News, deep dives, and analysis — every California story, newest first.
A Culver City man has been sentenced for flying a drone that collided with a firefighting aircraft battling the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, causing significant damage and temporarily grounding the critical water-dropping plane, according to NBC LA. Peter Tripp Akemann, 57, a computer game developer, pleaded guilty in February to a federal class-A misdemeanor…
Swedish startup Jetson has officially delivered its first-ever Jetson One eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft to a customer.
But now, biologists are deploying a wild new weapon in the American West: drones armed with the rock and roll fury of AC/DC. Yes, you read that
The U.S. Navy’s ambitious effort to build a fleet of autonomous drone boats capable of countering China in the Pacific is struggling with technical failures and internal turmoil, according to a detailed Reuters report. Recent tests have resulted in collisions, software malfunctions, and operational accidents, while the Navy’s acquisition program has been rocked by leadership…
The Oceanside Police Department has officially launched a Drone as First Responder (DFR) pilot program, aiming to slash response times from an average of five minutes down to just 60–90 seconds. The 13-month initiative, approved by the Oceanside City Council, is funded by a $264,816 state grant and is designed to improve officer safety, enhance…
For two days, only roaring water and loneliness kept rescue at bay—until a drone rescue changed everything. In the rugged Sequoia National Forest
What if a quick drone tap could decode whale songs? Researchers off Dominica just nailed it, and it’s a game-changer for us pilots. In the Caribbean waters near Dominica, researchers deploy drones to gently press sensors onto sperm whales’ backs, enabling audio recordings of their communications with minimal disruption. This innovative “tap-and-go” method, detailed in…
L3Harris Technologies Inc. has joined forces with air taxi developer Joby Aviation to create a new military variant of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with flight tests slated for later this year, reports Bloomberg. This partnership highlights a growing trend where commercial eVTOL innovators adapt their technology for defense purposes, potentially accelerating unmanned…
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