New DJI Terra Update Adds HEIF Support, Boosts Reconstruction Performance
DJI released Terra version 5.2.0, adding HEIF photo import for Zenmuse L3 and GeoTIFF COG export for faster GIS workflows. The update introduces automatic mark identification for D‑RTK 3 datasets and a High‑Efficiency Mode that exploits multiple CPU cores, cutting reconstruction times. Under the hood, LiDAR aerotriangulation and base‑station parsing have been refined, delivering higher point‑cloud accuracy and clearer orthophotos. Minor fixes include a contour‑line bug in feet units and a Windows file‑path limitation.
DJI Reality: This New Free Tool Could Change How You Share Drone Data
DJI has launched DJI Reality, a free 3D model viewer built into its Terra platform. The tool supports mesh, point clouds and the emerging 3D Gaussian Splatting format, allowing instant exploration of massive datasets without login or costly software. It...
DJI Pushes Drones Beyond Cameras with AI Competition
DJI has launched the Enterprise Drone Onboard AI Challenge 2026, inviting developers to build AI models that run directly on its Matrice 4 drones or the Manifold 3 onboard computer. The competition, open until May 10, 2026, offers hardware bundles and public recognition for...
FCC Eyes Sweeping Reforms to Boost US Drone Power
The FCC has issued a public notice calling for sweeping reforms to accelerate the U.S. drone ecosystem, tying the effort to the Trump administration’s “American drone dominance” strategy. Chairman Brendan Carr highlighted drone production, deployment, and export as national‑security priorities...
UK Drone Rules Just Got Way Easier to Understand
Grey Arrows Drone Club has integrated every UK council’s byelaw, PSPO and local policy into its Drone Scene app, creating a comprehensive map of local drone restrictions across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The update adds a traffic‑light colour...
Drone Surveying without GCPs? Wingtra Says It’s Here
Wingtra introduced the SURVEY61 payload for its WingtraRAY drone, promising survey‑grade accuracy of up to 3 cm without using ground control points. The system leverages a post‑processed kinematic (PPK) workflow and ultra‑high‑resolution imagery to map large sites in minutes rather than...
This Firmware Update Makes Avata 360 Ready for Real Flying
DJI has launched a day‑one firmware update (v01.00.0100) for the Avata 360, extending support to the new FPV Remote Controller 3 and enhancing the entire ecosystem, including RC 2, Goggles 3, and the Fly app. The update raises Sport mode’s top speed to 18 m/s,...
DJI Avata 360 Drone Launch Delayed in US
DJI announced that its new Avata 360 drone will launch in the United States on March 30, a few days after the global rollout slated for March 26. The delay is attributed to heightened regulatory scrutiny and import hurdles that have become common...
America’s New 911 Drone Is Always Ready
Police departments across the United States are scaling Drone‑as‑First‑Responder (DFR) programs, but many current drones suffer from short flight times, limited range, and connectivity gaps. BRINC’s new Guardian drone tackles these issues with an automated battery‑swap dock that delivers up...
DJI’s Latest Deals Make Shaky Phone Footage a Thing of the Past
DJI has slashed prices on its Osmo Mobile gimbal lineup, offering the Osmo Mobile 8 for $126 (down from $149), the 7P for $99 (down from $129) and the 7 for $59 (down from $75). All three models provide 3‑axis...
A Photojournalist Is Challenging FAA’s Drone Ban over DHS Vehicles
The FAA’s recent Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) FDC 6/4375 bans all drone flights within 3,000 feet laterally and 1,000 feet vertically of Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and Department of Homeland Security facilities and mobile assets. Photojournalist Rob Levine, represented by the...
DJI Flip Now Cheaper than Many Beginner Drones
DJI has slashed the price of its Flip drone to $309, making it the cheapest option in its lineup and undercutting many entry‑level competitors. The controller‑free bundle runs the aircraft via the DJI Fly app, while optional controller bundles remain...
US Army Signals End of Traditional Combat with Drone Shift
The U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division conducted a live‑fire drill at Fort Campbell showcasing drones as the initial combat element rather than mere support tools. Multiple UAV platforms, from the MQ‑1C Gray Eagle to small reconnaissance drones, operated alongside Special...
Drone Pilots Face $100K Fines Under New DOD Crackdown
The Department of Defense, together with the DOJ, DHS, and FAA, has launched a coordinated crackdown on illegal drone operations under the White House Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty. Violations in restricted airspace such as airports, military bases,...
Tourist Drones Disrupt 83 Flights, Trigger Military Action in Vietnam
In Da Nang, Vietnam, illegal tourist drones caused major disruptions, halting 83 flights over a week during the Lunar New Year. A 25‑year‑old Chinese visitor was seized with a DJI Mavic 3 Pro, and several other foreign tourists have been caught. Drones were flying...
Antigravity A1 Drone Discount Arrives Before April Feature Update
Antigravity is offering a flat 20 % discount on its A1 8K 360 drone across all bundles, just weeks before a major April software update. The A1 remains the only consumer‑grade drone in the United States capable of true 8K 360...
This 300-Mile Cargo Drone Is Moving Closer to Deployment
Elroy Air has been chosen for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, becoming the sole cargo‑focused participant among air‑taxi developers. Its Chaparral autonomous VTOL drone can transport up to 300 pounds over roughly 300 miles using a hybrid‑electric powertrain...
This Pocket Device Lets Police Identify Drones in Seconds
Zing Drone Solutions unveiled the Z‑SCAN MINI, a handheld Remote ID receiver, at the DroneResponders National Public Safety UAS Conference. The pocket‑sized device scans both Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth Remote ID broadcasts, letting officers instantly identify nearby drones. By revealing compliant...
The DJI Drone Everyone’s Been Waiting for Gets a Launch Date
DJI announced the Avata 360, an 8K flagship 360° drone, with a public unveiling scheduled for March 26. The aircraft merges true spherical video capture with high‑speed FPV flight, featuring a dual‑lens system that can record native 8K 360 footage and switch...
This Sensor Lets DJI Drones Detect Methane and Toxic Gases
AIRINS introduced new multi‑sensor configurations for its Sniffer4D Nano2+ gas detection system, enabling DJI enterprise drones to monitor up to ten gas parameters in a single flight. The solution pairs AI‑driven analytics with lightweight sensors to map methane, hydrogen sulfide,...
DJI Mini 4 Pro, Matrice 4 Drones Can Create 3D Models Faster with This Tool
SkyeBrowse has released a major update to its Flight App, extending 3D‑mapping compatibility to DJI Mini 4 Pro, Matrice 4E/T, and Matrice 400 drones. The upgrade adds high‑performance payload support and introduces two new grid‑capture modes—Cross Grids and Side Scan—to...
Michigan Capitol Deploys Drone Traffic Platform to Monitor Skies
Michigan’s State Capitol has fully deployed Airspace Link’s AirHub Portal, a drone operations management system that provides real‑time monitoring of both unmanned and manned aircraft over the Capitol complex. The platform aggregates data from Remote ID, ADS‑B, radar, RF detectors...
A Sub-$300 Drone with Obstacle Avoidance? Meet Skyrover S1
Skyrover has launched the S1, a sub‑$300 drone that packs DJI‑level capabilities into a sub‑249 g, fold‑foldable package. It delivers 4K/60 fps video from a 1/2‑inch Sony sensor on a 3‑axis gimbal, forward obstacle avoidance, and up to 12 km transmission. Smart flight...
Vector Secures $20M Loan to Expand US Drone Production
Vector, a Utah‑based defense startup founded by former special‑operations personnel, secured a $20 million loan from JPMorgan Chase to expand its U.S. drone manufacturing capacity. The financing follows a $61 million Series A round closed in September 2025, underscoring growing investor appetite for domestic...
10 Million Calls: The Drone System Changing Policing
Skydio’s Drone‑as‑First‑Responder (DFR) Command platform has processed over 10 million service calls, demonstrating that autonomous drones are now embedded in U.S. public‑safety workflows. The system pulls live 911, CAD, and sensor data directly into its Flight Deck, allowing operators to dispatch...
DJI’s Most Capable Drones Are Still Finding Their Way to US Third Party Retailers
DJI’s flagship drones remain unavailable through official U.S. channels after the FCC’s recent ban on new DJI products. Despite the restriction, a handful of third‑party retailers have begun importing these high‑performance models, creating a fragmented supply chain. The gray‑market influx...
1,020 Pyro Drones Just Rewrote Daytime Fireworks History
Last weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Pyrotecnico deployed 1,020 pyro‑drones to set a Guinness World Record for the Largest Daytime Fireworks Display. Each drone carried two smoke canisters, creating 2,024 vibrant plumes visible in broad daylight. The show combined...
Vector’s Longbow Drone Clears Key Pentagon Certifications
Vector announced that its Longbow VTOL drone platform has cleared both the Department of Defense’s Blue UAS and the AUVSI‑run Green UAS certification programs. The dual clearance confirms the system meets stringent cybersecurity, supply‑chain and foreign‑component standards required for government...
Versaterm Doubles Down on Drones with Aloft Acquisition
Versaterm announced the acquisition of Aloft, an FAA‑approved Unmanned Service Supplier, to embed LAANC airspace authorizations into its DroneSense platform. The move completes a two‑step strategy that began with the 2025 DroneSense purchase, linking dispatch, fleet management and now regulatory...
Skydio Poised for $4M Windfall From LAPD Drone Deal
The Los Angeles Police Commission approved a private donation that could deliver up to $4 million to drone maker Skydio, funding a three‑year “Drone as First Responder” program. The deal includes a $2.1 million grant for drones, docking stations and installation, plus...
WingtraRAY Earns C6 Mark for Advanced EU Flights
Swiss drone maker Wingtra announced that its WingtraRAY mapping platform has secured both C3 and C6 certifications under the EASA framework, issued by TÜV Rheinland. The C6 mark, tied to specific‑category standardized risk scenarios, unlocks beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) operations when the...
Anzu Discontinues Raptor Drone Series Amid Supply Chain Crisis
Anzu Robotics announced the discontinuation of its Raptor drone series after persistent component shortages halted production. The line, launched in 2024 as a U.S.-focused alternative to DJI, saw rapid demand driven by NDAA 2025 considerations, which depleted inventory faster than...
How DJI Drone Systems Cut Ski Resort Snow Costs
Planai‑Hochwurzen‑Bahnen in Austria has partnered with KIONIQ to deploy DJI’s Dock 3 and Matrice 4TD drones for automated snowmaking inspections. The drones use thermal imaging to map snow distribution, allowing immediate gun adjustments and reducing energy waste. Snow production typically consumes about...
These Net-Firing Drone Hunters Will Nab Rogue Drones over FIFA Stadiums
Fortem Technologies secured a multimillion‑dollar Department of Homeland Security contract to protect the 2026 FIFA World Cup venues with its net‑based DroneHunter interceptors. The company will deploy TrueView R30 radar, SkyDome command software, and kinetic net‑capture drones, marking its second...
DJI Lands Game-Changing Drone Approval in Brazil
Brazil’s aviation regulator ANAC granted Design Authorization for DJI’s Matrice 3D series and Dock 2, clearing a major regulatory hurdle for beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) operations. The approval validates the system‑level safety architecture, hardware redundancy and software design, allowing enterprises to bypass lengthy certification...
California City Approves $683K Drone Program for Police Emergencies
Santa Ana City Council approved a Drone as a First Responder program, allocating up to $682,900 to purchase five Skydio drones over three years. The drones will be deployed only for clearly defined emergencies such as active crimes, searches, and...