News

DJI and Autel have been battling in court since the drone industry’s dominant force sued the upstart for patent infringement back in 2016. The initial suit was filed because, as many industry watchers observed at the time, the Autel X-Star was remarkably similar to DJI’s Phantom 4. At the time DJI claimed the …

US-based drone manufacturer Aria Insights, formerly CyPhy Works, has closed its doors for good.  Former CEO Lance Vanden Brook confirmed the news, answering DRONELIFE’s request with a brief statement: “Aria Insights has ceased operations effective March 21, 2019.” It’s a short epitaph to a good company, and unfortunate evidence that …

The Mota Group, the company responsible for bringing the Lily drone back from the dead, appears to have undergone its own resurrection after a brief absence. There has been a name change and a move up the road from San Jose to Santa Clara, California, but the staff remains the same …

The SETI Institute is probably best known for its work scanning the stars for signs of extraterrestrial communications. But the organization’s remit is broader than that. Its many research teams work towards a noble goal: to explore, understand, and explain the origin and nature of life in the universe. Exploring …

image courtesy Skyports UK-based drone infrastructure firm Skyports and partners have successfully completed drone delivery trials in an urban environment and near a major international airport. Skyports specializes in drone delivery: designing, building, securing and operating cargo and passenger “vertiports” where drones may safely launch and land.  Having a conveniently located …

Not that long ago, the industry was dominated by bold forecasts (and VC investment) projecting enormous adoption rates and a huge rise of the number of drones in operation. In reality, the more ambitious projects have been slower to get going than some predicted. Amazon’s Prime delivery service is still more …

The following is an AOPA press release. FREDERICK, MD – The deadline to apply for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s (AOPA’s) You Can Fly scholarships is approaching. Opportunities are available to help students earn an initial pilot certificate or get started on advanced training, and applications must be submitted by …

Photo by Jason from Pexels The draft of the proposed tort law relating to drones, due to be discussed by the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) soon, is out – and drone operators should be paying very close attention. What is Tort Law, and Who is the ULC? The definition of …

image courtesy Cape.com It’s another first for the drone industry – as beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight is becoming more regular, the FAA has now issued a Certificate of Authorization (COA) that includes a provision for BVLOS flight for a public safety organization – the CHula Vista Police …

Israeli drone provider Airobotics is digging into new drone applications in the mining sector. Last week, the company offered a Q&A session with mining technology manager Dan Ward to deep dive into the future of drones and mining. The interview comes on the heels of a recent distribution partnership with South American …