Colorado
Drone news in Colorado: regulations, industry developments, innovative uses, events, and the impact on businesses and communities in the state.
XTI Aerospace Acquires Drone Nerds for $40M as Unusual Machines Invests $25M in DJI Ban Bet
XTI Aerospace closed a $40 million acquisition of Drone Nerds and secured a $25 million strategic investment from Unusual Machines on November 10, 2025, positioning both companies to capitalize on potential Chinese drone restrictions just 43 days before a critical…
DJI Zenmuse L3 LiDAR, Drone Maker in Lawsuit, New Autel Releases, & Drone Crash Wildfire
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have four stories for you this week. DJI launches the new Zenmuse L3 LiDAR, which is quite impressive. A drone maker trade secret lawsuit—well, we’ll see how that unfolds. New products from…
Large Remotely Piloted Experimental Aircraft Crash Sparks 83-Acre Colorado Wildfire as Lithium Batteries Intensify Blaze
An experimental remote-controlled aircraft crashed near Calhan, Colorado on October 30, igniting an 83-acre wildfire that forced evacuations and highlighted the growing fire risks posed by lithium battery-powered drones in wildfire-prone regions. The 6-foot wingspan aircraft, operated by a commercial…
Firefighting Drone Startup Seneca Secures Record $60M to Deploy Autonomous Suppression System
California-based startup Seneca has emerged from stealth mode with $60 million in funding to deploy AI-powered autonomous firefighting drones capable of suppressing wildfires within minutes of detection. The round, believed to be the largest early-stage investment in wildfire defense technology,…
Merrimac Police Drone Locates Missing 8-Year-Old in Massachusetts Woods Within an Hour
An 8-year-old boy who walked away from his home in Merrimac, Massachusetts, was safely located within 72 minutes Thursday morning thanks to the department’s Drone Unit. Officer William David operated the drone that spotted the child in a wooded area…
Police Drone Led to a Wig-Wearing Thief’s “Bad Hair Day”
A thief in Castle Rock, Colorado, thought he had a clever plan. He donned a blonde wig, walked into a store, and walked out with a haul of expensive tools. But he didn’t count on the Castle Rock Police Department’s…
Drones and AI are the Newest Weapons in Wildfires
As wildfires rage with increasing ferocity across the American West, firefighters are being pushed to their limits. But they have a powerful new ally in this fight, a dynamic duo that is changing the game: drones and artificial intelligence. The…
Part 108 NPRM, Update on Drone Collision in TX, and Major Leaks on DJI Mini 5 Pro
Welcome to Your Weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. The FAA has finally unveiled its proposed rule for beyond visual line of sight operations. Also, we have an update on a story about a…
Drones Plant 50,000 Trees Daily to Restore Canada’s Wildfire-Ravaged Forests
In northern Quebec, where wildfires scorched 44 million acres (18 million hectares) in 2023, a cutting-edge drone initiative is accelerating reforestation. Flash Forest, a Canadian company, deploys large aerial drones to bombard charred landscapes with seed capsules, planting black spruces…
Keep Colorado Wild Pass Boosts Search and Rescue Drone Funding
The Keep Colorado Wild Pass is making waves in the drone community by channeling funds to enhance search and rescue (SAR) operations across the state, highlighted by a pioneering drone conference in Denver. On May 31, 2025, Douglas County Search…
Parker Police Drone Rescues Missing Child in Colorado
On May 30, 2025, Parker Police in Colorado used a DJI Matrice drone to locate a missing child, demonstrating the value of aerial technology in search-and-rescue missions. After ground crews failed to find the child in a remote area, the…
Drones for Wildfire Mitigation: Aerial Fire Risk Assessments Expand in Aurora, Colorado
With wildfire seasons getting longer and more destructive in the American West, preventive wildfire prevention is more and more becoming a necessity. In Aurora, Colorado—where over 92,000 properties face some level of wildfire risk—Rocky Mountain UAV Industries is using drone…