New Dock 3 & Drone, Emergency Bill to Ban Drones, Comment on ANPRM, & LEDA Calls Out AUVSI

Welcome to your Weekly UAS News Update! We have four stories for you this week: DJI launches a new Dock 3 and a new drone, Connecticut’s emergency bill banning Chinese drones, your last chance to submit comments to the Department of Commerce ANPRM, and LEDA calls out AUVSI. Let’s get to it.

DJI Launches Dock 3 and Matrice 4D Series

First up, DJI launched the new Dock 3 along with the Matrice 4D and the 4TD, the thermal version. This is the first DJI Dock designed to be used on a vehicle, allowing the drone to launch directly from a mobile platform. The Dock 3 can operate and charge in extreme temperatures ranging from 122°F down to -22°F. I know someone in our circle who’s going to be really happy about this, as they had issues with the Dock 2 in high temperatures. It’s also IP56 rated.

The Matrice 4D includes anti-icing propellers, which is interesting and possibly one of the first times we’ve seen this on drones. Speaking of the Matrice 4D, it’s IP55 rated and offers 54 minutes of flight time and 45 minutes of hover time. Both the 4D and the 4TD come equipped with a wide-angle camera, a 3x zoom camera, a 7x zoom camera, and a laser rangefinder. The thermal version (4TD) includes a near IR light and a 640×512 infrared thermal camera in addition to the other cameras just mentioned.

In conjunction with the release, AVSS, the Canadian parachute manufacturer, announced a parachute for the Matrice 4D. It’s not yet on the FAA’s declaration of compliance list, but the press release indicated it will be FAA approved along with approvals in many other countries, enabling flights over people. The parachute will be available in Q2 of this year. DJI just seems to be pumping out these new devices, as always.

Connecticut’s Emergency Bill to Ban Chinese Drones

Next up, Connecticut’s emergency bill banning Chinese drones has passed both chambers of the state legislature. The bill prohibits state agencies and municipalities from purchasing “covered drones” (i.e., Chinese drones) starting in October 2026, with a ban on operating them beginning in 2028. The legislation also restricts drone flights within 250 feet of critical electrical and other utility infrastructures. Unfortunately, if you’re in Connecticut, there isn’t much you can do at this stage, as the bill is heading to the governor’s desk to be signed.

Last Chance to Comment on Department of Commerce ANPRM

There are only a few days left to make your voice heard. The Department of Commerce’s Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) comment period ends on March 4th. We made an entire video on how to submit your comments or at least get ideas on what to include. Don’t let folks in suits who’ve never flown a drone write the narrative about what our UAS should do. Again, the deadline is March 4th—make sure your voice counts.

LEDA Calls Out AUVSI

The Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA) expressed disappointment regarding an opinion article written by AUVSI President Michael Robbins.

John Beal, President and CEO of LEDA, called Robbins’ op-ed published in DroneLife “overt gaslighting” regarding drone legislation related to China. Beal clarified that LEDA is a platform-agnostic organization whose stance has always been to allow member agencies and pilots to choose the best platforms for them and their communities.

Beal further explained in the letter that he’s witnessed AUVSI representatives testify in support of bans on Chinese drones for public safety agencies across various states. Beal questions Robbins’ understanding of how these bans negatively impact agencies, forcing many to shut down their drone programs entirely. As a result, these agencies lose the ability to save lives or mitigate risks, including protecting elderly citizens or young children who wander off into harsh conditions.

Additionally, Beal cites Robbins’ lack of evidence for his claim that “security vulnerabilities are well documented within the national security community.” Instead, Beal welcomes the mandated study of DJI and Autel drones’ data security stipulated in section 1709 of the 2024 NDAA.

Beal concluded his letter by emphasizing that almost all of LEDA’s 3,200 members are angered by this legislation, seeing it as driven by greed and resulting in diminished public safety capabilities.

On a personal note, I couldn’t agree more with John’s letter. AUVSI’s efforts have not only damaged public safety agencies but have also endangered the livelihoods of drone service providers and enthusiasts nationwide. The Chinese drone ban they’re pushing would leave anyone flying a DJI Mavic, DJI Air, DJI Mini, or equivalent drone with zero options—literally nothing is available in this segment outside of Chinese manufacturers. If this kind of drone ban affects you, I highly recommend politely reaching out to AUVSI leadership to explain its impact on your livelihood. They probably won’t listen, but they need to hear it anyway.

Join us later for the community happy hour, our live Q&A on Monday, and Postflight on Monday in the Premium Community. We’ll see you then!