Drone News

How Looser Federal Drone Regulations Could Help The Supply Chain Backlog The following is a guest post by Dan O’Toole, founder and CEO, DRONEDEK: creators of a drone delivery mailbox.  DRONELIFE neither accepts nor makes payment for guest posts. The global supply chain backlog is at best an inconvenience for holiday …

Source: OSU Researchers with The Ohio State University are using autonomous drones to help prevent and mitigate wildfires. As witnessed by the ongoing blazes across the U.S., wildfires are difficult to predict and fight. Flames can travel up to 14 mph in dry grass and spread in unexpected directions. An …

Source: Iris Automation California-based drone-tech provider Iris Automation is helping commercial drones over Canadian skies stay safer after the nation’s FAA equivalent, Transport Canada, chose the company’s Casia collision avoidance system as part of a new tech-demo program. Conducted by the National Research Council Canada (NRC) on behalf of the …

Flytrex Funding: Company Raises $40M to Expand Drone Delivery Services Across the US by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby On-demand drone delivery leader Flytrex has announced that it has raised $40 million in it’s Series C funding round, bringing its total funding to date to $60 million. The round, …

Source: Airwards via Visualskies Soaring on the success of its inaugural flight, a major global drone awards contest has been given clearance for takeoff. Described as a “program dedicated to recognizing positive drone use cases from around the world,” Britain-based Airwards launched last year to overwhelming success—garnering nearly 200 entries …

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: Article updated April 13, 2021. The only new privilege tied to the new Part 107 test and training after 4/6 is Operation at Night. Current Part 107 holders may Operate Over People and Moving Vehicles in accordance with the rule automatically after 4/21/21, when the rule goes into effect.  Call …

The FAA is taking a specific drone training program for Part 107 online—for free. The federal agency has announced current pilots who hold Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification can complete required training courses that will update their knowledge of the Operations Over People rule set to take effect April 21. …

Source: Citadel Defense Counter-drone provider Citadel Defense just scored another contract with the U.S. defense department in what has become a string of awards from defense agencies worldwide. According to a Citadel press release, the startup garnered $5 million to protect soldiers from potentially hostile drones on the battlefield using its …

Source: Dronehub Polish autonomous drone startup Dronehub is teaming up with European property monitoring company RCS Engineering to develop a security system that marries security-detection and drone tech. With the new integration, RCS’s breach detection software would trigger autonomous drones to respond to property invasion incidents, reducing the cost of …

Source: Axon California-based drone startup Skydio is flying into friendly skies with a lucrative deal with public-safety tech player Axon. The strategic partnership will allow Axon to offer Skydio’s autonomous drone platform to law enforcement and emergency agencies through the company’s Axon Air brand. As a Skydio Elite Partner, Axon will be …