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A computer engineering student at St. Mary’s University is leveraging artificial intelligence to create data that teaches drones to mimic bird-like flight patterns, potentially revolutionizing extended missions like search and rescue by addressing power limitations. Joshua Riojas, 22, draws on machine learning to help unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) stay aloft longer using natural air currents.…
The Laredo Police Department has launched a drone program that dispatches autonomous aircraft to high-priority 911 calls, enabling them to deliver Narcan during overdoses, provide live footage to officers, and arrive at scenes in less than three minutes. This initiative expands the department’s use of drones beyond traditional surveillance and crime scene tasks into real-time…
Drones equipped with artificial intelligence now enable Permian Basin operators to detect methane leaks in real time, accelerating repair processes and supporting environmental and safety goals. This development builds on partnerships like Chevron’s collaboration with Percepto, which began last year to integrate autonomous drones into field operations. Strategic Partnerships Drive Adoption Operato
Threod Systems, an Estonian drone manufacturer, is considering a sale to capitalize on the rapid growth in demand for unmanned aircraft driven by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to Bloomberg. Rapid Revenue Growth and Customer Base Threod Systems achieved €38 million ($44 million) in sales for 2024, marking an 87% increase from the previous…
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have five stories for you this week: the Department of Commerce launching an investigation into UAS and component imports, lawmakers calling for an expedited audit of DJI and Autel, Representative Stefanik introducing an amendment to audit all Chinese drones, a new FAA administrator, and DJI releasing three…
DJI Enterprise released version 5.0.0 of its DJI Terra software today, incorporating photorealistic 3D Gaussian Splatting to produce highly realistic digital twins from drone imagery. This update accelerates LiDAR and multispectral data processing while integrating a seamless hardware-software workflow, addressing the needs of 3D reconstruction professionals in fields like surveying and urban plan
Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 last December, setting a December 23, 2025, deadline for a national security agency to assess risks posed by Chinese-manufactured drones. With less than six months remaining, DJI has intensified its push for a transparent and thorough evaluation, arguing that a rushed or incomplete process…
The US Commerce Department has initiated investigations into imports of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their components, potentially leading to new tariffs under national security provisions. This move, announced on July 1, aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader tariff strategy and could impact drone availability and costs for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Scope of the…
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