Drone Technology
Drone Technology: Cutting-edge advancements in UAV hardware, software, sensors, AI, and propulsion systems shaping the future of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Russian Drone Penetrates 62 Miles Into NATO Territory, Deepest Breach Yet
A Russian drone flew deeper into NATO airspace than ever before on Tuesday, traveling more than 100 km (62 miles) into Romania before crashing without being shot down. Romanian and German fighter jets scrambled to intercept, but pilots held fire…
Pennsylvania National Guard Expands Drone Training And Tactics
The Pennsylvania National Guard is pushing deeper into drone training as unmanned aircraft become essential on today’s battlefields, according to the official U.S. Army website. Inside a small hangar at Fort Indiantown Gap, soldiers fly FPV drones through a homemade…
Columbus Police Launch New RAVEN Drone Program
The Columbus Division of Police has introduced a new program called RAVEN, as reported by ABC6. The name stands for Rapid Aerial Visual Enforcement Network. The goal is to improve public safety by giving officers fast access to aerial views…
Ex-DJI Engineers Launch AI Farseer Camera With Massive 1,750mm Zoom
The team behind DJI’s most iconic products has defected to build something entirely new. Farseer, a startup founded by former DJI engineers, just unveiled the RocX system, an AI-powered camera designed specifically for long-distance wildlife and bird photography. The December…
FBI Seeks AI-Powered Surveillance Drones With Facial Recognition As Police Departments Rapidly Expand Warrantless Aerial Monitoring
The FBI is actively seeking to equip surveillance drones with artificial intelligence capabilities including facial recognition, license plate readers, and weapon detection systems, according to federal procurement documents published by The Intercept Thursday. The move comes as approximately 1,500 US…
Florida’s DJI Drone Ban: A $200 Million Disaster With No Evidence
Florida destroyed $200 million in functional public safety drones citing Chinese espionage threats, provided only $25 million for inferior replacements that catch fire and fall from the sky, and never published the security analysis that was supposed to justify it…
France Races Year-End Deadline For Ukraine Drone Deals As UK And Germany Dominate Funding
French drone manufacturers are scrambling to finalize co-production agreements with Ukraine before 2025 ends, but face stiff competition from Britain and Germany, which have already established direct funding channels and secured battlefield-proven partnerships. The November 17 meeting between Presidents Emmanuel…
Florida Turns Banned Chinese Drones Into Military Target Practice for Counter-Drone Training
More than 500 Chinese-made drones confiscated under Florida’s controversial 2023 ban are getting a second (short) life as target practice for US Special Operations Command, according to Bloomberg News. The quadcopters, originally headed for the incinerator, will instead be shot…
Police Drone Injures Child in Kent Crash, Wisconsin Deputies Save Missing Man with Thermal Drone
Welcome to your weekly US news update from Pilot Institute. We have three important stories this week that show both the risks and benefits of drone operations. A police drone crashed and injured a child. A thermal drone helped rescue…
DJI Avata 360 Clears FCC Hurdle With 34 Days Until Potential Ban Deadline
The DJI Avata 360 has secured FCC certification on November 19, 2025, clearing the regulatory hurdle that allows the company to legally sell its groundbreaking 360-degree FPV drone in the United States. But there’s a catch: this approval comes just…
Record Drone Drops Into Hurricane Melissa’s Fury
Hurricane Melissa did not hold back. The Category 5 beast tore across the Caribbean and tied the record for the strongest landfalling Atlantic hurricane when it slammed western Jamaica on Oct. 28. NOAA’s Hurricane Hunters had a front row seat…
National Guard Prepares for Drone Threats at the FIFA World Cup
The Washington National Guard is getting ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as reported by Military Times and they are treating drones like the new wildcard on the field. Earlier this month, Guard leaders and security officials gathered at…