We’re also covering a futuristic—but super sketchy-looking—drone bike, a beautiful FPV shot from the Dolomites, experiments with flying a drone inside a moving truck, and Cyberhawk’s nationwide BVLOS waiver.

Now on to the links!

FAA’s BVLOS Rule Will Be Released Next Month

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The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024—the recurring bill that funds the FAA for five years, reauthorizing the agency and setting its goals and priorities—mandated that the FAA draft a BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) rule by September of 2024. This means that we’ll see the new rule next month. Since the FAA released the Part 107 rules back in 2016, flying BVLOS has been a kind of holy grail for the drone industry. The FAA knows this, and it has been testing BVLOS operations for years, most recently in the BEYOND program (which takes its name from the first word in BVLOS).

So far, we know that the FAA’s BVLOS rule will:

• Establish operating rules for BVLOS operations.
• Streamline the acceptance process for BVLOS drone ops, replacing the current system of individually applying for waivers or exemptions.
• Define standards for remote pilots or UAS operators for BVLOS operations.

After the FAA releases the draft rule it will be open for public comment, at which point you can submit your thoughts on the rule to the FAA. Once the public comment window closes the FAA will collect feedback, finalize the rule, and release it. Follow the link below for more information on the rule’s timeline.

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Would You Ride This Drone Bike?

 

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A post shared by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Atlanta,GA (@upscaleluxury)

Call me a worry wart, but I don’t see a seatbelt on this thing—though we have to admit, it looks pretty cool. This video was shared to an Instagram account called Upscale Luxury, but riding one of these flying bikes looks more like an extreme sport than a high-end transportation offering. Either way, I guess we’ll have to wait a few more years until we can try one for ourselves, since the post says “drone bicycles coming in 2026.”

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Tricky FPV Flying in the Dolomites

This short FPV shot was captured by YouTuber SirM Productions in the Dolomite Mountains, a famous mountain range in northeastern Italy. But the video doesn’t just feature stunning natural beauty. It also has some pretty tricky—not to mention gutsy—flying. Against a gorgeous backdrop, the pilot flies across a bridge and then under another one, with the space between the bridge and the water looking like it’s barely big enough to fit the drone. Said one commenter, “At first glance, I thought it’s kinda a video game trailer. Awesome shot and unrealistically beautiful place.”

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What Happens When You Fly a Drone Inside a Moving Truck?

If you’re standing in the back of a U-Haul, you’ll be pushed backward as the truck accelerates. This happens because of inertia. Newton’s First Law of Motion states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. Since your body is at rest it wants to stay at rest—until the force of the truck’s movement causes your body to move. But what happens to a drone hovering in the air? Does it also follow Newton’s First Law, or is it more complicated because it’s in the air? Watch this video to find out.

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Cyberhawk Secures Nationwide BVLOS Waiver

Credit: Cyberhawk

The FAA has granted drone inspection company Cyberhawk a waiver that allows it to operate drones BVLOS without the need for a visual observer—and the waiver applies throughout the U.S. This kind of sweeping BVLOS waiver is rare, and a big win not only for Cyberhawk, but also for the drone industry at large. These kinds of waivers are great for the drone industry because they expand the capabilities of commercial drone ops, opening not only new use cases but also expanding the vision for what drones can do to support work. According to the company, the waiver will “significantly enhance Cyberhawk’s ability to support critical infrastructure sectors, including utilities, oil and gas, and capital projects, with robust high-precision aerial inspections and data analytics.” With the waiver, Cyberhawk anticipates it will be able to increase efficiency, enhance safety, gain greater coverage, and get access to innovative data solutions.

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The post Drone News Roundup: FAA Will Release Major BVLOS Rule Next Month, Futuristic Drone Bike, and More! appeared first on UAV Coach.

We’re also covering upgrades to HoverAir’s X1 selfie drone ahead of the competing DJI Neo launch, Walmart ending drone delivery programs in three states, big improvements to Drone as First Responder programs through a new partnership between BRINC and Echodyne, and news about the schedule at Commercial UAV Expo, which is just two weeks away.

Now let’s get to those links!

Rolling Mountains with the Mavic 3 Pro

Need a moment of zen? Take a few minutes to watch this video expertly shot and edited by YouTuber @genki_drone92‬ entirely on the Mavic 3 Pro. According to the video’s creator, the Mavic 3 Pro’s triple-camera system elevated his entire approach to shooting, allowing him to “capture different viewing angles from the same drone, elevating my creative process to a whole new level.” He went on to say that “the 3 x tele camera was ideal for capturing jockeys, lambs, and cows . . . [and] the 7 x camera was great for shooting wildlife and other animals from farther away.” 

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HoverAir’s Selfie Drone Gets Big Upgrades ahead of DJI Neo Launch

Leaks about the DJI Neo have been all over the internet recently. Although its exact launch date is unknown, it’s clearly coming soon. And that is probably why the HoverAir X1—a popular selfie drone seen by many as the inspiration for the Neo—may be getting a major upgrade. Zero Zero Robotics, the company that makes the HoverAir X1, has put out two new versions:

• The HoverAir X1 Pro. Comes with a 1/2″ CMOS sensor and 17mm wide-angle lens, and can capture 4K videos at 60fps.
• The X1 Pro Max. Comes with a 1/1.3″ sensor and 16mm wide-angle lens, and captures 8K video at 30fps in 10-bit HDR.

When you look at the leaked Neo specs, it looks like these new HoverAir’s will beat the Neo in terms of video resolution. But the Neo has a lot of other compelling features, including voice control—stay tuned for news about its launch.

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Walmart Stops DroneUp Drone Delivery Services in Three States

Credit: Walmart

Walmart is ending drone delivery programs run by its partner DroneUp in Phoenix, AZ, Salt Lake City, UT, and Tampa, FL. The reason? The programs are just too expensive. At the moment, it costs $30 to make a drone delivery—more than it would cost to use other methods. DroneUp CEO Tom Walker recently said he wants to bring the cost down to $7, which would make it more viable. But for now, three of the delivery programs the company was conducting with Walmart will stop, which means that 18 Walmart delivery hubs will close, resulting in layoffs of 17% of DroneUp’s workforce (70 employees). You may remember that a Florida man recently shot down a DroneUp delivery drone making a test delivery for Walmart in Lake County, FL—apparently that program, which was just getting started, is still active.

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BRINC Partners with Echodyne to Automate DFR Programs

BRINC and Echodyne are partnering to bring “true BVLOS” to Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs, allowing these programs to operate without the need for visual observers. In a DFR program, a drone is deployed automatically to the scene of a 911 call, giving first responders early and ongoing intel to inform their response to the emergency. Through the partnership, Echodyne’s cutting-edge radar technology will be integrated into BRINC’s DFR solution, which includes the Responder Drone. This addition allows the drone to fly automated DFR missions, enabling automatic grounding or rerouting to avoid air traffic as well as alerting pilots to potential dangers.

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Commercial UAV Expo Is Just Two Weeks Away

Commercial UAV Expo is just two weeks away! The conference will take place from September 3-5 at Caesar’s Forum in Las Vegas, NV. Register here if you’re not already signed up.

Wondering what the schedule looks like? Here are the broad strokes:

• September 3: Outdoor flying demonstrations (6:15 AM – 12:00 PM)
• September 3: Exhibit hall opens (5:30 PM – 7:30 PM)
• September 4: Full day of keynotes, exhibits, and sessions (8:00 AM – 6:30 PM)
• September 5: Keynote, exhibits, and sessions continue (8:00 AM – 3:30 PM)

Daily features include exhibit hall hours, theater presentations, and breakout sessions, as well as networking events, including a welcome reception and happy hour. Learn more about the conference and why we’re so excited to attend here.

Planning to attend? We’ll be exhibiting—make sure to come see us at Booth 1226!

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The post Drone News Roundup: Beautiful Cinematic Mavic 3 Pro Video, HoverAir Upgrades Selfie Drone ahead of DJI Neo Launch, and More! appeared first on UAV Coach.

We’re also covering an FPV drone video of the famous Transfăgărășan road in România, a story about a drone pilot using his Avata 2 to help rescue seven people aboard a sinking ship in Utah, a plan to use heavy lift drones for dangerous work on Mt. Everest, and news that the secret service will increase the use of drones following its failure to prevent the assassination attempt of former president Donald Trump.

Now on to the links!

New Leaks Reveal Launch Date, New Feature for the DJI Neo

Todays second #DJINEO promo text leaked, this time via #amazon: “The NEO captures stunning 4K ultra-stabilized video, delivering professional-quality footage. Safety is paramount, with full-coverage propeller guards protecting both the drone and its surroundings during flight.” pic.twitter.com/ynruIJspy6

— Jasper Ellens | X27 (@JasperEllens) August 11, 2024

A recent post on the DJI subreddit by user stipsVEVO revealed a possible new feature for the DJI Neo: voice control. The post shared a draft webpage for the Neo on the DJI site, which included a reference to the drone having voice control. (The webpage has since been taken down.) As for the launch date, drone insider @Quadro_News shared a list of dates in a recent tweet, which has the Neo coming out on August 20. It also has the Action 5 Pro coming out on August 28. Check out the post linked below to learn more about the DJI Neo.

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Epic FPV Drone Video of the Windy Transfăgărășan Road in Transylvania

The Transfăgărășan road in Romania is often touted as one of the best roads for sport driving in the world. This drone video from YouTuber Drone Supremacy takes us on an up-close tour of this windy road, making for a video that’s “full of adrenaline, action & of course drones” as its creator put it. The video was shot in just 24 hours and features establishing shots of wildlife and the scenery surrounding the road, which runs through the Fagaras mountains in Transylvania.

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Drone Pilot Helps Rescue People Aboard a Sinking Ship in Utah

A drone pilot named Stefan Ceciu recently used his drone to help rescue seven people from a sinking boat in Utah. Ceciu had shown up at the Utah Lake to fly his new Avata 2 when he saw first responders from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office gathered at the edge of the water. Ceciu approached emergency personnel to find out if he could fly and they asked about the range of his drone, wondering if he might be able to locate the sinking boat. He quickly put his drone in the air and was able to locate the boat within 15 minutes, sharing the GPS coordinates with police so they could rescue the people, including two toddlers. Unfortunately his drone didn’t make it back—the battery died, and it fell into the lake. Ceciu set up a GoFundMe to replace it, which has already raised almost $2,500, well over the cost of the drone.

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Drones to Help Sherpas on Mt. Everest

Credit: DJI

Last spring, DJI partnered with authorities in Nepal to test its FlyCart 30 delivery drone for transporting trash and climbing gear on Mt. Everest. After evaluating the results, Nepalese officials have decided to make drones a regular part of the work required to scale Everest. Using drones to haul gear from Camp 1 and Base Camp on the mountain will allow sherpas to avoid life threatening treks through the Khumbu Icefall, where over 50 people have died. Using drones for this work does mean that the work of hauling supplies may diminish for locals, but authorities have pointed out that sherpas will always be needed to guide climbers—jobs that pay more than the grueling work of hauling gear—they just won’t have to do the dangerous work of carrying supplies up the mountain.

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Secret Service Will Increase Use of Drones after Trump Assassination Attempt

When Thomas Crooks tried to assassinate former president Trump on July 13, the Secret Service didn’t have a drone on site. It’s been reported that they were also offered the use of a drone by local law enforcement to surveil the rally site, and turned it down. But now they’ll start using drones, says Ronald Rowe, the new Secret Service director. According to a recent statement from Rowe, “We should have had better coverage on that roofline”—and a drone could have provided that coverage. Going forward, the Secret Service plans to use drones for surveillance, both before and during major public events like the rally in Butler, PA where the assassination attempt took place. Crooks did use a drone to surveil the site before he attempted to assassinate Trump, presumably using the drone’s live feed to find the best place for him to try and take his shot.

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The post Drone News Roundup: New Leaks Reveal Launch Date and Enticing New Feature for the DJI Neo, Epic FPV Drone Video of Windy Road in Transylvania, and More! appeared first on UAV Coach.

We’re also covering the key differences between the Senate and House versions of the DJI ban bill, news that authorities have intercepted over 50 drones at the Olympics in Paris so far, a big round of firmware updates from DJI, and the DOD’s successful completion of UTM testing for several Blue UAS.

Now let’s get to those links!

Avata 2 Tour of the Canary Islands

With its ocean views, steep cliffs, volcanic deserts, and sprawling natural beauty, the Canary Islands is a stunning place to shoot drone footage. This video made for DJI by YouTuber Joshua Turner showcases just how beautiful the islands are. The video was shot entirely on DJI’s new Avata 2, the latest version of its cinewhoop platform, and includes footage shot on the islands of Tenerife, La Palma, and Lanzarote.

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Key Differences Between the Senate and House DJI Ban

Credit: DJI

When the Senate released its version of the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) for 2025 it did not include the DJI ban, formally called the Countering CCP Drones Act. (The House version did include that bill, making it seem possible it could become law.) Since then, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has proposed an amendment to the Senate version that would add the DJI ban to its version of the NDAA.

Scott’s version of the DJI ban differs from the House version in a few key ways, calling for:

• Identification of Chinese military companies. The Secretary of Defense will review drone manufacturers to determine any connections to the Chinese military.
• Restricting DJI products. DJI is one of the foreign drone manufacturers that is called to be added to the list of companies whose communications and video equipment are restricted from use.
• Establishment of the ‘First Responder Secure Drone Program’. This program would provide grants to local agencies, such as police and fire departments, to purchase drones produced by companies other than a “foreign entity of concern”.

If Scott’s amendment is added the House and Senate will have to agree on the final version, so it’s hard to say which parts of these proposed bills may end up becoming law—if they become law at all. Right now, Senator Scott’s amendment hasn’t even been considered yet, and the DJI ban will have a long road ahead if it is going to get passed with the 2025 NDAA.

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Over 50 Drones Intercepted at Olympics So Far

French law enforcement has taken down 53 drones near Olympic sites since the games began on Friday, July 26. According to French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, the drones weren’t all flown with malicious intent (though at least a few were, presumably). Darmanin said that many of the intercepted drones were flown by people who were simply breaking the rules about the location, conditions, or altitude at which they could fly. Drones have also been in Olympics news this year as part of a scandal involving the Canadian women’s soccer team, which used a drone to spy on a competitor’s closed practice.

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DJI Releases Firmware Updates for Several Drones, Controllers, and Cameras

Credit: DJI

DJI has released a lot of firmware updates lately. Here they are:

• DJI Matrice 350 RTK (v10.01.00.09)—introduces support for Power Line Follow mode when used with the Zenmuse L2 LiDAR payload, making it easier to create 3D models of power lines.
• DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise series (v10.01.00.14)—introduces optimized obstacle avoidance performance and the addition of a selectable flight start point in the Geometric Route.
• RC controller (v01.03.1700)—fixes minor bugs, ensuring a smoother operation for drone pilots.
• RC 2 controller (v02.02.0300)—addresses several known issues, enhancing the overall performance and reliability of the controller.
• RC Pro controller (v03.02.0900)— fixes minor bugs, ensuring users have a seamless flying experience.
• Zenmuse H30 camera (v10.01.07.03)—includes the addition of automatic night scene level switching based on ambient brightness, and a lot more. This update is big, and it’s the first update since H30’s release back in May.
• Zenmuse L2 LiDAR payload (v03.00.00.05)—enhances LiDAR mapping, improves Point Cloud live view display, reduces drafting during flight, and more.
• DJI Dock 2 (v10.01.1607)—includes multi-dock tasks, RTH logic, optimized battery charging logic, embedded video subtitles, and more.

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DOD Tests Air Force UTM with Blue UAS from Skydio, AgEagle, and Freefly Systems

Credit: DOD

Over three days, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)—the branch of the DOD in charge of the Blue UAS program—tested several Blue UAS with a drone traffic management system developed by the Air Force. Called Collaborative Low-Altitude UAS Integration Effort (CLUE), the Air Force UTM (Uncrewed Traffic Management) system was created by the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to “enable the safe, secure, and efficient operations of UAS within the national airspace system.” The tests took place at the NY UAS Test Site and included drones from AgEagle, Skydio, and Freefly Systems.

Why should you care about these tests? Because they’re using technology that is at the bleeding edge of drone ops, including data sharing via a multi-network device called the Somewear Node, which was recently added to the Blue UAS Framework. And this technology represents the future not just for defense drone ops, but for commercial drone ops too.

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The post Drone News Roundup: Avata 2 Tour of the Canary Islands, Key Differences Between Senate and House DJI Ban, and More! appeared first on UAV Coach.

We’re also covering a new amendment to add the DJI ban to the Senate NDAA for 2025, a drone residency in Las Vegas, a drone cheating scandal involving the Canadian women’s soccer team, and the FAA’s first ever Category 2 approval for a drone to fly over people.

Now on to the links!

How Drones Protect People from Volcanic Eruptions in Iceland

Most of us have seen epic drone footage of volcanoes erupting in Iceland. But drones are also helping keep people safe during these eruptions. This video from DJI tells the story of the Iceland Civil Protection Drone Unit, which is tasked with monitoring and responding to eruptions in order to protect people from them. Watch the video to learn more about the Unit, and to see how it uses the DJI Dock with the Matrice 30T and the M300 RTK in its work.

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DJI Ban Amendment Submitted for Senate Version of NDAA 2025

Credit: DJI

Last week we reported that the DJI ban might be dead in the water. This was because the Senate version of the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) for 2025 didn’t include the Countering CCP Drones Act, the law that calls for banning DJI drones throughout the U.S. Since then, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has proposed an amendment that would add that law back in, which means the DJI ban could be back in play. But that doesn’t mean its passage is guaranteed. There is still a long road ahead for the NDAA to get passed, and the ban could be removed from the NDAA well before then.

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First “Drone Residency” Light Show Hits Las Vegas Skies

Want to catch a drone light show? Atomic Golf is hosting what it calls the first ever drone residency show in Las Vegas. The shows take place every Thursday at 9 and 11 p.m. and will be running for 12 weeks. That makes 24 drone light shows total in the residency, which will feature an accumulated total of 5,400 drones.

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Canadian Women’s Soccer Team Used Drones to Spy on Competing Team

This week at the Olympics members of the New Zealand women’s soccer team saw a drone flying over their closed practice session, and complained about this to the Olympic Committee’s integrity unit. New Zealand was scheduled to play Canada, the defending Olympic champion, and that team was a clear suspect as the source of the drone flight. Shortly after the New Zealand team filed the complaint, New Zealand got its proof: a 43-year-old Canadian man was given a suspended sentence by a French court for being the pilot of the spying drone. As a result, two staff members from the Canadian women’s team were sent home. Also, the head coach for Canada has decided to step aside for the New Zealand game voluntarily “with the interests of both teams in mind and to ensure everyone feels that the sportsmanship of this game is upheld.” The Canadian man who flew the drone said he was an independent sports analyst for the Canadian federation.

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First Drone/Parachute Combo Approved to Fly Over People without a Waiver

Credit: AVSS

The FAA has approved the first Category 2 drone for operations over people. This means you can fly it over people without getting a waiver, so long as you’re using the approved technology. That technology is the Matrice 3D (or 3DT) along with the DJI Dock 2 equipped with the AVSS PRS-M3DT parachute system. AVSS (Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions Inc.) recently announced this news, sharing that the FAA granted the company both the first ever Category 2 and Category 3 Declarations of Compliance (DOCs) for its PRS-M3DT drone parachute. These DOCs are a milestone for the drone industry. Granting permission for specific types of operations based on the drone technology people plan to use rather than on a case-by-case basis, and is required in the waiver process, promises to open up a range of drone operations for commercial purposes, making it easier for people to do work with drones.

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The post Drone News Roundup: How Drones Keep People Safe from Volcanoes in Iceland, DJI Ban Back in Play, and More! appeared first on UAV Coach.

We’re also covering news that the man who shot former President Trump flew a drone over the site of the rally before the shooting, Disney snagging a Guinness World Record for a drone light show, a video from Zipline showing how its drones can fly safely alongside crewed aircraft using a proprietary UTM system, and news that the Blue UAS designation isn’t permanent.

Now let’s get to those links!

Follow Mt. Everest Climbing Route with the Mavic 3 Pro

DJI has shared a lot of great drone footage from Mt. Everest in the last few years. Recently, we saw the first drone delivery made there with the DJI Flycart 30. And last year DJI put out a video featuring footage shot high above the famous mountain. Shot by YouTuber @liulangCooki, this new Everest drone video from DJI follows the route climbers take up this famous mountain. Starting at Base Camp at an elevation of 3.3 miles, you go through four different camps, ending on the top at 5.5 miles in the sky. If you’re curious about what’s required to go up Mt. Everest, and what it looks like along the way, this footage is a great overview of that epic journey.

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Trump Shooter Used Drone to Fly Over Rally Site Two Hours Before Assassination Attempt

Credit: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press

Thomas Matthew Crooks, the shooter who attempted to assassinate former President Trump at a rally on July 13, used a drone to surveil the site beforehand. The rally took place at the Butler fairgrounds in Prospect, Pennsylvania. Around 4 p.m. the day of the rally—just two hours before the shooting—Crooks flew a drone over the fairgrounds, flying about 200 yards from the stage on which Trump would shortly stand. He was in the air for about 11 minutes, and it seems like the goal of the flight was to identify the best position for him to shoot from. It’s now widely acknowledged that the assassination attempt is one of the greatest failures in security that’s ever taken place under the Secret Service’s watch. This drone flight can be seen as part of that failure, since the Secret Service doesn’t seem to have known about it until some time after the shooting. These days, security at high profile outdoor events must include securing the skies. And that means not just during an event but also beforehand, to try and identify those doing this kind of reconnaissance.

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Disney Earns Guinness World Record for Drone Light Show

 

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Disneyland Paris recently broke a Guinness World Record for a drone light show for “Largest aerial display of a fictional character formed by multirotors / drones.” The fictional character in question? Mickey Mouse himself. The giant Mickey was created out of an incredible 1,571 drones in a light show put on to celebrate Bastille Day. The light show was produced in collaboration between Disneyland Paris and global drone light show company Dronisos. Disney is no stranger to drone light shows. It uses them regularly at all of its locations, and has been making some of the biggest and best drone light shows in the world for several years now, with shows that continue to push the boundaries of what the medium can do.

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How Zipline Flies Drones Safely Alongside Other Drones and Crewed Aircraft

UTM (Uncrewed Traffic Management) is air traffic control for drones in the sky. It’s not a new concept—companies have been talking about UTM and making UTM systems for years. And yet actual implementation isn’t so common. But Zipline, the drone delivery company that has made by far the most deliveries in the world, is doing it. This short video explains how Zipline safely gets its delivery drones from one place to another, even in crowded airspace. In Zipline’s approach, its drones break up the flight path into small blocks called “volumes,” then request permission to be in that specific section of airspace at a specific time. UTM reserves the drone’s placement in that airspace at a specific time automatically, allowing it to reroute the path of other drones that may conflict with the original drone’s path.

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Blue UAS Designation May Have Renewal Requirements

The Skydio X2D | Credit: Skydio

Trent Emeneker, DIU Blue UAS program manager, recently shared that getting onto the Blue UAS list doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll stay there. According to Emeneker, there are some Blue UAS platforms that have been on the list for around four years without evolving or remaining competitive in the marketplace. To address the need for innovation and staying current, the DIU (Defense Innovation Unit)—the wing of the DOD that oversees the Blue UAS program—is planning to hold a competitive refresh for Blue UAS this year. The Blue UAS list has continued to expand since launching. Recently, it grew to include three new drones—the Skydio X10D, the Anduril Industries Ghost/Ghost X and the Freefly Systems Astro—as well as growing its list of approved drone components from five to 36.

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The post Drone News Roundup: Full Mt. Everest Climbing Route by Mavic 3 Pro, Trump Shooter Used Drone, and More! appeared first on UAV Coach.