10 is slated for early access this autumn.Then there’s the F10, which is built for speed and endurance. This is a fixed-wing drone that can hit speeds of over 80 miles per hour and stay airborne for more than 90 minutes. This is a good fit for large-scale BVLOS missions like monitoring wildfires or conducting long search and rescue operations. The F10 is scheduled for release in the first half of 2026. Both of these drones also integrate into the X10 ecosystem, using the same software, controllers, and workflows. It’ll be interesting to see if we can get our hands on these to put them to the test. Next up, Auterion has secured a massive $130 million in Series B funding to scale its defense software. The company, which began with open-source drone software, has evolved into a major defense contractor. They're creating an operating system for autonomous systems across air, land, and sea. According to reports, their technology is already being used on the battlefield in Ukraine, where they are delivering tens of thousands of AI "strike kits" under a Pentagon contract. This new funding will help Auterion expand its work on AI-enabled software for large-scale, coordinated drone operations. And finally, an update to last week’s story about the drone that hit the firefighting airplane in LA earlier this year. We found out that Peter Akemann is facing jail time and a staggering $156,000 fine after crashing his DJI Mini 3 Pro into a firefighting airplane. The pilot pleaded guilty to unsafe drone operation and was sentenced to 14 days in prison, 30 days of home detention, 150 hours of community service, and a total fine of $156,000. And in post-flight this week, our show on the premium community where we share our opinions, we’ll cover these stories and we’ll talk about the DJI Mini 5 weight-gate. We’ll see you there! https://dronexl.co/2025/09/19/dji-warns-faa-bvlos-rules-ground-drones/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/23/gamer-crashes-dji-mini-plane-fine-jail/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/19/skydio-unveils-new-drones-for-indoor/https://dronelife.com/2025/09/23/auterion-secures-130-million-series-b-to-scale-defense-software/
Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. DJI has announced the new Mini 5 Pro, a drone pilot has been sentenced for colliding with a firefighting aircraft, and a search-and-rescue drone was shot in Maine. Let's get to it.
First, DJI has unveiled the Mini 5 Pro, and the specs are pretty jaw-dropping for a sub-250-gram drone. The headline feature is a 50-megapixel, 1-inch CMOS sensor. This is something pilots have been requesting for years. The camera can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second in HDR and even does 4K slow-motion at 120 frames per second. For the pros, it supports 10-bit D-Log M and HLG color profiles, with a max ISO of 12,800. The gimbal also got a major upgrade, with a 225-degree roll rotation and true vertical shooting. For safety, DJI is introducing what they call "Nightscape Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing," which uses a forward-facing LiDAR and multiple vision sensors for better performance in low light. Flight time is rated at 36 minutes with the standard battery, and an optional Intelligent Flight Battery Plus can supposedly push that to 52 minutes! Now for the big catch: the Mini 5 Pro will NOT be officially available in the US market through DJI's store. Other retailers may carry it, but it won’t be available through the DJI store. Next up, a drone pilot in California has been sentenced for a mid-air collision with a firefighting airplane. Peter Akemann, a 57-year-old from Culver City, pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor for the unsafe operation of a drone. This incident happened back in January 2025, when he flew his drone into the path of a "Super Scooper" firefighting aircraft that was battling the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. The drone struck the aircraft's wing, causing a 3-by-6-inch hole and forcing the plane to be grounded for repairs. The cost of those repairs? A whopping $65,169.As part of his plea agreement, Akemann has been ordered to pay full restitution to the Quebec government, which owned the plane, and to the repair company. He also has to complete 150 hours of community service supporting wildfire relief efforts. This is a stark reminder for everyone: flying in a Temporary Flight Restriction, especially over an emergency scene, is incredibly dangerous and illegal. In our final story, a real-world drones-for-good story took a bad turn in Maine. A commercial drone operated by 2A Tac Air Services was shot while it was being used to search for two missing dogs. The operator, Rob Russell, was flying the drone at an altitude of 366 feet in Corinth, Maine, when he received a warning. Upon inspection, he found a bullet hole straight through the M30’s front sensors. Russell, who uses his fleet of drones for SAR missions across New England, said the damage will cost thousands to repair and takes a critical tool out of service. This incident is now under federal investigation. It’s important for everyone to understand that shooting at a drone is a federal offense, legally equivalent to shooting at a manned aircraft. On this topic, the FAA is proposing in the new Part 108 NPRM to add language that would protect remote pilots and their Visual observers from harassment and distraction. This is a welcome addition.It’s incredibly important to make your voice heard on the issues with the Part 108 NPRM. If you aren’t sure where to start, check out our latest video on our comment for Part 108. Spoiler alert, part 108 as proposed would NOT include current part 107 or recreational pilot. We have a solution to that. Be sure to watch that video next and get your comment submitted before October 6th, 2025! And lastly, if you like our proposal to fix the NPRM, be sure to fill out our form so we can include you and your company as supporters in our joint comment to the FAA.
https://hub.pilotinstitute.com/pilot-institute-mug
Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. DJI Mini 5 Pro leaks and a possible release date, Department of Commerce to release regulations around trade and importation of drones, and finally, a 30-mile medical delivery by drone in Kansas.
First up this week, it looks like the DJI Mini 5 Pro is right around the corner. Trustworthy sources and leaked images are pointing to a September 16th launch, with the drone hitting store shelves as soon as September 17th. The marketing slogan is "Pro in Mini," and based on the leaked specs, they are not kidding! The biggest news is that DJI has apparently managed to pack a 1-inch sensor into a sub-250-gram drone. The camera is rumored to have an F/1.8 lens, which should be fantastic for low-light performance. Leaked photos also clearly show what looks like forward-facing LiDAR, which will help with obstacle avoidance and protecting that big new gimbal and sensor. European pricing has also been spotted, with the base model and the screenless RC-N3 remote starting at 799 euros. The Fly More Combo with the RC2 controller is expected to be around 1129 euros. There’s even a rumor that you might be able to use your Mini 3 and Mini 4 batteries in the new Mini 5. Wouldn't that be awesome? The one major catch, especially given our next story, is that the Mini 5 probably won’t be available in the United States. We’ll have to wait and see on that one.Next up, according to a report from Reuters, the U.S. Commerce Department will release regulations to address national security risks. These rules will target the information and communications technology in drones from China and other foreign adversaries. While the announcement didn't give specific details, this action follows the ANPRM we saw earlier this year. It’s important to note that this ANPRM is and was separate from the existing audit requirements set forth in the 2024 NDAA for DJI and Autel. At this time, there is NO preview or draft text of the ruling from the Department of Commerce, but we’ll keep you updated when we see one.Last up, Kansas just made history with the state's first-ever long-range medical drone delivery. In a landmark test flight, the Community HealthCare System used a Pyka autonomous drone to deliver an AED to a rural hospital in Onaga. The 30-mile flight took only 30 minutes, a journey that would have taken a courier van over an hour. The drone used was the Pyka Pelican Cargo, which is a VTOL aircraft with a 70kg or 150lb payload and a range of 200 miles. For this mission, the drone flew autonomously along a pre-approved FAA flight plan. The project was a collaboration between the healthcare system, Kansas State University, and the Kansas Department of Transportation. This is a great use of drones and one of the best uses of delivery drones in my opinion. On post-flight we’ll also be talking about our comments for the Part 108 NPRM! We’ll see you on Monday for the live, have a great weekend! https://dronexl.co/2025/09/08/dji-mini-5-launch-release-date-leak/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/07/kansas-medical-drone-delivery/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/05/trump-administration-chinese-drone-imports/https://hub.pilotinstitute.com/pilot-institute-mug
Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: a new NDAA-compliant drone from Angel Aerial, a drone pilot who was sentenced for flying over Cape Canaveral, a drone captured a rescue in North Carolina, and Amazon has revealed a new safety system for its delivery drones.
First up, Ohio-based Angel Aerial Systems has released a new NDAA-compliant tricopter called the Trio Scout. Its big claim to fame is a 100-minute hover time. The Trio Scout weighs 5.5 pounds, including its battery. The payload is a dual EO/thermal gimbal, featuring a 1280x720 electro-optical camera with 20x optical and 2x digital zoom for a total of 40x zoom. The thermal camera is a 640x480 sensor with 4x digital zoom. The company claims a max transmission distance of 1.86 miles and a wind tolerance of 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. The price is listed at $34,999 with a 10-week lead time. Now, the 100-minute flight time is from real-world tests, not theoretical flight time. The company is transparent that in warmer conditions, like 120 degrees Fahrenheit at 5,000 feet, you're looking at about 88 minutes and in the extreme cold, that can drop to 65 minutes.Next up, a 71-year-old Canadian drone pilot, Xiao Guang Pan, has been sentenced for illegally flying his drone over Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida. He pleaded guilty to unlawfully photographing defense installations and received 12 months of probation before being deported back to Canada.According to court records, in January of this year, NASA officials detected a drone near the base. Deputies found Pan operating a DJI Mavic 3 Pro from a nearby parking lot. He had reportedly been flying in the area for at least three consecutive days. While he was flying in Class D airspace, he was right on the edge of restricted areas. His drone captured 56 images and two videos of sensitive infrastructure.When questioned, Pan claimed he was just a tourist photographing cruise ships and sunrises and that he hadn't received any airspace warnings. However, a forensic analysis of his devices told a very different story. Investigators found over 1,900 files, including 243 images and 13 videos of the base. More importantly, the drone's data logs showed that the DJI system had issued multiple geofencing and airspace warnings.And in our third story this week, incredible drone footage has been released showing the rescue of a pilot from a plane that crashed into the ocean off Oak Island, North Carolina. On August 2nd, a single-engine plane piloted by Mark Finkelstein suffered an engine failure, forcing him to ditch the aircraft in the ocean. Luckily, the Oak Island Beach Safety Unit was nearby and responded immediately. They launched a drone, which provided a crystal-clear, stable overhead view of the entire scene. You can see the rescuers surrounding the cockpit and pulling Finkelstein out feet-first through the windshield. The entire extraction took less than 30 seconds once they reached him. He walked away with only a minor cut.Lastly, Amazon is rolling out a new safety feature for its delivery drones. The new tech is called "Safe Contingent Landings," or SCL. It’s a sophisticated "Plan B" for the drone if it detects a major problem like a system malfunction or severe weather. Instead of just falling or making a risky return flight, the drone can autonomously scan the ground in real-time, build a 3D map, and find a safe spot to land, avoiding people, animals, and cars. http://dronexl.co/2025/09/02/drone-captures-rescue-pilot-from-plane/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/02/amazon-drones-now-have-plan-b/https://dronexl.co/2025/08/28/angel-aerials-trio-scout-drone-ndaa/https://dronexl.co/2025/08/28/drone-pilot-sentenced-cape-canaveral-space-force-base/
Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: Inspired Flight has secured $12 million in funding, Anzu Robotics V3.8 is out, Japanese drone maker ACSL is releasing new stuff and pricing leak for the upcoming DJI Mini 5 Pro.
First up, American manufacturer Inspired Flight Technologies has raised $12 million in Series A funding. The investment was led by Tri-Valley Ventures and is aimed at accelerating new product releases and, most importantly, scaling up the company's U.S.-based manufacturing. Inspired Flight is known for its NDAA-compliant and BlueUAS-certified platforms, like the IF1200 Hexacopter and the IF800 Tomcat. These drones are used in government and commercial sectors for everything from mapping and inspection to public safety. It takes a LOT of time and money to build up manufacturing capacity, and this is a step in the right direction. Next, Anzu Robotics has introduced Version 3.8 for their Raptor Series. This update introduces augmented reality overlays for street names and custom airspace. Also included in this update are some bug fixes, map layer customization, and other map upgrades. Before we get onto the last story, this is your last chance to join us at Commercial UAV Expo. On Tuesday, join Vic Moss, Amy Wiegand, and Jared Janacek and myself for a deep dive into the regulations, technology, and business strategies that are shaping the future of the drone industry.On Wednesday, I’m personally teaching a workshop on how to build your drone business. On Thursday, Jared will teach you his professional mapping process. Spots for each day are limited and they are filling up. Go to pilotinstitute.com/cuav to see the details and secure your seat.Next, another company is stepping up to provide more NDAA-compliant options for professional pilots. ACSL, Japan’s top drone manufacturer, has announced a new smart controller, an upgraded thermal payload, and a partnership with Teledyne FLIR. First is the new TAITEN Smart Controller. It's an NDAA-compliant remote with a 7-inch integrated display that boasts 1500 nits of brightness and an IP54 ingress protection rating. The company also enhanced its SAMO payload, which is now ITAR-free and features Teledyne FLIR’s Hadron 640R camera module. This payload is a dual-sensor system, combining a 64-megapixel optical camera with a 20x zoom and a 640x512 Boson radiometric thermal camera. ACSL says it will also support FLIR's MSX fusion technology by the end of the year, which overlays visual details onto the thermal image for better situational awareness. And finally, a European online store allegedly listed the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo with the RC2 controller for 1129 euros. That's the exact same price as the current Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo. Getting a 1-inch sensor and LiDAR for the same price seems almost too good to be true, but we'll have to wait and see. Leaked accessory prices also seem to be in line with current models. With all these details and even a folding animation video surfacing, rumors are pointing to a mid-September release. We'll be keeping a close eye on this one!And on Post Flight, our weekly show in the premium community, where we discuss our opinions on these stories and the ones that didn’t make the cut, we’ll be talking about a cool drone from the UK that flies like an owl and about Commercial UAV Expo.That’s it for this week, if you’re going to Commercial UAV Expo next week, be sure to check out the workshops and stop by the booth! https://www.inspiredflight.com/news/12m-series-a-tri-valley.phphttps://dronexl.co/2025/08/26/dji-mini-5-pro-animation-retail-price/https://dronexl.co/2025/08/27/acsl-taiten-smart-controller-teledyne-flir/https://www.anzurobotics.com/
Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: SiFly sets world record for endurance, Inspired Flight releases a new controller, FreeFly Fest, and a man arrested in Florida for allegedly crashing a drug-loaded drone into someone’s house.
First up this week, California-based drone manufacturer SiFly has officially set a new Guinness World Record for flight endurance. Their Q12 prototype quadcopter completed a flight lasting an incredible 3 hours and 11 minutes. This absolutely shatters the previous record for a small, electrically powered multi-rotor drone by almost a full hour. The record-setting flight took place on July 26th in California's Salinas Valley and was certified by an official Guinness adjudicator on-site.Inspired Flight Technologies has just launched a new ground control station, the GS-ONE. This is a rugged, handheld controller aimed squarely at professional operators in commercial, industrial, and government sectors. It's designed to integrate seamlessly with Inspired Flight's own IF800 Tomcat and IF1200 UAS platforms.The GS-ONE features a 7-inch, glove-compatible touchscreen that boasts 2,000 NITs of brightness. That's going to be fantastic for a sunlight-readable experience out in the field. It has an NDAA-compliant 2.4 GHz radio with up to 6 miles of range and hot-swappable batteries that provide up to 5 hours of continuous runtime. The whole thing is housed in an IP55-rated enclosure for durability. On the inside, it's running Android 14 on a Qualcomm QCS6490 processor with 8 gigs of RAM and 128 gigs of storage. It's also packed with connectivity, including LTE, WiFi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2. We visited FreeFly for their yearly partner’s event in Washington State. It was packed with announcements, including: Alta X Gen 2, A Firmware update for first Gen Alta X, FreeFly Platforms are back on Blue List, Several Astro Max upgrades, Ember toolbox for FreeFly’s high speed cameras, A 1,000,000 lumen spotlight light called the Flying Sun, and even more cool LiDAR and camera tech. Also at the show was a Verizon demo where they flew a FreeFly Astro Max from both Florida and from Alaska using 4 and 5G. Pilot Institute is hosting three separate workshops. On September 2nd, join me, Vic Moss, Amy Wiegand, and Jared Janacek for a deep dive into the regulations, technology, and business strategies that are shaping the future of the drone industry.Then on September 3rd, I’m personally teaching a workshop on how to build your drone business. And on September 4th, Jared will teach you his professional mapping process. Spots for each day are limited and they are filling up. Go to pilotinstitute.com/cuav to see the details and secure your seat.A story that falls squarely into the "what not to do with your drone" category. Out in Lutz, Florida, a 49-year-old man allegedly crashed his drone into a residential home. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the drone was allegedly carrying multiple bags of methamphetamine and fentanyl. In Post Flight, our show where we share more of our opinions, we’ll be talking about these stories along with even more nuggets we’ve found in the Part 108 NPRM and Ag Eagle, who launched a new multispectral camera. We’ll see you on Monday for the live and for Post Flight in the premium community! https://www.commercialuavnews.com/inspired-flight-introduces-new-ground-control-stationhttps://www.fox13news.com/news/video-drone-carrying-drugs-crashes-home-suspect-arrestedhttps://dronelife.com/2025/08/20/siflys-q12-breaks-drone-endurance-barriers/https://freeflysystems.com/
Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week.First, The Antigravity A1 drone by insta360 is out, we have some DJI Mini 5 Pro leaks, and AVSS has a new drone system for avalanche control.
First up, Insta360, a name we all know and love for their 360-degree cameras, has incubated a new drone brand called Antigravity. And they’ve just unveiled their first product, the Antigravity A1. Antigravity is making a bold claim: it's the world's first drone with built-in 8K 360-degree capture. The A1 features a dual-lens camera system, with one lens on top and one on the bottom of the drone. This allows it to capture a complete spherical view with no blind spots. The software then stitches the footage together and even renders the drone itself invisible, which is a feature Insta360 is famous for.Now, what really sets this apart is the flight experience. It's designed to be fully immersive, using goggles and a "Grip controller” that responds to natural hand movements instead of traditional sticks. With their "FreeMotion" technology, you can freely look around in any direction using head tracking, completely separate from the direction the drone is flying. If you've ever wanted to look left while flying forward, this drone promises to deliver that. And because it's shooting in 360, you can reframe your shots in post, create Tiny Planet effects, and pull multiple shots from a single flight.Next up this week, we've got some major leaks, courtesy of Jasper Ellens over at DroneXL, about the DJI Mini 5 Pro. Let's talk specs. The camera is said to have a 1-inch sensor with a 24mm equivalent lens and a fast f/1.8 aperture, which should be fantastic for low-light performance. It can reportedly shoot video up to 4K at 120 frames per second and has a 48mm medium-telephoto mode. The drone is also said to feature forward-facing LiDAR for obstacle sensing. Next up, in a real-world drones-for-good story, Canada has given the green light to a new drone-based system for avalanche control. For nearly 80 years, safety crews have used risky methods like helicopter drops and even World War II-era artillery to trigger controlled avalanches. Now, a Canadian company called AVSS has a much safer and more efficient solution. Transport Canada has issued a nationwide Special Flight Operations Certificate, or SFOC, for the AVSS "SnowDart" system. This is a big deal because it opens the door for commercial use across the country.The system, called the Precision Avalanche Management System, uses a drone to fly to precise locations where it drops small, low-cost, and eco-friendly explosive devices called SnowDarts. These darts trigger controlled snow releases, preventing larger, more dangerous avalanches from forming. The whole mission can be planned and flown autonomously, keeping human crews far from any danger. This is a massive improvement in safety and its more flexible and cost-effective than traditional methods. On post flight, our show where we share our opinions, we’ll be discussing all these stories, plus talking more about the Part 108 NPRM, which we finally finished reading, and just posted a video on! https://dronexl.co/2025/08/13/dji-mini-5-pro-leak-reveals-c0-label-secrets/https://dronedj.com/2025/08/11/drone-avalanche-control-canada-avss/https://www.antigravity.tech/us/drone/antigravity-a1
Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week: The FAA has finally unveiled its proposed rule for Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations, an update to the story about a drone collision in Kerrville Texas, and we have some major leaks about the DJI Mini 5 Pro
The FAA has released its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, or NPRM, for Beyond Visual Line of Sight, or BVLOS, operations. This is a massive deal for our drone industry. For years, complex BVLOS operations have required a slow, case-by-case waiver process. This new rule aims to create a standardized, scalable framework to normalize these flights. The proposal is designed to unlock the economic potential of drones in areas like package delivery, agriculture, and infrastructure inspection.So, what's in the proposal? There’s a ton. We’re working on a full video debrief of the NPRM now, but here are some points: • Operations will be at or below 400 feet, • Aircraft up to 1,320 lbs, • All operators would need FAA approval for the area where they intend to fly. They would identify the boundaries and the approximate number of daily operations, as well as takeoff, landing, and loading areas, if applicable, • All drones would need Remote ID and lighting, • BVLOS drones could be operated over people in different situations, • There are security requirements for BVLOS operators, • BVLOS operators may not need ANY FAA certificates.What we haven’t seen in the NPRM so far is: • Any mention of network remote ID, • and any mention of extended visual line of sight for Part 107 operators.Next up, An update to the Helicopter and Drone mid-air out of Kerrville, Texas last month.During the catastrophic floods in Kerrville, Texas, on July 7th, a military UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing after colliding with a drone. Initial reports immediately blamed an unauthorized civilian drone violating the active Temporary Flight Restriction, or TFR. We reported this as it was reported by others, stating that the drone appeared to be an unauthorized flight in the TFR.However, testimony at a state hearing later clarified what really happened. The drone involved was actually an AUTHORIZED search and rescue drone that is alleged to have malfunctioned. According to the report, it “flew too high, stalled, and then collided with the helicopter”. Last up are some DJI leaks! It looks like we're getting our first real glimpse of the DJI Mini 5 Pro, thanks to some leaked images of the product box and a new render. And if these specs are real, this could be a game-changer for the mini drone category. The box confirms a 1-inch image sensor capable of shooting up to 4K/120fps video. That would be quite an upgrade from the 1/1.3-inch sensor in the Mini 4 Pro. The leak also points to a gimbal with 225 degrees of rotation for more flexible camera movements, a 48mm medium-telephoto mode, and Nightscape Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing that uses a forward-facing LiDAR sensor. But here's the most important detail, and it's what's MISSING from the box. The Mini 4 Pro box clearly stated "Less Than 249 g," but that text is nowhere to be found on this new leak. With a bigger sensor and a LiDAR unit, it's very possible the Mini 5 Pro will tip the scales over that magic 250-gram mark. This would have major implications for pilots who rely on the regulatory freedom of the sub-250g category. https://dronexl.co/2025/08/05/faa-unveils-proposed-bvlos-rule-drone/https://dronexl.co/2025/08/03/dji-mini-5-pro-key-features-box-confirms/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/31/authorized-drone-disrupts-rescue-helicopter-kerrville/
Welcome back to your Weekly UAS News Update. We've got three stories for you this week. First, the Neo 2 has been spotted in FCC filings, Insta360 is jumping into the drone game with a new brand called Antigravity, and the CEO of DroneUp seems to be pushing for digital airspace authorizations.
First up, it looks like DJI might have some serious new competition. Insta360, the company known for its 360-degree cameras, has launched a new drone brand called Antigravity. And their first drone sounds pretty revolutionary: it's reportedly the world's first 360-degree drone that weighs less than 249 grams and can shoot in 8K.Antigravity says its focus isn't on raw specs, but on creating an "immersive flight" experience that makes storytelling easy for everyone, from beginners to experts. The drone will reportedly include smart safety features, like payload detection to deter misuse or modifications. The full, official unveiling is scheduled for this August. We've seen other companies like GoPro and Skydio struggle to challenge DJI's dominance, so it will be interesting to see if Insta360 and Antigravity’s approach.Next up, a new DJI drone, the Neo 2, has surfaced on the FCC website, which is usually the first major step before a product can be sold in the US. The filing reveals a notable upgrade: a 1606 milliamp-hour battery, which is about a 12% increase from the original Neo. This should translate to longer flight times than the original's 18 minutes. While FCC approval is a promising sign, it doesn't guarantee the Neo 2 will be available in the US. Since last October, US Customs has been detaining some DJI shipments, citing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. DJI firmly disputes any connection to forced labor, but the issue has already prevented the official US release of other products, like the Mavic 4 Pro. So, even with the FCC's green light, the Neo 2's future in the American market remains uncertain.And finally, Tom Walker, the CEO of DroneUp, published an opinion piece for Fox News where he pointed to a recent, dangerous incident during the Texas floods. A private drone reportedly collided with a rescue helicopter, forcing the crew to land and grounding a vital asset during a life-or-death situation.Walker says this isn't an isolated problem. He cited FAA data showing that illegal drone incursions near US airports jumped by 25% in the first quarter of this year compared to 2024. He warns that our current systems for detecting and responding to these threats are, in his words, "fractured, outdated, and dangerously inadequate."So what's the solution? Walker wants a unified, real-time tracking system for all low-altitude air traffic. He's also pushing for secure digital credentials to link drones to their pilots, and for expanding the authority of local law enforcement to counter drone threats. He argues that the technology to do this already exists, but says we need to act now before one of these incidents becomes a national tragedy.I can tell you that we at Pilot Institute will oppose any sort of technology that introduces ANY cost to access the national airspace system. Access to the NAS must remain free for ANY and ALL users. We’ll be watching this closely. And on Postflight, our show where we share our opinions in the premium community, we’ll discuss the SkyRover X1 and how drones are being used to drop mosquitos in Hawaii. We’ll see you on Monday for the live and for post flight in the community! https://dronedj.com/2025/07/25/dji-neo-2-drone-fcc/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/28/insta360-antigravity-drone-360-8k/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/21/drone-ceo-warns-of-escalating-airspace-risks/
Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. First, DEXA secures a nationwide BVLOS waiver for drone deliveries, DroneDeploy launches Progress AI, and a drone pilot finds a missing girl in Wisconsin.
First up, U.S. drone delivery company DEXA has hit a major regulatory milestone, securing a nationwide Beyond Visual Line of Sight, or BVLOS, waiver from the FAA. This is a huge deal because it allows the company to conduct autonomous delivery operations across the country without needing visual observers on the ground for every flight. This approval puts DEXA in an elite group alongside giants like Amazon Prime Air, Wing, and Zipline, who are all pushing the boundaries of commercial drone logistics.In addition to this new BVLOS waiver, the company already holds a Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate, which legally allows them to run a drone airline. They also have an airworthiness certification for their DE-2020 delivery drone. Having all three of these in place is the key to unlocking scalable, repeatable, and, most importantly, profitable drone delivery services. They're using their own U.S.-made aircraft and a direct-to-consumer app called DEXA NOW. Next up, DroneDeploy has just announced a new tool that called Progress AI, and it's designed to completely automate construction progress tracking. Instead of someone walking a site with a clipboard and manually marking up drawings, this system uses AI to analyze data from drones and 360-degree cameras to generate fast and reliable progress reports. DroneDeploy claims the platform can deliver reports with 95% accuracy within minutes of the images being uploaded.One of the coolest features is its natural-language interface. This works without needing a complex Building Information Model, or BIM, which lowers the barrier to entry for a lot of companies. Early users are already reporting great results, with one project engineer saying they caught a framing issue with a door install just by reviewing a walkthrough, saving them days of rework. Progress AI is currently in early access and is expected to be widely available in October as an add-on for DroneDeploy customers. Last up, a real-world drones-for-good story! A volunteer drone pilot in Milton, Wisconsin, is being called a hero after he found a missing 4-year-old girl in a dense cornfield. The girl, Lou Easton, is autistic, nonverbal, and reportedly doesn't feel pain, which made her disappearance incredibly urgent. With sunset approaching, her family feared she had wandered into a nearby cornfield. That's when Rock County officials called for aerial support.The hero of the day is Jeremy Harring-Spoerl, a volunteer with Wisco Aerial and Ground Services. He launched his DJI Matrice 30 drone and got to work. In just 40 minutes, he spotted Lou deep in the cornfield and was able to guide rescue teams directly to her location. She was found safe and unharmed. This is a perfect example of why drones are such incredible tools for search and rescue. A drone can cover a massive area far more quickly than a ground team, and thermal cameras can spot heat signatures that would be impossible to see otherwise. Stories like this are a powerful reminder that for every headline about drone bans, there are pilots out there using this technology to save lives. A huge congratulations to Jeremy for a job well done!Alright, and the team will be back from Oshkosh next week, so no Live on Monday or Post flight this coming week, but we’ll pick back up the following! https://dronexl.co/2025/07/14/dexa-faa-bvlos-waiver-drone-deliveries/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/21/drone-hero-saves-missing-girl-wisconsin/https://dronelife.com/2025/07/22/dronedeploy-launches-progress-ai-to-automate-construction-tracking/
Join our community 👉 https://bit.ly/pilot-institute-community
First up, the U.S. Commerce Department has officially launched a Section 232 national security investigation into drones and their components, with a clear focus on Chinese manufacturers . This investigation falls under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, giving the government the power to recommend tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions if it finds that imported products threaten national security. The probe will look at whether our reliance on foreign-made drones weakens US supply chains and exposes sensitive data.If the ODNI review finds what they call "unacceptable risks," it could trigger rapid regulatory action along with inclusion on the FCC’s Entity list, which would prevent any FCC licenses from being issued. Now, DJI has repeatedly denied any affiliation with the Chinese military, and a 2022 Pentagon audit found no malicious code in their Government Edition drones. However, the lawmakers behind this push argue that audit was limited and is now outdated. This is a developing situation, but a 30-day timeline is extremely aggressive. It’s also very curious that the lawmakers behind the language in the NDAA are the ones pushing for this audit to occur. We’ll keep you updated when we know more. Along the same lines, Representative Stefanik introduced an amendment to the 2026 NDAA that would require all Chinese drone manufacturers to undergo the same security audit as DJI and Autel. And even more news from the US Government, The Senate has confirmed Bryan Bedford as the new FAA Administrator with a 53-43 vote. Bedford is the former CEO of Republic Airways. Next up, DJI rolled out three new agriculture drones for the global market, but not for the US. The new models are the Agras T100, the T70P, and the T25P, each designed for different scales of farming. The Agras T100 is an absolute beast, basically a flying tractor. It can carry a massive 100-liter payload for spraying or 150 liters for spreading. With a top speed of 20 meters per second, it's twice as efficient as its predecessor. The T70P is a step down, designed for mid-sized farms, with a 70-liter spray capacity and a 100-liter spread capacity. It features DJI's new Safety System 3.0, which combines millimeter-wave radar and a Tri-Vision system for better obstacle avoidance in tricky terrain.Finally, there's the Agras T25P, which is built for solo operators or smaller, more complex plots like orchards. It's compact and foldable but still packs a punch with a 20 kg payload and a spray rate of 16 liters per minute. It even allows for adjustable droplet sizes between 50 and 500 micrometers for super precise applications. These drones were actually released in China last year, but their global launch signals a major push by DJI in the agricultural space.And on post flight, our show where we discuss these stories and share our opinions, along with discussing DJI’s FlyCart 30 that’s been operating on Mt Everest this season! We’ll see you there on Monday, on Youtube for Live on Monday, and back here on Friday for news update! https://dronedj.com/2025/07/15/dji-autel-drone-national-security/https://dronedj.com/2025/07/16/dji-agras-new-drone-launch/https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/10/natsec-review-chinese-drone-maker-dji/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/09/senate-confirms-bryan-bedford-as-faa-administrator/
First up, it’s another case of "hurry up and wait" for our drone industry. The FAA has missed another major deadline for publishing the much-anticipated Beyond Visual Line of Sight, or BVLOS, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. This time, the deadline was set by a presidential executive order. On June 6th, 2025, President Trump signed the “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” order, which gave the FAA a very aggressive 30-day timeline to issue the proposed rule. Well, that deadline was July 7th, and it came and went with no NPRM in sight.This new missed deadline joins the one from the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which mandated the NPRM be published by September 16, 2024. A Bit of history: The BVLOS Aviation Rulemaking Committee, or ARC, delivered its comprehensive 381-page report with 70 recommendations all the way back in March of 2022. That report gave the FAA a set of recommendations for enabling BVLOS. Next up, Florida Senator Rick Scott has introduced the "Drones for America Act," a bill aimed at banning Chinese-made drones and their components while trying to boost U.S. manufacturing. The bill proposes a phased approach. It would implement a full ban on the sale of Chinese-manufactured drone systems by January 1, 2028, and a ban on Chinese-made components by January 1, 2031. In the meantime, a gradually increasing tariff would be placed on these items to phase them out of the market. The revenue collected from these tariffs would be used to fund a grant program. This program is designed to help American companies develop and produce U.S.-manufactured drones and components along with helping first responders, law enforcement, and even farmers and ranchers purchase these American-made drones. However, this bill neglects the largest users of drones, small businesses and recreational flyers. Right now, there are no real alternatives to DJI for consumers and small businesses. And we’ve heard from the people who are likely behind this bill that there has been NO study done to determine the output of drones from American Manufacturers. These bill threaten to destroy the drone industry in favor of a few American manufacturers, who don’t even have an interest in making consumer drones. Please reach out to your Senators and Representatives and tell them this is not a good idea. And finally this week, a story that serves as a critical reminder for all of us about why the rules exist. On July 7th, during catastrophic flooding in Kerr County, Texas, a drone reportedly collided with a rescue helicopter. The helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing and is now out of commission. This has sidelined a critical life-saving asset in an area where, tragically, over 100 people have died. The entire area was under a Temporary Flight Restriction, or TFR, specifically NOTAM FDC 5/2615, to keep the airspace clear for these exact types of rescue operations.Alright, we’ll see you on Monday for the Live and for Post Flight in the Premium Community! https://dronelife.com/2025/07/07/another-missed-deadline-the-bvlos-nprm-still-awaits-publication/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/07/drone-fiasco-in-kerr-county/https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2025/6/sen-rick-scott-introduces-drones-for-america-act-to-ban-chinese-made-drones-components-support-u-s-drone-manufacturing
Check out Post Flight on Community 👉 https://bit.ly/premium-drone-communityWelcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week; DJI has released the FlyCart 100, Wingtra is teasing a new drone, set for release on July 10th, and a drones-for-good story where a drone was used to rescue a man from a flood.First up this week, DJI has dropped the FlyCart 100. The FC100 can carry a payload of 80 kilograms—that’s 176 pounds—over a distance of 6 kilometers, or about 3.7 miles, on a single battery. If you pop in the dual battery, the payload drops slightly to 65 kilograms, or 143 pounds, but the range increases to 12 kilometers, which is 7.4 miles. With no payload at all, this thing can cruise for 26 kilometers, or 16 miles! The max takeoff weight is a hefty 149.9 kilograms, or 330 pounds.It comes with a hoist system that has a 30-meter, or 98-foot, retractable cable, complete with auto anti-sway technology and real-time weighing. For safety, it has a built-in parachute with its own independent power supply. The drone itself is built like a tank with an IP55 rating and wind limit of 27 miles per hour. It’s also packed with sensors, including front and rear phased-array radars, five-eye fisheye cameras, and LiDAR for obstacle avoidance. The price starts at $12,500 for the base model. Its predecessor, the FlyCart 30, is FAA-approved in the U.S., and while this new model isn't yet, we're hoping that changes soon. Next up, Swiss-based drone manufacturer Wingtra is teasing a new product launch for July 10th, and it looks like it could be a big deal for the mapping and surveying world. Wingtra is known for its high-precision, vertical takeoff and landing, or VTOL, fixed-wing drones. Their current flagship, the WingtraOne, is already impressive, capturing data at resolutions up to 1.2 centimeters per pixel and covering up to 200 hectares, or 494 acres, in a single flight.The company posted a teaser this week, "What we’re about to share with you isn’t just another product launch. It’s a shift in what’s possible." The image shows the silhouette of a sleek drone, suggesting an evolution of their current platform. While we don't have the exact specs yet, we can speculate a bit. We might see an even longer flight time, maybe over 60 minutes, improved sensors for night operations, or even better AI for real-time data processing. Given the demand for large-scale mapping, they could be pushing the coverage area to over 300 hectares, or 741 acres, per flight. We're definitely excited to see what they unveil on July 10th, as this could set a new standard for professional mapping drones.And finally this week, a real-world drones-for-good story! In southwest China, a drone operator performed a dramatic rescue during severe flooding. He spotted a man stranded on a rooftop, completely surrounded by rising floodwaters. Acting quickly, Lai repurposed his agricultural drone, which he normally uses for spraying fertilizer and hauling materials, to perform an airlift. He used the drone's long cord to hoist the man from the rooftop and fly him to safety on a nearby road.And on post-flight, our show where we share our opinions in the Premium Community, we're going to cover all of these stories in depth, along with rumors about DJI Care Refresh and a man who faces federal charges for attempting to destroy a Law Enforcement drone. Alright, that's all we have for you this week. Join us for the live Q and A on Monday and in post flight in the premium community as well! https://dronexl.co/2025/07/01/drone-saves-man-from-flood-china/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/01/dji-flycart-100-drone-midlife-crisis/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/01/wingtra-fixed-wing-drone-launch-july-10/
Post Flight on Community 👉 https://bit.ly/premium-drone-communityWelcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. Charges for drone pilot allegedly interfering with a medical helicopter, NASA ASRS reports on the possible chop list, and New York Legislation to restrict what drones can be purchased by state agencies.
First up a 64-year-old drone operator in Orange County, Texas, has been charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly delaying a medical helicopter flight back in February. According to 12NewsNow, the incident occurred when first responders were aiding a 3-year-old child who had suffered cardiac arrest after a near-drowning. A medical helicopter called to transport the child was reportedly delayed because a drone was flying directly above it, somewhere between 50 and 100 feet over the helicopter. The drone pilot was identified, and his device was confiscated. He now faces a charge of "interfering with public duties," a class B misdemeanor in Texas, potentially leading to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. It's unknown if federal charges will follow, but the FAA takes interference with manned aircraft, especially emergency services, VERY seriously. Thankfully, the child made a full recovery. Please don’t be that guy. Next up, this is really important for the entire aviation community, including us drone pilots. We have until July 7th – that’s just a few weeks – to submit comments on the value of two crucial voluntary safety reporting systems: NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) and the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). The program provides for pilots, controllers, mechanics and others to make confidential reports to the ASRS within NASA, insulating the reports from the FAA. As a result, NASA reports aviation safety issues in nearly real-time. The big advantage of the report is that the reporting person can't be subject to FAA enforcement actions even if a regulation has been broken. That's of course, if the action is inadvertent and if the report is made within 10 days.And finally, in New York, bill A2237/S3259 has passed the assembly earlier this week. The bill would restrict what equipment can be purchased by state and local public safety departments. This isn’t specific to drones and includes any and all “HARDWARE, SYSTEMS, DEVICES, SOFTWARE, OR SERVICES”. Waivers are available, but it’d be better for public safety not to need a waiver to purchase the best equipment fro the job. As of this recording, the bill hasn’t passed into law yet, and is going to the Governor next. So if you’re in NY, please reach out to your senators, representatives, and contact the Governor's office, especially if you're in public safety!And on post-flight this week, we're going to cover Renault, the French car manufacturer who has partnered with Parrot for a built-in vehicle dock, and Amazon, which is starting deliveries in San Antonio. Post-flight is our weekly show where we dive deeper into the news update items, with more opinionated takes and it is available in the Premium community at pilotinstitute.com/communityAlright, that's all we have for you this week. Join us Monday for the live Q and A on Monday.https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/orange-county-drone-operator-charged-with-misdemeanor-in-connection-with-delay-of-life-saving-helicopter-flight/502-94b3858e-19f6-45ca-8b94-27ac90c0efd1https://avweb.com/aviation-news/comments-sought-on-blame-free-aviation-incident-reporting/https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/?vvsrc=%2FCampaigns%2F125752%2FRespond
Post Flight in Community 👉 https://bit.ly/premium-drone-communityWelcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. First, DJI unveils the new Matrice 400, Altitude Angel secures a U.S. patent for its ARROW ground-based detect-and-avoid system, and the National Fire Academy is hosting train the trainer courses for local fire officials! Let's get to it.
National Fire Academy Program:https://forms.gle/AzEAmvRzydypPdS48
First up this week, DJI has pulled the wraps off its latest enterprise drone, the Matrice 400. They're claiming up to 59 minutes of forward flight time and 53 minutes of hovering with an H30T. The M400 can carry a hefty 13.2-pound payload, and and comes with an IP55 rating. It can handle -4 degrees Fahrenheit all the way up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning you should be able to fly it even in Phoenix during the summer! Inside, the Matrice 400 is equipped with LiDAR, mmWave radar, and full-color low-light fisheye sensors. DJI says this setup allows it to navigate challenging environments and detect small obstacles like high-voltage power lines in low-light conditions. The video transmission is also getting a boost with the O4 Enterprise Enhanced system, supporting image transmission up to 24.9 miles. It uses a ten-antenna aircraft design, and there's even a built-in relay module so one M400 can extend the range of another. For payloads, it has four E-Port V2 ports and can support up to seven simultaneous payloads. This includes compatibility with the Zenmuse H30 series, the L2 for LiDAR mapping, and the P1 for photogrammetry. Next up this week, Altitude Angel, a company known for its Unmanned Traffic Management, or UTM, technology, has just secured a U.S. patent for its ARROW system. ARROW is a ground-based detect-and-avoid solution. What that means is it uses a network of ground sensors, like radio frequency detectors and high-resolution cameras, to monitor the airspace. The software then fuses this data to create a real-time picture of what’s flying around. The big advantage here is that it could allow drones to operate safely BVLOS without needing expensive onboard sensors, which could reduce costs by 50%.This isn't just a concept; ARROW powered Project Skyway in the UK, which was a 165-mile drone superhighway. They demonstrated what they call "Separation-as-a-Service," allowing multiple drone operators to share airspace safely. Now, access to this technology isn’t free, and specific costs aren’t public. Based on Altitude Angel’s website FAQs, costs depend on the area and the amount of traffic in that area. Here in the US, I think this would primarily be used by drone delivery companies, rather than others. It’s important that the airspace remains free to access, so we’ll have to keep an eye on this to ensure that local government or land owners don’t attempt to charge for access to public airspace. Last up, the National Fire Academy is hosting a 2 week train the trainer program designed for state, local, and tribal fire service professionals. Now this might not seem like big news to most, but traditionally the train the trainer program is restricted to federal personnel only. This allows program mangers, state fire, and program leads, to learn about teaching wildfire operations, mission planning NIST, Law Enforcement Responses, search and rescue, and more. So if you’re in public safety, be sure to check out the link below to apply for the program! This week on Post Flight we’ll be discussing the White House Executive Orders and Walmart expanding their drone delivery. We’ll see you on Monday for the Live, and Post flight in the Premium community! https://dronexl.co/2025/06/10/dji-matrice-400-enterprise-drone/https://dronexl.co/2025/06/10/altitude-angel-arrow-patent-drone-ops/
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, We have 4 stories for you: Executive Order rumors for Drones, Ohio bill to allow Shooting drones Down, Wing and FlyTrex partner, and a successful rescue with a drone.
First up, you've probably heard some rumors that President Trump is expected to sign executive orders around drones. First step. close your eyes, breath, and relax. With that said, the orders, which may or may not be signed on Friday, would reportedly include updates about Part 108, Section 2209 from the 2016 Reauthorization Act, Section 1709 from the 2024 NDAA, and potentially include a Department of Commerce final ruling. And none of these things are actually a surprise.Part 108 is the reported name for the beyond visual line of sight ruling that we expect to be coming later this year. Not sure what an executive order would do other than telling the FAA to speed things up. That's a good thing.And finally, the one we know the least about, the Department of Commerce final ruling. We’re not entirely sure what this rule will cover, if it will be an NPRM following the ANPRM from a few months ago, if it will cover DJI, or just drones in general, and if it will be a final ruling.As soon as we know more, we’ll be posting shorts, with full videos to come.Next up, this week, we've got some eyebrow-raising news out of Ohio. State Representatives Angie King and Ty Mathews are pushing for a federal 'Defense Against Drones Act of 2025.' Get this: the proposed bill, H.R. 1907, would allow homeowners to legally use a shotgun to disable a drone flying within 200 feet above their property. Yes, 200 feet – that’s roughly two-thirds the height of a cell tower, a very common altitude for us.Why the push? The lawmakers cite growing concerns over privacy, property rights, and public safety. Representative King pointed to incidents in her district where drones reportedly caused alarm, threatened livestock, and raised cybersecurity fears due to foreign-manufactured components. She said, "The growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has led to serious concerns over privacy, property rights, and public safety, particularly when drones operate at low altitudes over residential and agricultural areas." So, this is their proposed fix for those local issues.For drone pilots, this is obviously a HUGE deal. Next up, Wing and Flytrex are teaming up. These two are usually competitors, so seeing them collaborate is a big deal for our drone industry! They're working together to share an automated air traffic and collision avoidance system. Think of it as an Unmanned Traffic Management, or UTM, platform specifically for their drone fleets.This system is designed to let both Wing, which is owned by Alphabet, and Flytrex, an Israel-based startup with a growing U.S. presence, exchange real-time flight plans and navigation data. The goal here is to make sure their drones can operate safely in the same airspace over Dallas without colliding. The technology will automatically adjust flight paths to prevent drones from being in the same spot at the same altitude at the same time. Flytrex has already completed 200,000 deliveries, and Wing is way up there with 450,000, so they both bring a ton of experience to the table.Shout out to Seattle Mountain Rescue, Great use of the drone to save lives! https://dronexl.co/2025/06/03/wing-flytrex-drone-air-traffic-system-dallas/https://dronexl.co/2025/06/03/drones-aid-in-dramatic-mount-si-teen-rescue/https://dronexl.co/2025/05/31/trump-new-orders-ban-chinese-dji-drones/https://dronexl.co/2025/05/28/ohio-lawmakers-drone-defense-act/
Watch Post Flight on our Community site 👉 https://bit.ly/premium-drone-community
First up this week, today marks 6 years of drone news, uninterrupted! A big thanks to YOU for making this possible! And yes, this is our brand new set for the news update. In the last 6 years, we've gotten over 3,400,000 views on our news update videos and enrolled over 132,000 people in our Part 107 Made Easy course which represents almost 1/3 of all remote pilots, 400,000 students in total, and 750,000 course enrollments. Not to mention our exclusive Pilot Institute Community, with over 80,000 pilots. A big thanks to everyone for making this possible. We've also got many more courses and videos coming soon!
Next up this week NASA is pushing the boundaries of exploration with its Dragonfly mission. This isn't your average quadcopter; we're talking about a car-sized rotorcraft designed to fly on Titan, Saturn's largest moon! This ambitious mission is scheduled to launch in 2028 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, with an estimated arrival at Titan in 2034.
Dragonfly's primary target is the Selk Crater, a fascinating 50-mile-wide impact site. Scientists believe this crater might have once held a pool of liquid water, potentially for hundreds or even thousands of years, which could have mixed with Titan's rich organic compounds. Now, to be clear, as Zibi Turtle, Dragonfly’s principal investigator, put it, “Dragonfly isn’t a mission to detect life—it’s a mission to investigate the chemistry that came before biology.”
So, why does this matter to us drone pilots here on Earth? Well, the technological leaps required for Dragonfly could be HUGE for our drone industry! To operate a complex quadcopter in Titan's extreme environment – with its dense atmosphere, low gravity, and insane cold – NASA must develop breakthroughs in autonomy, navigation, and battery tech. Imagine that tech trickling down to the drones we fly! I’m really excited to see how this mission pushes UAV innovation forward.
Next up, According to a report from DroneXL, we might be seeing a DJI Mini 5 Pro, an Avata 3, something called a Neo 2 FPV drone, and even an Osmo Nano. Now, these are strictly RUMORS at this stage, and the report didn't include concrete details or specific leaked specifications, so they are still under wraps. For a Mini 5 Pro, many are hoping DJI could push the envelope further in the sub-250 gram category. Mini 5 rumors include a 1” sensors, LiDAR obstacles avoidance, and O4+. The Mini 5 also hit the FCC database recently.
For the Avata 3, building on the success of its predecessors, we'd anticipate upgrades to the camera system for crisper FPV footage. We might also see DJI's O4+ transmission for better range and stability, and of course, any improvements to flight duration and durability would be fantastic.
The 'Neo 2 FPV' is a bit more mysterious – could this be a new specialized FPV offering?
And an Osmo Nano sounds intriguing, possibly a super compact gimbal for on-the-go stabilization. Again, this is PURE speculation, but if even some of these products materialize with DJI's usual innovation, it could be an exciting lineup for our drone industry.
And over on Post flight this week, we’ll talk about more news that didn’t make the cut here including: John Deere Acquiring Sentra Drones, The FAA approving Amazon to deliver Lithium products, and a DJI M600 that was used to film the ongoing Kīlauea.
Watch Post Flight on our Community site 👉 https://bit.ly/premium-drone-communityWelcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 4 stories for you: A swimmer rescued by a fisherman’s drone, Kyle Nordfors awarded at the Global Search and Rescue Excellence Awards, and Pierce Aerospace partners with MITRE for remote ID research.
And first up this week, a real-world drones-for-good story that really shows you the versatility of these machines! Out in Pensacola, Florida, on May 15th, shark fisherman Andrew Smith found himself in a true life-or-death situation. He’d only been at a new fishing spot for about ten minutes when a girl ran up, screaming for help – another girl was drowning, caught in a dangerous rip current. Now, Andrew has a seizure disorder, which meant he couldn't safely swim out to her himself. He saw the girl getting pulled further away, already struggling for about five minutes, and knew time was absolutely critical.Andrew typically uses his drone for fishing, specifically to position bait, because his medical condition makes using kayaks unsafe. He attached a nearby flotation device to his drone. His first attempt, he told CBS12, was incredibly nerve-wracking: “I was shaking pretty badly... I almost cried.” In the stress of the moment, he released the device too early, and it missed. But he didn't give up. A bystander quickly provided a second flotation device. This time, Andrew flew the drone out slowly and deliberately, carefully lowering it to the struggling girl. He saw her reach for it, released the device, and she grabbed on, able to stay afloat! It reportedly took first responders another five minutes to arrive on scene. Local authorities, including police, EMS, and lifeguards, apparently told Andrew that if his second attempt had failed, "she wouldn’t have made it." Andrew, If you’re watching this and you want to learn more about drones, send us an email and we’ll get you signed up for a free course of your choosing. Next up, Captain Kyle Nordfors, who’s a UAS pilot with the Weber County Sheriff’s Office in Utah, snagged the Unsung Hero Award. And let me tell you, what he’s doing with drones in Search and Rescue is nothing short of revolutionary. He’s using drones equipped with thermal imaging and high-resolution cameras to transform searches that used to take hours, or even days, into operations that can be wrapped up in minutes. We're talking about covering vast areas, sometimes several square miles, in really rugged terrain with elevation changes exceeding 5,000 feet! Shout out to our good friend Kyle, keep up the good work! Third, Pierce Aerospace and MITRE have announced they're officially joining forces. They've signed what’s called a memorandum of understanding – basically a formal agreement – to advance UAS and remote identification for more complex missions. This is a pretty big deal because, as you know, Remote ID is a critical piece of the puzzle for integrating drones safely and securely into our national airspace. Without robust Remote ID, moving forward with more advanced operations gets a LOT trickier.https://www.pierceaerospace.net/blogs/news/pierce-aerospace-and-mitre-partner-to-advance-remote-id-research-and-developmenthttps://dronexl.co/2025/05/19/nordfors-global-search-rescue-excellence-awards/https://dronexl.co/2025/05/20/drone-rescue-girl-drowning/
Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week.
First, DJI teases the Mavic 4 Pro, and we have a release date!
Second, a heartwarming story out of Michigan where a thermal drone played a key role in saving a 74-year-old woman.
Third, we've got more DJI news with a leaked launch window for the Mini 5 Pro.
And finally, a drone reportedly crashed while attempting to smuggle contraband into a South Carolina prison.
First up this week, DJI is at it again, officially teasing the upcoming Mavic 4 Pro! They dropped a "Spin Your World" teaser and, in a bit of a surprise move for DJI, actually showed the drone itself in the teaser. This is probably because, let's be honest, the leaks have been coming for months now. The official launch is slated for May 13th, so mark your calendars!
Next up, we have a fantastic real-world drones-for-good story coming out of Michigan! A 74-year-old woman who experienced a vehicle fire got lost in the woods without her phone last month. She sought shelter under a tree and endured 27 degrees temperatures, along with rain and winds, less than 450 feet from where her vehicle burned. It’s unclear when searching began, but the woman was located alive, and too frozen to move, 3 days after going missing by a Mason County Sheriff’s thermal drone. Great use of the drone to save a life!
And in our third story this week, more news from the DJI rumor mill! It looks like the DJI Mini 5 Pro might be on the horizon, with a potential launch window now pointing towards September 2025. This information comes via trusted X leaker HakaSushi (hah-kah-SOO-shee), who apparently confirmed an earlier rumor from Jasper Ellens at DroneXL. So, while it's still a ways off, the anticipation is definitely building. The Mini series, as you know, has been incredibly popular. This is especially true for those of us who want a capable drone that stays under that 250-gram weight limit, avoiding a lot of registration hassles in many places. Speculation on improvements includes changes to the sensor size, enhanced obstacle avoidance, better wind resistance, or even longer flight times.
Let us know in the comments what features YOU'D like to see in a Mini 5 Pro!
And finally this week, your “Don’t be that guy” segment. Reports indicate that a drone crashed while allegedly attempting to smuggle contraband, specifically methamphetamines, into a prison in South Carolina. Details about the specific type of drone or the quantity of contraband involved haven't been widely released yet, and the investigation is likely ongoing. Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated incident. We've covered stories like this before. Correctional facilities around the world are increasingly battling attempts to use drones to deliver drugs, cell phones, weapons, and other illegal items over prison walls. It's a serious security concern, and it highlights the 'cat and mouse' game being played between those trying to exploit the technology for criminal purposes and the authorities working to stop them. Don’t be that guy, and for anyone watching that is thinking about doing this: These facilities have Drone detection systems. They will find you and they will catch you, so just don’t.
Alright, that’s all for this week. We have the live Q and A on Monday and in post-flight on Monday in the premium community, so we'll see you then.
Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week. First, DJI officially ends the Phantom line, SiFly releases the Q250 and Q12, more leaks surface about the potential DJI Mavic 4, and researchers develop a 'flying squirrel' drone with foldable wings.
first up this week, it's the end of an era for one of the most iconic drone series ever. DJI has officially announced the retirement of its Phantom 4 Pro and Phantom 4 Advanced drones. It set the standard for prosumer drones for years. It's a bit sad to see the Phantom line go, but technology marches on. We've seen DJI focus heavily on the Mavic, Air, and Mini series for consumers and prosumers, and the Matrice line for enterprise. So, while the Phantom might be taking its final flight into the sunset, its legacy in shaping our drone industry is undeniable. Pour one out for the Phantom!Next up, SiFly has released the Q12, a medium-sized, long-endurance aircraft. The Q12 offers a two-hour continuous hover, three-hour forward flight time, and 90-mile range while carrying a 10lb payload. SiFly also released the Q250, a heavy-lift drone with a 200lb payload and a 100-minute endurance. Both of these look like pretty cool drones with maybe the best flight times we've seen from a multi-rotor. Also, both drones are NDAA compliant, making them a possible replacement for those entities that require compliant aircraft. Specifics on battery, connection link, and available payloads aren't currently available. We'll keep you updated if we see more about the SiFly Q250 or the Q12!Now for another DJI story, the rumor mill is churning again, this time about the potential DJI Mavic 4. According to Jasper Ellens, the Mavic 4 is becoming, in his words, "the world's most leaked drone." Recent reports suggest leaked promotional images, potential pricing details, and even photos of the retail boxes have surfaced online. Now, take this all with a grain of salt, as these are just leaks. One particularly interesting tidbit is the mention of a possible new controller, the RC Pro 2, which might feature a vertical screen. A vertical screen could be interesting for how information is displayed, maybe better for certain types of flight data, or even social media integration, who knows? Along with the leaks, there was a list of supposedly cancelled features, including no Pro Res, no electronic ND filters at launch, and no RC Track, which, for those who may not remember, is the rumored tracking beacon.And last up this week, we have a cool research story out of South Korea. Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology, or POSTECH, have developed a drone inspired by flying squirrels! This isn't your typical quadcopter. It features foldable wings designed to give it significantly more agility, especially when it comes to braking or making sharp turns mid-air. You know how quadcopters can feel a bit floaty sometimes when stopping? The idea here is that these foldable wings can deploy rapidly to act like air brakes, allowing for much quicker deceleration than propellers alone can manage. This mimics how a flying squirrel uses its membranes to glide and maneuver. Or the ornithopter in Dune... While it's still in the research phase, this kind of bio-inspired design is fascinating. It pushes the boundaries beyond standard drone configurations and could potentially lead to drones that can navigate complex environments much more effectively. https://dronexl.co/2025/04/29/flying-squirrel-drone-foldable-wings/https://dronexl.co/2025/04/26/dji-mavic-4-canceled-features-rc-pro-2/https://dronexl.co/2025/04/27/drones-drop-super-clams-florida-indian-river/https://dronexl.co/2025/04/29/dji-phantom-4-takes-final-flight/
