$12M for Inspired Flight, Anzu V3.8, ACSL’s Controller & Payload, Mini 5 Pro Price Leaks

Welcome to the weekly UAS news update. There are four stories this week: Inspired Flight has secured significant funding, Anzu Robotics released version 3.8, Japanese drone maker ACSL announced new gear, and there’s a pricing leak for the DJI Mini 5 Pro. Let’s get to it.

Inspired Flight funding

American manufacturer Inspired Flight Technologies has raised $12 million in Series A funding, led by Tri-Valley Ventures, to accelerate new product releases and, more importantly, scale manufacturing in the United States. Inspired Flight is known for NDAA-compliant and Blue UAS–certified platforms like the IF1200 hexacopter and the IF800 “Tomcat,” used by government agencies and commercial operators for mapping, inspections, and public safety. As everyone knows, building manufacturing capabilities takes time and capital, so this is a strong step forward.

Anzu Robotics v3.8

Anzu Robotics has introduced version 3.8 for the Raptor series. The update adds augmented reality overlays, including street names and custom airspace, along with bug fixes, map layer customization, and other map upgrades. It’s great to see these systems receiving steady improvements—well done to the team at Anzu.

Commercial UAV Expo

This is the last chance to join at Commercial UAV Expo next week starting Tuesday—setup begins Monday. Pilot Institute is hosting three workshops. On Tuesday, join Vic Moss, Amy Wiegand, Jared Janisk, and Russ for a deep dive into regulations, technology, and business strategies shaping the drone industry. On Wednesday, Russ is teaching how to build a drone business. On Thursday, Jared is teaching his professional mapping process. Seats are limited—Wednesday has only three spots left—and they’re filling quickly. Visit pilotinstitute.com/cuav for details and to reserve a seat.

ACSL controller and payload

Another company is stepping up to provide more NDAA-compliant options for professionals: ACSL, Japan’s leading manufacturer, announced a new smart controller, an upgraded thermal payload, and a partnership with Teledyne FLIR. The new Taitan smart controller is NDAA-compliant with a 7-inch integrated display rated at 1500 nits and an IP54 ingress protection rating. The enhanced payload is now ITAR-free and features the Teledyne FLIR Hadron 640R module in a dual-sensor package: a 64 MP optical camera with 20x zoom alongside a 640 × 512 Boson radiometric thermal camera. ACSL says FLIR’s MSX fusion technology—overlaying visual details on thermal imagery—will be supported by year-end. More NDAA-compliant choices benefit public safety and infrastructure operators, and more competition drives innovation for everyone.

DJI Mini 5 Pro leak

A European online store allegedly listed the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo with the RC 2 controller for €1,299, the same price as the current Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo. The leak points to a potential 1-inch sensor and omnidirectional obstacle avoidance at that price, which would be compelling if confirmed. Accessory leaks also appear in line with current models, and with animation videos surfacing, rumors point to a mid-September release. It’s still unclear whether it will reach the U.S. market, and that might not happen. For deeper opinions on these stories—and a few that didn’t make the cut—join Postflight in the premium community.

That’s it for this week. If attending Commercial UAV Expo, come by the booth on the main aisle to the left—front and center—and say hi. See everyone next week for another news update. There is no live show on Monday—remember, no live on Monday. See you next Friday.