DRONELIFE

Dr. Onur Bilgen,  Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Rutgers University. talks about the future of flapping wing drones, the role of smart materials in next-generation aircraft design, and how bioinspired engineering could influence the next wave of unmanned aviation innovation. Dr. Onur Bilgen is Associate Professor in the Department […] The post Sma…

Long-running partnership with Saildrone aims to improve hurricane forecasting and rapid intensification models Saildrone announced plans to deploy 10 Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) during the 2026 hurricane season in partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The mission will support hurricane forecasting and storm research across the Atlantic ba…

AOPA’s opposition to ADS-B billing highlights a growing issue for both crewed and uncrewed aviation News and Commentary. A new statement from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association may have implications far beyond general aviation airport fees. This week, AOPA publicly supported comments from FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford opposing the use of ADS-B data for […] The post If Pilots Stop Trusti…

Factorial Expands Solid-State Drone Battery Partnerships Across Three Continents New collaborations aim to improve drone endurance, power, and cold-weather performance for commercial and defense applications Battery technology company Factorial Energy announced a series of new partnerships focused on integrating next-generation batteries into drone systems across the United States, Europe, and As…

Community feedback shapes event agenda centered on real-world drone operations and practical takeaways Commercial UAV Expo has announced its 2026 conference program, highlighting a strong focus on practical education and operational experience for commercial drone professionals. The event will take place September 1-3 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada. Organizers say this year’s program […] T…

Additive Manufacturing Helps Build Flexibility, Scale, and Supply Chain Resilience At AUVSI’s XPONENTIAL 2026 conference in Detroit, one theme surfaced repeatedly across panels and interviews: the future of U.S. drone manufacturing may not look anything like the mass-production model pioneered in China. Instead of trying to recreate enormous factories optimized for millions of identical consumer …

JITF 401 signs $500 million contract with fast-growing startup By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The Pentagon plans to acquire up to $500 million worth of drone and counter-UAS technology from a California defense technology startup, whose products have been tested in Ukraine’s battle to expel Russian invaders and deployed by U.S. forces in Operation […] The post Pentagon Backs AI Counter-D…

SYOS Introduces SU10 Underwater Drone for Multi-Domain Operations New uncrewed underwater vehicle expands company portfolio from air, land, and sea to subsurface missions UK and New Zealand-based autonomous systems company SYOS has introduced the SU10 uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV), expanding its multi-domain autonomous systems portfolio into subsurface operations. The company announced the ne…

Silicon anode battery technology aims to improve range, charging time, and delivery economics for commercial drone operations Battery manufacturer Amprius Technologies and drone delivery company Matternet have announced a strategic partnership focused on improving the performance of commercial drone delivery systems through advanced battery technology. The companies said that Amprius silicon anod…

Airspace Link and regional public safety agencies deploy a shared drone coordination and counter-UAS platform designed to support FIFA World Cup security and future urban drone operations. by DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Kansas City Missouri has become one of the first regions in the U.S. to deploy an integrated drone-traffic coordination and counter-UAS platform, […] The post Kansas City…

Drone maker argues FCC relied on broad assumptions instead of company-specific analysis In a sharply worded filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), drone manufacturer Autel Robotics is pushing back against the agency’s decision to place its products on the FCC’s Covered List. The filing makes one point especially clear: Autel does not want to […] The post Autel Challenges FCC Cov…

The Japanese drone company brings its long-range, wide-area air defense platform into Ukrainian service alongside Terra A1 through a joint program with WinnyLab. Terra Drone Corporation has commenced operational deployment of the Terra A2 interceptor drone in Ukraine. The Tokyo-based company announced the move on May 19, 2026. WinnyLab LLC, a Ukrainian defense technology firm […] The post Terra D…

Dutch battery company aims to strengthen drone supply chains and extend mission endurance European drone battery company Tulip Tech announced a new strategic investment this week as demand grows for non-Chinese drone components and stronger regional supply chains. The company said the investment comes from Parcom and Keen Venture Partners. Tulip Tech plans to use […] The post Tulip Tech Expands E…

AVPL International will inaugurate Phase 1 of its proposed ₹80 crore Drone City Haryana project on May 16, 2026. The roughly $8.3 million campus sits at Village Sisai in Hansi, Haryana. The project marks a major step toward an integrated drone manufacturing, skilling, and innovation hub in India. The project has received incentive support worth […] The post Haryana’s Drone City Project Kicks Off …

New U.S.-Made quadrotor targets defense, public safety, and commercial operations with modular design and lower cost Applied Aeronautics has introduced SkyBeam, a new heavy lift quadrotor platform designed for defense, public safety, and commercial operations. The company says the aircraft focuses on endurance, payload flexibility, and rapid deployment for demanding field missions. The Chicago-ba…

New FCC notice expands the list of conditionally approved foreign-made drone systems exempted from the agency’s broad Covered List restrictions The Federal Communications Commission’s Covered List continues to evolve as federal agencies work through the implications of the FCC’s sweeping restrictions on foreign-made drones and critical components. In a Public Notice released May 15, 2026, […] The…

Silicon Valley students take on pros with wildfire drones. By Dronelife Features Editor Jim Magill The prestigious XPRIZE competition to find innovative solutions to battle the global threat of wildfires has attracted teams from all over the world, including teams of professional firefighters and first responders, teams representing drone and software industry professionals and teams […] The post…

The Hague-based maker of the IRIS drone-detection radar adds senior US sales leadership and larger Virginia headquarters as homeland security demand grows. Robin Radar Systems has expanded its presence in the United States with senior appointments and a larger Virginia office. The Dutch counter-drone radar specialist announced the moves on May 18, 2026. National security […] The post Robin Radar …

The Buffalo-based battery materials company debuts NDAA-compliant pouch cells with up to 80% more energy density than standard Li-ion. Natrion has launched defense-optimized battery cells for uncrewed systems including drones, surface and underwater vessels, ground vehicles, and humanoids. The Buffalo, New York-based company announced the new product lines on May 14, 2026. The cells deliver […] T…

New propulsion platform targets growing precision agriculture UAV market As agricultural drone adoption continues to expand worldwide, ePropelled has introduced a new integrated propulsion and power system designed specifically for agricultural UAVs. The company announced the launch on May 13, positioning the platform as a response to growing demand for more efficient and reliable drone […] The p…