Washington
Washington state drone news: regulations, industry developments, innovative uses, events, and the impact on businesses and communities in the state.
Oregon House Passes Strict Drone Interference Law, Escalating Penalties to Felony Status
In a unanimous vote, the Oregon House has approved House Bill 3426, a measure that significantly strengthens penalties for drone operators who disrupt emergency response operations, elevating intentional interference to a Class C felony. Reported by KOBI-TV NBC5, the legislation,…
Secret Service Counter-Drone Tech Sparks Safety Concerns at Reagan National Airport
On Monday, Democratic Representatives Rick Larsen and Bennie Thompson raised urgent questions about the U.S. Secret Service’s deployment of counter-drone technology near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), citing its role in triggering erroneous air traffic alerts last month. In…
Flying Sun 1000 Drone Illuminates Night Operations with 300,000 Lumens
A new drone system from Freefly Systems, the Flying Sun 1000, promises to transform nighttime operations by delivering stadium-level illumination from the air. Equipped with 288 high-power LEDs, this quadcopter generates 300,000 lumens, enabling construction, emergency response, and filmmaking in…
Self-Charging Drones to Monitor Power Lines: University of Washington Students Win $15,000 Prize
A team of University of Washington (UW) students has developed an innovative solution to enhance energy grid reliability using self-charging drones designed to monitor power lines. Known as Team Voltair, they secured the $15,000 grand prize at the UW’s Environmental…
NASA Advances Drone Safety with New Hazard Detection System
NASA is stepping up drone safety by testing an advanced software designed to predict airborne hazards before they occur, potentially revolutionizing drone operations across industries. The In-Time Aviation Safety Management System (IASMS) aims to proactively monitor and mitigate risks, enhancing…
DJI Challenges US Security Agencies in NDAA Deadline Push
Chinese drone maker DJI has formally requested five US national security agencies to evaluate its products ahead of a critical December 31, 2025 deadline established by National Defense Authorization Act provisions. In a letter sent to the Department of Homeland…
Dublin Police Launch Autonomous Drone First Responder Program with 90-Second Emergency Response Times
The city of Dublin, Ohio is setting a new benchmark for emergency response with the deployment of four autonomous drones capable of reaching incidents within 90 seconds. According to The Columbus Dispatch, the Drone First Responders program will be the…
Secret Service and Navy Counter-Drone Tests Trigger False Collision Warnings at Reagan National Airport
Improper counter-drone testing conducted by the Secret Service and US Navy created false collision warnings for commercial aircraft approaching Washington, DC’s Ronald Reagan National Airport on March 1, according to congressional testimony revealed on March 27. The incident raises serious…
DJI Mavic 4 Release Date & Pricing, Battery For Extreme Cold, Missing Person Found, & FAA Nominee
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have four stories for you this week. First, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro launch date, specs, and pricing have been leaked. Second, a research team developed a battery that lets drones fly…
DJI’s Rise: Frank Wang’s Dream to Drone Empire
What began as a Chinese boy’s dream to simplify flying helicopters in the 1990s spiraled into DJI, a global drone empire that reshaped aerial photography, surveillance, and modern warfare. From a forgotten 2005 customs bust in Japan to the battlefields…
Drones After Dark: A Raw Conversation with Kyle Nordfors
Buckle up for a no-holds-barred dive into the wild world of drones with hosts Bobby Ouyang (SkyeBrowse) and Luis Figueiredo, joined by search-and-rescue ace Kyle Nordfors (Weber County SAR), in the latest episode of their fifth season. This trio doesn’t…
Drone Footage Reveals Narwhals’ Surprising Tusk Play in the Arctic
In a pioneering study, researchers have leveraged drones to capture unprecedented footage of narwhals using their iconic tusks in surprising ways. Published in February 2025 in Frontiers in Marine Science and covered by The New York Times, this work reveals…