Read or listen to all of the headlines in one place: excerpts from the DRONELIFE drone news of the week November 11.  Click on the titles below for the full story.

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New Skydio App Features Announced: New Camera Controls, Panoramas, and More

Skydio announced a series of updated features and improvements coming to the Skydio App later this month. Utilizing the onboard navigation cameras, Skydio pilots will be able to select their preferred capture type from Vertical, Horizontal, or Spherical, with the device displaying a low-resolution Live Preview of the Panorama framing.

American Robotics, Infrared Cameras Partner for Oil and Gas Inspection

American Robotics announced the formation of a strategic technology partnership with thermal camera and infrared system developer Infrared Cameras Inc. (ICI).  American Robotics’ autonomous Scout System drone, with the integration of ICI’s optical gas imaging (OGI) and thermal sensors, will possess the necessary technology to automate the inspection of oil and gas assets and the detection of methane leaks.

The Top 3 Things to Consider When Applying for a BVLOS Waiver

It’s a serious issue, one that challenges both a resource-strapped FAA and the drone industry.  DRONELIFE met with Rob Knochenhauer, UAS Operations and Regulatory Specialist, about how companies can approach a BVLOS waiver application.  Knochenhauer is the Director of Regulatory Affairs at Censys Technologies, US-based manufacturer of a fixed-wing drone designed for BVLOS applications.  He’s been in the drone industry since 2015, and has worked closely with the FAA as BVLOS applications have evolved.  Censys has had a 100% success rate to date in working with their customers to receive waivers: and Knochenhauer says that there are 3 things applicants can do to make evaluation easier for the FAA, and increase their chance of a successful outcome.

A Model of Korea: the Ambitious Project to Make a Digital Twin of a Country

The country of only 50 million people is ranked #6 in the world for infrastructure, with an impressive range of bridges, roads, airports, and more.  Korea has developed this sophisticated infrastructure so quickly by leveraging the best technology available.  Now, Korea is moving forward with an ambitious project that will help them maintain and continue to develop their infrastructure, ensuring resiliency: a Digital Twin of the entire country.

D-Fend on Dawn of Drones This Week! Counter UAS Solutions

Join Dawn and special guest Gabriel Bendheim, Pre-Sales Team Leader at D-Fend Solutionsas they discuss the counter-drone tales from the trenches to help inform and protect the various environments including military, infrastructure, urban and other sensitive sites.

Percepto’s Waiver Allows Customers to Fly BVLOS on Qualified Sites Across the Country, with Central Control

Leading autonomous inspection and monitoring solution provider Perceptoannounced that it has been granted a nationwide Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This first-of-its-kind approval will enable US-based Percepto customers to remotely operate drones, provided that their sites meet all of the waiver’s criteria. Percepto’s automated drone-in-a-box solution detects infrastructure problems, allowing for faster response times and increased efficiency, and is regularly deployed by electric utilities, oil & gas, solar power stations and mining operations.

DoorDash by Drone: Wing Starts Pilot Program in Australia

Alphabet’s drone delivery company Wing announced that it is working towards opening its platform to third parties, enabling customers to access Wing’s drone delivery service through the use of third party apps.  The pilot program will begin this week, enabling selected customers in the Logan area to order a variety of convenience and grocery items, pantry staples, snacks, and household essentials via the DoorDash App, which will then be delivered by a Wing drone in an average timeframe of 15 minutes or less. This pilot program will initially be made available to a small number of households, with plans to gradually expand availability in the coming months.

8th Annual SkyPixel Aerial Photo Video Contest Opens Today!

Accepting submissions from November 9, 2022, to January 30, 2023, this year’s SkyPixel contest seeks for photo and video creators to inspire the aerial photography community through the exploration of “The Story Behind” their aerial and handheld works. With the growth of the creative imaging community, DJI and SkyPixel hope that the wealth of stunning aerial stories produced via drone technology will inspire more people to capture creative works of their own.

Airobotics Deploys Optimus Urban Drone Infrastructure in UAE: Network of Smart Drones

Israeli drone manufacturer Airobotics has announced that it is supplying a UAE government entity with additional drone systems and services for the deployment of a larger fleet that will make use of Airobotics’ Optimus Urban Drone Infrastructure.  The customer previously placed an initial systems and services order at the Dubai Expo, during which Airobotics performed thousands of autonomous drone flights under challenging environmental conditions within densely populated areas.  Designed to function as a network of smart drones connected to an urban control center, the Airobotics system will serve as a municipal infrastructure granting a range of automated data solutions. The deployed Urban Drone Infrastructure’s main purpose is to allow for faster response times by security and rescue forces to emergency situations, assisting law enforcement and homeland security operations, and streamlining municipality services. Airobotics is additionally exploring drone parcel delivery and other smart city applications for the infrastructure.

Urban Air Mobility Infrastructure: Skyportz Closes Funding Raise, Australia Releases $18 M for AAM

Yesterday, Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government issued $18M in grants as a part of the first round of the New and Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships.  The move highlights the strong policy support for Advanced Air Mobility in Australia at a Federal Government level and aligns with the recent roadmap published by air regulator CASA on the development of Australia’s drone and air taxi market.  “The Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program will ensure our aviation sector remains at the forefront of innovation as it continues to develop and grow, particularly with renewed focus on achieving net zero carbon emissions”, said Minister Catherine King