Source: SkySkopes As industries across the globe come to grips with the “new normal” of a COVID-19 challenges, drone service providers (DSP) are launching new levels of innovation across a range of public and commercial sectors. Last year, Barclays projected drones will lower costs by $100 billion across a majority …

Source: Matternet Drone logistics startup Matternet is taking flight with one of Asia’s largest airlines to expand drone delivery. Today, the California-based company announced a partnership with Japan Airlines to deploy the Matternet M2 drone system to Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s new “drone logistics business development project” – Japan’s initiative to …

The Skydio 2: Affordable autonomy U.S. drone manufacturer Skydio is stepping up to help boost diversity in the drone industry, hiring two highly qualified women to key leadership roles.  Devon DiPietro has been named Director of Marketing, and Jacqueline Sharma has been hired as Vice President of People Operations. The two new …

Source: Skyward Verizon is dialing up a new mission for its drone subsidiary – wildfire damage inspection. The telecom announced today the FAA granted Portland-based Skyward a temporary waiver allowing company pilots to fly Percepto Sparrow drones from their homes to inspect critical communications infrastructure near the Big Hollow wildfire …

The current crisis is providing the opportunity for historic – potentially paradigm-shifting – new projects.  Retail giant Walmart has announced another new drone delivery project: one that brings the capabilities of drone technology during a crisis right to people’s doorstep.  DroneUp, Quest Diagnostics, and Walmart have partnered on drone delivery …

A Canadian NGO is calling on Ottawa to ban exports of Canadian-produced sensors and laser targeting technology used by Turkish military drones deployed by Ankara across several conflict zones in the Middle East and Libya. Disarmament group Project Ploughshares says the multimillion-dollar exports of high-tech sensors and targeting technology produced by L3Harris WESCAM …

Photo courtesy of Baker Hughes By DRONELIFE staff writer Jim Magill Following a successful two-year pilot program, international oil and gas company Shell will employ a small fleet of drones to fly over more than 500 oil and gas sites in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New …

The FAA policy on type certification for certain unmanned aircraft systems was recently released.  The policy provides a process by which unmanned aircraft may be certified for certain operations currently prohibited under part 107, such as flight over people or flight beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).  The new policy …

Join AUVSI North Carolina and two representatives from the FAA to get all of your questions about FAA waivers and authorizations answered – this Friday, September 25, 2o2o at 3pm.  During this 60 minute session, FAA representatives Michael O’Shea and John Meehan will discuss everything you need to know about …

As mapping professionals are called on to map larger and larger areas around the world, photogrammetry software is evolving to meet their needs.  Today, Pix4D announces PixDmatic: faster, accurate photogrammetry on a larger scale. “Projects that would have previously been mapped by aircraft are now being surveyed with drones,” says …