News, deep dives, and analysis — every North Carolina story, newest first.
It’s the kind of heart-pounding scene you’d expect to see in a Hollywood movie. A small plane crashes into the ocean, the pilot is trapped in a tiny air pocket, and rescuers have seconds to act. But this was no movie set. This was a real-life drama off the coast of Oak Island, North Carolina,…
In Canton, Georgia, Mike Snyder from Top Gun Drone Services, uses advanced drones to locate missing pets, successfully reuniting many with their owners over the past 15 months. However, his service has faced dangerous encounters, with his drones shot at twice during searches, highlighting the risks of operating in rural areas, according to the Athens…
On June 5, 2025, Walmart announced the expansion of its drone delivery service to Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa, becoming the first retailer to scale drone delivery across five states: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. With over 150,000 successful deliveries since 2021, this move highlights Walmart’s push to revolutionize retail through rapid,…
NV5, a leader in tech-enabled engineering solutions, has landed a two-year, $10 million contract with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to deliver advanced drone-based geospatial services, enhancing infrastructure planning statewide. This deal leverages unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to improve accuracy and efficiency in transportation projects, signaling a growing role for dr
NASA has selected two university teams to develop drone technologies tackling real-world aviation challenges, focusing on hurricane relief and securing air traffic systems against cyber threats. Funded through NASA’s University Student Research Challenge (USRC), each team receives up to $80,000 to advance aeronautics research with practical applications for drone professionals and the aviation ind
In a groundbreaking move for local logistics, DoorDash and Wing have introduced drone delivery in Charlotte, North Carolina, marking the city’s first foray into aerial food transport. Starting today, customers near The Arboretum Shopping Center can order from local favorites like Curry Junction and national chains like Panera Bread, with deliveries arriving in as little…
When Hurricane Helene ravaged Asheville, North Carolina, in 2024, floodwaters turned streets into rivers, cut power, and isolated communities. Amid the chaos, the Asheville Police Department’s deployment of 13 DJI Docks became a lifeline, revolutionizing emergency response with real-time aerial intelligence. Aerial Eyes in Unreachable Places Helene’s floods made traditional response methods nearly
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A has introduced drone technology as part of its comprehensive approach to analyzing and improving drive-through operations. The company dispatches specialist teams to study traffic patterns and operations across its more than 3,000 restaurants, using drones to capture aerial footage of vehicle flow and service efficiency, reports the WSJ. Technical Implementation The compa
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