Drone News: FTI Tests DJI’s Data, Air 3s Leaks, SkyeBrowse Volumes, SARDO SAR with AI

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have four stories for you; FTI Consulting audits DJI drones, DJI Leaks, SkyeBrowse volumes, and new software for Drone Search and Rescue.

FTI Consulting Audits DJI Drones

Cybersecurity assessment of DJI by FTI Consulting was published last week. The aircraft used for this audit was the Mavic 3 Enterprise Thermal and the DJI RC Pro using the DJI Pilot 2 app.

FTI found that no data had left the United States, stating: “The collections and analysis of the statement, which was completed on the east coast of the United States, supports the conclusion that all third-party data transmissions and transmissions to DJI’s own infrastructure resided within the United States.”

Additionally, FTI found that the local data mode eliminated any outbound transmission of data from the drone.

It’s important to note that the full report is not available, so we can’t say for certain what was tested, what was not tested, and how it actually was tested. We’ll keep you updated if we hear more on this topic.

DJI Leak: A3S Drone

More leaks about upcoming drones have surfaced. The A3S is rumored to be released next week on the 15th during a DJI event called “Chase The View.” Leaked specs include:

• 1-inch main sensor capable of 50-megapixel resolution and 4K at 120 fps
• Telephoto camera with a 1/1.3-inch sensor and up to 9x zoom (a significant improvement)
• Forward-facing LiDAR
• Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance
• Next-gen return-to-home feature

The A3S may also come with the DJI RC Track, a small beacon that would act as a remote for users commonly using ActiveTrack. The RC Track includes the ability to RTH, switch angles, enable tracking, and more using either the controller or voice control. This feature is reminiscent of what we’ve seen before with the Skydio 2 and its beacon.

Skybrowse Adds Volume Tool

Skybrowse is releasing a new volume tool that allows you to take pixel-accurate volume measurements from any video. If your video doesn’t have GPS logs, you can select a known measurement or scale for the entire model. This is great for measuring stockpiles using just a cell phone or drone.

The 3D models shown are made from a DJI A2S. Skybrowse states that there’s no need to set GCPs or use ground laser scanners; just record a video with your cell phone and get measurements directly. The volume tool is available on all Light and Premium subscriptions, with Light starting at $39 per month.

New Software for Drone Search and Rescue

A search and rescue program called SARDO uses AI to search for victims. SARDO automates the search process, including path planning, calculating pixel size, and analyzing captured images. All of this occurs offline, meaning it could potentially function on a smart controller, which would streamline the drone search process. We’ll keep you updated if we hear more about SARDO.

That’s it for this week’s news video. We’ll see you later in the community for a happy hour tonight and, of course, on Monday for Live Scene.