Welcome to the Weekly UAS News Update. This week, we have four stories for you. First, DJI has released the Mini 4 Pro. We also discuss a potential “country of origin” ban for the DOT, Zipline receiving FAA approval for…
Have you ever imagined a world where drones seamlessly soar above, delivering essential items right to your doorstep? With the FAA’s recent nod to Zipline International, Inc., this is closer than you think! Taking to the Skies Beyond Sight In…
In an interesting twist, Maryland law enforcement uses drones produced by Chinese drone maker DJI, which is not just on a U.S. investment blacklist but has also been barred in four states. As frequent readers of DroneXL will undoubtedly know,…
US Senator John Boozman, a Republican, has teamed up with Democratic Senators Jacky Rosen and Richard Blumenthal to sponsor a bill to increase drone usage. The legislation, known as the Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant Act, proposes the provision of $100…
An incident involving alcohol and an unfounded accusation over a drone flight resulted in Robert Calvin Lewis Jr.’s arrest on May 8th, 2023. The Oak Grove resident faced charges after confronting his neighbor while under the influence, wrongly claiming that…
Zipline, an ambitious drone delivery enterprise, has earned the 25th spot on CNBC’s prestigious Disruptor 50 list this year. With operations spanning seven countries — Rwanda, Ghana, the US, Nigeria, Japan, Kenya, and Côte D’Ivoire — the firm has made…
Welcome to the Weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: DJI loses $279 million in a lawsuit, Autel Robotics is potentially releasing a new drone called the Autel Alpha, an Arkansas country of origin ban…
Florida lawmakers have allocated $25 million to aid Police in replacing their aerial drone fleets following Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration’s Chinese drone ban, that prohibits local governments from using Chinese-made drones earlier this year. Law enforcement agencies can now apply…
A new Arkansas law, Act 525 of 2023, prohibits law enforcement agencies from purchasing small drones from “covered foreign entities,” such as DJI drones, starting in 2027. According to Act 525 of 2023, a “covered foreign entity” is defined as…
In a recent filing, drone delivery company Zipline disclosed a $330 million Series F financing round in April, which is notable in a market where few startups have managed to secure funding at such elevated valuations. Based in South San…
With apologies to Howard Beale, “We’re mad as hell, and we’re not going to take this anymore.” On April 5th, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis approved a change in Florida Statute 934.50, simultaneously flushing over $200 Million in state-purchased drones down…
Drone delivery pioneer, Zipline, revealed its latest aircraft, Platform 2, on Wednesday. Platform 2 combines fixed-wing flight with hovering propellers, allowing a small “droid” to lower packages from 330 feet onto driveways, sidewalks, or other open areas. Since 2016, the…
