Australian drone-startup Swoop Aero has partnered with Skyports to create a UK-wide drone delivery service to transport urgent medical supplies and test kits to remote locations and help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Drone pilot jailed for six months after flying contraband into prison
A drone pilot was jailed for six months after flying contraband, including phones, into a prison in Perth, in the United Kingdom. Police found the drone after searching a bakery site near the prison facility.
Bryan Texas Utilities uses drones to survey power line easements
Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU) uses drones to survey power line easements along Texas Avenue in Bryan, TX, from January 4th and will run through January 8th.
Homeland Security warns Chinese tech is “a grave threat’ to data security
In a Business Advisory, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warns that technology and services from China form “a grave threat” to the data security of American businesses and the U.S. government.
Search missing Texas State student that included drones suspended
Germany postpones registration requirement drone pilots for four months
The German aviation authority LBA has postponed the upcoming registration requirement for drone pilots by four months. According to the European regulation, which comes into force on December 31, all pilots of drones and model airplanes must be registered from that day before flying. However, the LBA states that this is “technically and administratively not possible.”
DJI Go 4 App update – Version 4.3.40
Yesterday, DJI released a small update to their DJI Go 4 App. We are now up to Version 4.3.40 for iOS. This latest release resolves some crashing issues to improve the stability of the app. However, more importantly, it also adds Local Data Mode to the DJI Go 4 App.
Sky Drone joins Nvidia incubator program
Moth-killing drone hunts and destroys unwanted insects in greenhouses
Moth control is a high priority for Dutch greenhouse growers because of the damage the caterpillars cause to the crop. Sure, you can address this problem with pesticides, but that is not the preferred method for various reasons. The Dutch company PATS is developing a unique solution in the form of moth-killing drones.
Are we witnessing the collapse of drone registration?
We are in familiar territory once again as drones are sure to be a hot item as gifts this Christmas season. One can only expect that we’ll see an influx of new drone users take to the skies after the annual visit from Santa Claus. Five years ago, in 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that it would be incredibly important to require drones to be registered and rolled out a bribe offering free registration through February of 2016 else have to pay $5.00 for registration thereafter. Many did register at that time and since then industry leaders have tried diligently to spread the word that drones over 0.55 lbs (250 grams) must be registered. But now we are faced with registrations expiring and what we are seeing is suggests that drone operators may not be taking registrations as seriously any longer.
Political candidate shoots at ‘Chinese communist drones’ flying over her property in Texas
In a video on social media, political candidate Shelley Luther (R-TX) shoots at “Chinese communist drones” flying over her property. The video is made to promote Luther’s candidacy for the Texas State Senate, and in it, she claims that Drew Springer (R-TX) wrote a bill “to let Chinese drones conduct sweeping surveillance in Texas on our critical infrastructure, even thermal and infrared images of our homes.”
DroneXL and Dronewatch partner to bring you more international drone news!
DroneXL has partnered with the Dutch drone news website Dronewatch to bring you more international drone news. A selection of Dronewatch articles will be made available in English to an international audience. Conversely, articles from DroneXL will also appear on Dronewatch. The first articles have now been exchanged back and forth.
Drone educators discouraged by “Irish route” to free EU drone certificate
From December 31, everyone who will fly a drone over 250 grams must have a European drone certificate. In the Netherlands, you cannot go anywhere for the required training. But it is already possible to obtain the A1 / A3 basic certificate via the Irish aviation authority IAA; free of charge. Dutch drone educators see the shortcut with sorrow and believe that an uneven playing field has emerged.
DJI FPV drone leaked photos on Twitter
We had heard it was coming. We knew it was coming. We had seen some leaked photos and a teaser video from DJI. Well, as of today we can very sure the DJI FPV drone is coming as these leaked photos confirm. Check it out!
See also this latest post with a photo of the DJI FPV Drone in action.
Drone drug drop foiled by Australian prison guards
As a drone drug drop that took place at the Barwon Prison in Australia in October is still under investigation, another contraband delivery by unmanned aircraft happened at Melbourne’s Port Phillip Prison.
Drones help Goldman Sachs close billion-dollar M&A deals
Due to coronavirus travel restrictions, investment banks such as Goldman Sachs are using drones to provide clients with a bird’s eye view of the companies they’re bidding on, says Stephen Feldgoise, the bank’s global co-head of mergers and acquisitions.
Wing drones to deliver hardware supplies to tradesmen
Tradesmen in Australia have urged Wing Aviation to start delivering hardware supplies, such as screws and nails, to their job sites by Wing drone.
Recreational drones used by Taliban to drop bombs
Drones deliver thousands of jobs and $15B to Australian GDP in over next 20 years
Deloitte Access Economics forecasts that recreational and commercial drones could deliver thousands of jobs and as much as $15 billion to the Australian Gross Domestic Product in the next 20 years.