DRONELIFE

Public input period highlights ongoing divide over foreign drone policy and market access The deadline to submit comments on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) petition for reconsideration regarding DJI’s placement on the agency’s Covered List is May 11, 2026, marking a key milestone in one of the most consequential regulatory proceedings affecting the U.S. drone […] The post Public Comm…

Long-awaited proposal aims to balance security and access in low-altitude airspace The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a long-anticipated Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to restrict unauthorized drone operations over certain fixed site facilities, marking a significant step in implementing Section 2209 of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016. The proposal, …

The London-based maritime startup unveils a gyro-stabilized landing pad that recovers VTOL drones on vessels as small as 10 meters in high sea states. WaiV Robotics has launched the first fully automatic landing and takeoff platform for VTOL drones operating at sea. The London-based company introduced the system on May 5, 2026, backed by $7.5 […] The post WaiV Robotics Debuts Maritime VTOL Landin…

Loggerhead Ventures leads the round with follow-on from One Planet Capital, fueling AI-powered drones for wind farm maintenance. Perceptual Robotics has secured fresh funding to scale its autonomous wind turbine inspection platform. Loggerhead Ventures led the round, with follow-on investment from One Planet Capital. The Thessaloniki-based company announced the deal on May 5, 2026. The […] The po…

New AI-enabled software aims to identify small drone threats earlier and support faster response Teledyne FLIR OEM, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, has announced the launch of Prism C-UAS, a new software solution designed to improve the detection and tracking of small, hard-to-detect drones. The company positions Prism as a software layer that enhances existing […] The post Teledyne F…

New analysis highlights how shared innovation pipelines are shaping both commercial drone markets and military capabilities A recent report from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is drawing attention to a familiar but increasingly important theme in the drone industry: the growing overlap between commercial technology and defense applications. The report, “China’s War Wolves: […] Th…

CEO says counter-UAS protections don’t go far enough By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill (Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of reports on efforts to establish new counter-UAS protocols in the U.S. to protect high-profile sporting events, such as the FIFA World Cup, and critical infrastructure, from the potential threats posed by […] The post “Much Bigger Than Stadiums”: Fortem CEO…

New hub aims to speed deployment and improve interoperability across European defense systems A European defense technology company has introduced a new platform designed to help governments find and deploy unmanned systems more quickly. Amsterdam-based Intelic announced the launch of Intelic BASE on May 4, 2026. The platform serves as a procurement hub for Ministries […] The post New Intelic Pla…

Michael Robbins, CEO and President of AUVSI, talks with host Randy Goers about the real forces shaping the uncrewed systems industry, from supply chain security and regulatory bottlenecks to the growing influence of defense priorities, and what it all means for the future of autonomy. We’ll also take a closer look at XPONENTIAL 2026 and […] The post Inside the Future of Drones: Policy, Security w…

China’s capital targets sales, storage, and transport as well as operations, raising questions for global drone policy Beijing has introduced one of the most comprehensive drone control regimes seen in any major city, but the story is not simply about banning flights. Effective May 1, 2026, new rules in China’s capital restrict not only where […] The post Beijing’s Drone Ban Goes Into Effect Toda…

New designation highlights growing focus on secure communications as a critical component in U.S. drone policy Elsight’s Halo connectivity platform has been added to the U.S. Department of War’s Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Blue UAS List, marking a notable development in how the U.S. government evaluates and procures drone technologies. The Blue UAS List […] The post Elsight’s Halo M…

Sweden’s Västra Götaland Region adds a fourth E3 base, extending Everdrone’s autonomous AED network to roughly 300,000 residents. The Västra Götaland Region (VGR) is strengthening emergency healthcare in Borås with a new Everdrone medical drone base. The drone dispatches in response to emergency calls and delivers a defibrillator while ambulances are still en route. Officials […] The post Sweden’…

Naval Air Systems Command picks the Pittsburgh autonomy specialist to build an uncrewed Bell 505 with Bell Textron, Moog, and XP Services. Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Near Earth Autonomy the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) Increment 2 program. The deal funds a prototype autonomous logistics aircraft for the U.S. Marine […] The post Near Earth Autonomy …

The automated DroneBox provides persistent aerial surveillance during NATO-style multi-domain operations involving 12,500 troops and 1,200 drones. Elistair’s Khronos automated tethered drone is taking part in ORION 2026, France’s largest joint military exercise in decades. The French manufacturer announced its participation in Phase O4, which runs April 7 through April 30. ORION 2026 mobilizes up…

Senate Bill Seeks to Expand Counter-UAS Authority at Critical Infrastructure SitesLegislation outlines authority, training, and funding as drone threats gain attention ahead of major events A new Senate bill introduced by Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton aims to expand the ability of critical infrastructure operators to respond to unauthorized drones, addressing what lawmakers describe as a […] The po…

At the recent Motorola Solutions [NYSE: MSI], BRINC CEO Blake Resnick outlined a vision that challenges one of policing’s most dangerous practices: the high-speed vehicle chase. While drones have long supported public safety, their limitations have kept them largely out of active pursuit scenarios. With the introduction of BRINC’s Guardian drone, that boundary may be […] The post Can Drones Repla…

New USGS findings highlight potential for domestic lithium supply, but key gaps remain in the battery chain A new study from the U.S. Geological Survey suggests that lithium deposits in the eastern United States could meet domestic demand for generations. While the announcement focuses on energy and electric vehicles, it also raises an important question […] The post Can America Build a Fully Dom…

Join the Live Discussion on May 5 Register here for the May Public Safety Drone Review. The next Public Safety Drone Review will take place at 3pm EST on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, bringing together public safety professionals for a live discussion on current news, operational insights, and new technology in the field. This month’s […] The post Public Safety Drone Review: May 5, 2026 with BRINC CEO Bl…

Letter calls for unified federal approach to counter-UAS operations across U.S. host cities U.S. lawmakers are calling on the federal government to strengthen its approach to drone security ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In a letter sent April 28, U.S. Representatives Michael McCaul and Eli Crane urged federal agencies to empower the National […] The post Lawmakers Urge Expanded National Guard…

CEO Adam Bry highlights reduced capital needs as company expands production and commits billions to domestic manufacturing Skydio has raised $110 million in Series F financing, led by existing investors, bringing the company’s valuation to $4.4 billion. In a LinkedIn post from co-founder and CEO Adam Bry, the leader emphasized a notable shift in the […] The post Skydio Raises $110M Series F, Sign…