Drone Research
China's Laser Drone Charger Hits 38% Efficiency In The Lab
Chinese researchers built a laser receiver that converts light and waste heat into electricity at 38.49% efficiency, enough to spin a drone propeller.
Rafael Suárez
Rafael Suárez is a drone journalist and content creator with more than 20 years behind the lens. He began in film photography in 1998, moved to digital in 2005, and has been flying and filming with drones since 2016. As a commercial videographer he has produced work for premium brands including BMW, Porsche, and MINI, and his documentary work champions a #flysafe mentality across the industry. Based in Quito, Ecuador, he covers drone news, hardware, and the policy and business shaping the industry for DroneXL, and shares reviews and cinematic flight on his YouTube channel. A dad and a lifelong aviation nerd, he's happiest when something is in the air.
1,179
Articles
144
Beats covered
2025
Writing since
Aug 18
Latest story
Drone Delivery
Walmart Already Owns The Drone Network Amazon Wants
Wing and Walmart launched drone delivery for more than 50,000 Central Florida addresses, extending a store network Amazon cannot easily match.
Search & Rescue
Colorado Rescue Drone Talks Hikers Through A Lightning Storm
A camera-and-speaker drone reached two stranded hikers near Loveland Pass before ground rescuers could, guiding them through a lightning storm.
Counter-Drone
AT&T Turns Its 5G Towers Into A Drone Radar
AT&T and Ericsson used three commercial 5G cell sites near AT&T Stadium to detect and track drones without radar or new hardware.
FAA
FBI Drone Crackdown Snares Houston Church Videographer
A two-minute DJI Mavic 3 flight to film a Houston church has become a federal case carrying up to a year in prison.
Santa Ana DFR
Santa Ana Mayor Will Demo Police Drones Over Coffee on August 1
Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua and police will host a free public demonstration of the city's new Drone as First Responder program on August 1, with privacy and oversight questions still following its 4-3 approval.
Flyde Beluga
Flyde Starts $57 Drone Delivery to French Riviera Yachts on August 1
Flyde will launch drone deliveries from Port Gallice to yachts anchored off the French Riviera on August 1, carrying up to 17.6 pounds by winch for $57 per flight.
DJI Avata 2
DJI Avata 2 Guides Escaped Angus Bull Out of I-40 Ravine
A DJI Avata 2 helped Foothills Aerial Services guide an escaped Angus bull out of a kudzu-covered ravine near Interstate 40 in Iredell County, North Carolina.
— The DroneXL Briefing · Free
The drone industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.
One email with the drone news that matters — DJI, FAA, public safety, and everything in between, straight from the newsroom. No spam, no fluff.
Free forever. Unsubscribe in one click.
8,400+
Articles published
340+
Beats & desks
2020
Covering drones since
100%
Independent