Minnesota
Minnesota Drones: Stay updated on drone regulations, news, and trends in Minnesota. Discover how drones are impacting the state’s industries.
Asheville Police Drone Flies 20×30-Foot American Flag At NFL Stadium, Claims League Record
The Asheville Police Department’s drone unit flew what they claim is the largest American flag ever carried by a drone at an NFL stadium during the Carolina Panthers’ first responders’ day on November 9, 2025, according to local reports. The…
Portland, Maine City Council Rejects Police Drone Program Despite Search-And-Rescue Benefits
Portland, Maine’s City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to reject the police department’s proposal to purchase a $45,000 drone for search-and-rescue operations and accident reconstruction, marking another rare example of sustained citizen resistance to police drone adoption as most U.S.…
Skydio Paraverse Lets Pilots Train On Virtual Drones Before Touching Real Hardware
Skydio has launched Paraverse, a free browser-based simulation platform that replicates the company’s entire drone operations ecosystem, allowing pilots and program managers to train, test integrations, and build missions in a virtual environment before deploying actual hardware. The platform represents…
Police To Get Counter Drone Powers For 2026 World Cup
The U.S. faces one of its most significant airspace security tests in recent years as the 2026 World Cup brings millions of international fans to 11 host cities nationwide. Drones are already listed as one of the top threats by…
Brooklyn Park Approves $4.6M Drone First Responder Program With Skydio After Legislator Killing
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota’s City Council unanimously approved a $4.6 million expansion of its police technology contract to implement a Drone as First Responder program, bringing the department’s total 10-year agreement with Axon Enterprise to $12.4 million. The November 10 vote…
University of Minnesota Drone Swarms Map Wildfire Smoke in 3D to Predict Fire Behavior
University of Minnesota researchers successfully completed their 11th field trial of autonomous AI-powered drone swarms that analyze wildfire smoke patterns in three dimensions, marking a significant step toward deploying academic research for real-world emergency response as climate change intensifies fire…
AI-Powered Police Drones Reach 1,500 US Departments As Landmark Privacy Lawsuit Tests Legal Limits
Police and sheriff’s departments across America have rapidly embraced AI-powered drones for everything from pursuits and investigations to emergency response, with approximately 1,500 agencies now operating drone programs by late 2024—a 150% increase since 2018. But as departments deploy increasingly…
Minnetonka First Responder Arrives in 60 Seconds. It’s a Drone.
When you call 911, the minutes it takes for police or paramedics to arrive can feel like an eternity. But in the city of Minnetonka, Minnesota, a new first responder is arriving on scene in seconds, and it doesn’t drive…
Black Hawks Get Drone-Launching Superpowers
Hold onto your flight sticks, DroneXL pilots—the U.S. Army’s UH-60 Black Hawks are morphing into drone-slinging sky titans! Thanks to a $43 million contract with Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, announced on August 20, 2025, these iconic choppers will be…
How Drones Played a Key Role in Capturing a Minnesota Manhunt Suspect
Drones proved instrumental in a high-stakes manhunt in Minnesota, helping law enforcement capture a suspect after a two-day search involving over 100 officers. The New York Times reported that Vance Boelter, 57, was apprehended late Sunday night, June 15, 2025,…
John Deere Acquires Sentera to Boost Drone-Powered Agriculture
John Deere announced its acquisition of Sentera, a leader in drone-based remote imagery solutions based in St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 23rd, 2025, marking a significant step in advancing precision agriculture. This move integrates Sentera’s high-resolution drone technology into John…
Multiple Drones Spotted Near Prairie Island Nuclear Plant Raise Security Concerns
Multiple drones were observed flying near the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant in Minnesota on January 8, 2025, prompting responses from local law enforcement agencies but leaving questions about the operators’ identities and intentions unanswered. The incident involved four to…