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.
On May 1, 2025, SiFly, a Santa Clara-based startup, unveiled its Q12 drone, a game-changer poised to rival DJI’s dominance in the commercial drone market. With a 90-mile range and three-hour flight time, the Q12 promises to redefine long-range missions for drone professionals and public safety teams, offering a U.S.-made, NDAA-compliant alternative amid growing concerns…
In a groundbreaking move for public safety, Skydio has partnered with the Atlanta Police Foundation to launch America’s first Drone as First Responder (DFR) Center of Excellence at the newly opened Atlanta Public Safety Training Center (PSTC). Announced on Skydio’s blog, this state-of-the-art facility equips first responders—police, fire, EMS, and E-911—with cutting-edge drone technology to…
In rural Bihar, women like Sangita Devi and Kajol Kumari are transforming agriculture and their lives through the Namo Drone Didi program. Launched in 2023 by the Indian government, this initiative equips women with drones to boost crop yields and incomes, blending cutting-edge technology with economic empowerment. Precision Farming Takes Flight The Drone Didis use…
On April 28, 2025, a Reuters drone hovering over the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, recorded a chilling scene: 31 men in red and orange jumpsuits formed the letters “SOS” in a dirt courtyard, pleading for help amid fears of deportation to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison. This vivid distress signal, reportedly captured 200…
A daring attempt to smuggle methamphetamine into a South Carolina federal prison using a drone ended in a spectacular failure when the device crashed, leading to multiyear prison sentences for the trio involved, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The incident highlights the growing challenge of drones in prison contraband schemes and raises questions about…
When a parking garage collapsed in lower Manhattan two years ago, an FDNY robotic dog equipped with cameras bravely navigated the unstable rubble, sparing firefighters from a deadly risk. This life-saving technology is now at the heart of a groundbreaking three-day training program by the FDNY and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),…
The Turkish military has inducted the BAHA drone into its inventory, enhancing its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Developed by Havelsan, this vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platform has already seen export success in Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East, as reported by The Defense Post. Its induction strengthens Turkey’s defense posture with…
At Brazil’s Agrishow 2025, DJI Agriculture unveiled its fourth annual Agricultural Drone Industry Insight Report, spotlighting a global surge in drone-powered farming that’s reshaping agriculture with precision and sustainability. With 400,000 DJI ag drones deployed worldwide by late 2024—a 90% leap since 2020—farmers are saving water, cutting emissions, and boosting yields, proving drones are no…
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