News, deep dives, and analysis — every Illinois story, newest first.
The U.S. Navy’s first operational MQ-25A Stingray has completed its first autonomous taxi test, marking a key milestone on the path toward flight operations, as Boeing Defense and Defence Blog confirmed the event on January 30. During the test, air vehicle pilots initiated movement from the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System. The aircraft then…
Lace is a large format quadcopter frame that folds down small enough to fit in a backpack, while keeping the look and function of modern foldable
The College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, has been awarded $4 million in federal funding to expand its aviation and drone education programs, a move aimed squarely at fixing growing workforce shortages across the U.S. aviation sector, as Aviation Web reports. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement…
Those early drones were rough. Cameras shook. Batteries died fast. But SHARK kept improving as drones improved. German models helped first
Cutting-edge unmanned aircraft technology has arrived in suburban Chicago, with the Oak Brook Police Department becoming the first in Illinois to launch a fully autonomous drone as a first responder tool. According to a WLS report, the drone—developed by Flock Safety—can respond faster than patrol cars across the village, raising both public safety potential and…
A thermal drone deployment led to the successful rescue of a missing Bernese Mountain Dog in Crystal Lake, Illinois, demonstrating the growing importance of drone technology in search and rescue operations. The two-year-old dog named Charlie was discovered on Sunday after spending nearly seven days exposed to winter conditions, having survived despite sustaining injuries from…
A young entrepreneur in rural Cass County, Illinois, is transforming agricultural spraying operations with his drone business. Isaac Strubbe, at just 20 years old, runs Strubbe Drone Spraying LLC, offering precision chemical application services while also serving as a DJI dealer, according to a report from the Journal-Courier. From Farm Kid to Drone Expert After…
Amazon is gearing up to launch drone delivery in Phoenix’s West Valley as part of its expanding presence in the Arizona metro area, according to recent reporting from Supermarket News. Drone Delivery Coming to West Valley The retail giant’s ambitious plans for drone delivery in Phoenix’s West Valley are set to take flight before the…
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