Drone Research
DJI Drones Give Scientists a New Look at Whales and Their Behavior
Flying drones are transforming the way researchers study whales. The change began with a strange and uncomfortable moment in the Gulf of Mexico, as the Smithsonian Mag let us know. In 2010, after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, whale scientist Iain…
Victorville Becomes First Contract City To Launch BRINC Drone First Responder Program With $832K State-Funded Deal
The City of Victorville is set to become the first contract city with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to implement a Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, following a unanimous City Council vote earlier this month that approved an…
Drone Surveillance Nets $300,000 Fine For California Homeowner Who Says He “Wasn’t Even Home”
A California homeowner faces a staggering $300,000 fine after a city drone recorded illegal fireworks at his property on July 4th—even though he insists he wasn’t there. The case, part of a nearly $1 million drone enforcement crackdown in Stanton,…
California Police Department Withdraws Drone Research Proposal After Community Backlash
The Eureka Police Department pulled a proposal Monday that would have allowed the agency to begin researching a drone program, following organized opposition from privacy activists who mobilized community members ahead of Tuesday’s city council meeting. The withdrawal highlights how…
St. Mary’s University Student Develops AI-Driven Data to Extend Drone Flight Times
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…
USGS Captures Stunning Close-Up of Kīlauea Lava Pond Using DJI Matrice 600 Drone
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists have captured remarkable close-up imagery of an active lava pond within Kīlauea’s summit crater using advanced Dji drone technology, providing unprecedented scientific documentation of the volcano’s ongoing eruptive activity. During uncrewed aircraft systems overflights on…
Taiwan Accelerates Drone Development with US Support, Drawing Lessons from Ukraine
Taiwan is rapidly expanding its domestic drone capabilities through increased collaboration with US companies, spurred by lessons learned from Ukraine’s effective use of unmanned systems against a larger adversary, reports ASPI The Strategist. The initiative reflects Taiwan’s strategic pivot toward…
Innovative Drone Research Unlocks Secrets of Arctic Climate Change
Scientists are using meteorological drones to study how black volcanic dust affects climate change and weather patterns in Iceland. This groundbreaking research, reported by Euronews, is helping researchers better understand the impact of high-latitude dust (HLD) on cloud formation and…
UAF’s Drone Program Soars Under Cathy Cahill’s Leadership
Cathy Cahill, Ph.D., is at the helm of a cutting-edge drone program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) that’s pushing the boundaries of unmanned aircraft technology. As reported by the Fairbanks Daily News Miner, Cahill leads the Alaska Center…
KU Student’s Drone Research Shapes Federal Aviation Policy
Adam Baruth, a senior aerospace engineering student at the University of Kansas (KU), is making waves in the drone industry with his groundbreaking research for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). His work on Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) systems for…
Russian State-Owned Company Develops Military Drones in China for Ukraine War
In a significant development, Russia’s state-owned weapons company Almaz-Antey has reportedly established a drone production program in China, aimed at developing and manufacturing long-range attack drones for use in the Ukraine conflict, according to a Reuters investigation. This move could…
UAF’s Drone Program Soars with New Nenana Hangar
The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) drone program has taken a major leap forward with the opening of a new hangar at Nenana Municipal Airport. The 4,800-square-foot facility, completed in early fall 2024, marks a significant milestone for UAF’s Alaska…