Haye Kesteloo is the Editor in Chief and Founder of DroneXL.co, where he covers all drone-related news, DJI rumors and writes drone reviews, and of EVXL.co, for all electric vehicle news. Haye can be reached at haye @ dronexl.co or @hayekesteloo.
In Sonoma County, California, residents like Nichola Schmitz face hefty fines—$25,000 paid and $10,000 more pending—after county drones with high-powered cameras scoured their properties without warrants. A new lawsuit from the ACLU of Northern California alleges that Permit Sonoma’s drone program, which has flown over 700 missions and captured 5,600 images, violates privacy rights by…
The U.S. humanoid robot sector, poised for growth, risks repeating the drone industry’s missteps, where Chinese manufacturers like DJI captured the market with low-cost, user-friendly products. As companies like Agility Robotics and Apptronik advance their robots for factory and warehouse use, experts warn that without strategic protections, Chinese subsidies and data-driven AI could dominate this
On June 25, 2025, U.S. Army soldiers at Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany successfully dropped live M67 grenades from a Skydio X10D drone, marking a significant advancement in integrating small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into battlefield tactics. The test, conducted by the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee Army National Guard, demonstrated the potential…
New York City is poised to bolster its airspace security with a cutting-edge drone defense system. The NYPD is in discussions with Maryland-based American Robotics to deploy the Iron Drone Raider System, a technology designed to detect, track, and intercept rogue drones using net-firing drones, enhancing public safety at large events like parades. New York…
In a breathtaking display of drone technology, DJI’s Mavic 4 Pro has captured a continuous aerial journey from the North Col Glacier to the summit of Mount Everest, reaching 29,032 feet (8,849 meters). Shared on DJI’s official YouTube channel, this video showcases the drone’s ability to navigate extreme altitudes and harsh conditions, offering drone enthusiasts…
Make. Art. Now. has uncovered a hidden feature in the DJI Mavic 4 Pro: Dual Gain ISO Fusion, achieving 17.7 stops of dynamic range in D-Log M. This unadvertised technology, found through extensive testing, blends two sensor readouts for superior highlight recovery and low-noise shadows, surpassing standard HDR methods. After watching their video below, it…
The European Union is sounding the alarm on a potential Russian military threat, urging member states to prepare for large-scale drone production to bolster defenses. EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius emphasized the need for millions of drones to match Russia’s growing unmanned arsenal, citing lessons from Ukraine’s battlefield innovations. Sky News reported that this call…
Indian drone manufacturer Raphe mPhibr has raised $100 million in a Series B funding round to advance its research and production of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), driven by surging demand for drones in battlefield operations and border surveillance. Led by General Catalyst, the investment highlights India’s push to strengthen its domestic drone industry amid…
One email with the drone news that matters — DJI, FAA, public safety, and everything in between, straight from the newsroom. No spam, no fluff.
