Every firmware drop, every FCC filing, every leak out of Shenzhen. DJI is the most-covered drone maker on DroneXL — this is the desk that watches them.
This week’s Pilot Institute update covers a Colorado drone pilot facing federal charges after grounding wildfire aircraft, a new FCC request for comment that could restrict some military-grade foreign-made drone imports, and the National Press Photographers Association’s warning that the FAA’s Section 2209 rule could create permanent restrictions with no clear way to challenge them.
DJI confirms the Osmo Pocket 4P worldwide launch for July 30, 2026 at 12:00 GMT. The dual-lens gimbal camera has no US path under the FCC Covered List.
The FCC extended Covered List exemptions for trusted drones through January 1, 2028, but in the same move proposed cutting off imports and sales of foreign-made thermal, LiDAR, docking, spraying, swarming, defense-integrated, and 55-pound-plus drones. That combination gives approved U.S.-aligned manufacturers more runway while putting public safety, agriculture, and survey fleets on notice.
After two months of flying and editing with DJI's Avata 360, Josh Spires says the 455g hybrid FPV drone gets the core pitch right: capture the full sphere, frame the shot later, and still keep a conventional single-lens mode when you want it.
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. This week: the FCC moves against eight alleged DJI front companies, San Francisco police drone feeds were exposed online for months, BRINC raises $125 million, and Duke Health is now flying defibrillators to real 911 calls.
Leaked photos and an earlier FCC filing suggest DJI is testing an Osmo 360 II prototype with a larger battery, pointing to a late-stage refresh of its 360 camera lineup.
DJI promoted its Mic Mini wireless microphone on TikTok with an AI-generated presenter, then deleted the ad after creators pushed back. The campaign turned a product promotion aimed at creators into a debate about trust and whether the demonstration itself could be believed.
DJI has released Avata 360 firmware v01.00.0500 after reports that the earlier v01.00.0300 update caused black-screen video loss in FPV goggles, a failure that hit the one system FPV pilots cannot afford to lose.
Firmware drops, FCC filings, leaks, rumors — the DJI desk is the busiest one in the DroneXL newsroom.
