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Rafael Suárez

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.

1,178
Articles
144
Beats covered
2025
Writing since
Aug 13
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Prison Drone Drops Turn Night Skies Into Smuggling Lanes
Contraband

Prison Drone Drops Turn Night Skies Into Smuggling Lanes

A single drone drop at South Carolina’s Lee Correctional Institution recently made national headlines, not because of technical sophistication, but because of its grocery list, as WISTV reports. Crab legs, steak, Old Bay seasoning, and marijuana were delivered neatly from the night sky, a reminder that modern drone misuse does not always involve espionage or…

DJI Matrice 400 Update Fixes the Boring but Critical Stuff
DJI

DJI Matrice 400 Update Fixes the Boring but Critical Stuff

Enterprise drone pilots do not wake up hoping for flashy animations or surprise features. They wake up hoping their drone powers on, knows where it is, and does not do anything weird near expensive infrastructure. DJI seems to understand that mood with its latest firmware update for the Matrice 400. This update does not try…

DJI Lito Rumors Hint at a New Lightweight Drone for 2026
DJI Rumors

DJI Lito Rumors Hint at a New Lightweight Drone for 2026

DJI usually introduces new drones with glossy trailers, dramatic lighting, and enough slow motion propeller footage to convince you this thing will change your life. DJI Lito did not get that treatment. Instead, it appeared quietly in FCC documents, like a note slipped under the door that simply reads, “Approved,” and then disappears into the…

DJI Mavic 4 Pro Firmware Won’t Fix Your Flying
DJI

DJI Mavic 4 Pro New Firmware Won’t Fix Your Flying

If you own a DJI Mavic 4 Pro and just installed the latest firmware, congratulations. Your drone just got smoother. Now comes the awkward part. The footage still looks shaky? That part might be on you. DJI just rolled out firmware v01.00.0500 for its flagship folding drone, and while it does not add fireworks or…

Drones and Waves Reveal a Smarter Way to Measure Ocean Currents
Drone Research

Drones and Waves Reveal a Smarter Way to Measure Ocean Currents

Measuring how ocean water moves near the surface is more important than most people realize. Surface currents affect swimmer safety, oil spill response, pollution tracking, and even how coastlines change over time. The problem is that many traditional ways of measuring these currents are expensive, slow, or tied to fixed locations. Researchers at Texas A&M…

Drones, live feeds and LPRs power Paterson’s new RTOC
Skydio

Drones, live feeds and LPRs power Paterson’s new RTOC

Paterson, New Jersey has spent years under a microscope, following repeated allegations of corruption and excessive force that ultimately led to state oversight in 2023. Now, state officials say the city’s police department is entering a new phase, one built less on promises and more on screens, sensors, and software. Earlier this month, the Paterson…

Princeton Police Launches DJI Matrice 4T Drone Program
DJI

Princeton Police Launches DJI Matrice 4T Drone Program

The Princeton Police Department just added serious eyes to the sky. The department has taken delivery of a DJI Matrice 4T, one of DJI’s most capable public safety drones, and officially launched a new Unmanned Aircraft System program aimed at improving officer safety and community protection, as WVVA reports. This is not a hobby drone…

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8,400+
Articles published
340+
Beats & desks
2020
Covering drones since
100%
Independent