News, deep dives, and analysis — every Washington story, newest first.
A start-up drone company focusing on assisting in preventing wildfires through AI-powered power line scans was the grand prize winner of one of the Pacific Northwest’s most visible entrepreneurship competitions. Voltair, a student company at the University of Washington, won the $25,000 grand prize at the 28th annual Dempsey Startup Competition, beating out 173 other…
University of Washington (UW) students developed an innovative solution to enhance energy grid reliability using self-charging drones designed to
Washington’s wildlife officials are taking to the skies with drones to revolutionize how they track swan and goose populations. The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has initiated a multi-year drone survey program across three counties, according to a report from KIRO7. Massive Bird Populations Drive Innovation The sheer scale of the waterfowl…
A tense standoff in downtown Olympia, Washington, was defused thanks to the strategic deployment of a high-tech drone. The incident, which took place on Thursday, showcased the effectiveness of drone technology in law enforcement operations, according to KOMO News. SWAT Team Deploys Special Drone The Thurston County SWAT team responded to a call for assistance…
A humpback whale missing its tail fluke has been spotted off the coast of Washington state, with drone footage capturing the heartbreaking sight. The whale, named Catalyst, was first observed on July 5 and has since traveled about 370 miles despite its severe injury, according to Live Science. Drone Captures Whale’s Struggle On July 23,…
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have 4 stories for you: Senate NDAA Bill Release, drone show loses 55 drones, the Freefly Astro Prime, and Watts Innovations is transitioning into something else. Senate NDAA Bill Release The Senate version of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was released this week without the…
Freefly Systems, based in Woodinville, Washington, has introduced the Astro Prime drone, aiming to revolutionize the drone industry with its
According to a recent report from the Hillsboro News Times, law enforcement in Beaverton, Oregon, successfully employed drone technology to apprehend an escaped prisoner from Washington state. The incident showcases the growing role of unmanned aerial vehicles in modern policing. The Escape and Initial Encounter Dean Allen Bromley, 32, from The Dalles, had escaped from…
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