DRONELIFE

Université de Sherbrooke researchers demonstrate a new approach to landing multirotors on steep, irregular ice surfaces Cats may seem an unlikely source of inspiration for drone landing gear. But retractable claws helped researchers at Canada’s Université de Sherbrooke address a difficult problem: landing a drone on steep, slippery ice. The result is the Ice Dart, […] The post Cat-Inspired Claws …

Counter-drone technology joins Motorola Solutions’ public safety portfolio as demand for airspace protection grows Motorola Solutions has completed its $1.5 billion acquisition of counter-drone technology provider D-Fend Solutions. The deal brings D-Fend’s RF cyber-takeover technology into Motorola Solutions’ public safety and security portfolio. “Safety on the ground demands security in the air,…

New Springfield facility will support long-endurance UAS training, testing and flight operations as Ondas expands its U.S. defense business Ondas Inc. has opened a new unmanned aircraft training, testing and flight operations facility at the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) in Springfield, Ohio. The facility will serve as the Midwest hub for […] The post Ondas Opens UA…

Recent executive orders, FCC action and a White House industry meeting point to growing scrutiny of what goes into U.S.-made drones. The White House brought drone manufacturers, component suppliers and government officials together Thursday for its first Drone Dominance industry event. The meeting offered another sign that the administration’s push for U.S. drone production extends […] The post T…

Active FCC rulemaking considers hardware and software disclosures that could affect agricultural and commercial drone manufacturers A new FCC rulemaking could require drone manufacturers to disclose detailed information about the hardware and software inside their products. The Federal Communications Commission published its Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register on A…

Thermal imaging drones help crews locate underground heat pockets that could reignite after major fires in northwest England. United Utilities is using thermal imaging drones to find hidden hotspots left behind by recent moorland fires in northwest England. The water company has supported emergency services since fires broke out at the end of June. Although […] The post United Utilities Uses Ther…

FBI and local officials describe how a multi-agency task force detected dozens of unauthorized drones, located pilots and worked to keep firefighting aircraft flying by DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Federal and local officials are decrying the overflights of drones over a series of wildfires in eastern Washington state, which caused a temporary grounding of […] The post Inside the Counter-…

The maritime autonomy company adds three European build partners and opens Northern Europe operations at the historic Quintus Bastion in Copenhagen. Saildrone announced a major European expansion on August 18, 2026, from its new EU headquarters in Copenhagen. The expansion includes three build contracts across Northern Europe. Van Der Valk Shipyard in the Netherlands will […] The post Saildrone A…

The 2-in-1 device from ZeroZero Robotics records 4K 60fps video and converts from a pocket gimbal camera into a self-flying camera with modular propeller accessories. HOVERAir introduced HOVERAir VERSA, a 2-in-1 handheld gimbal camera and self-flying camera. The device targets creators who want handheld stability plus aerial perspectives from a single tool. Lightweight snap-on propeller […] The p…

The partnership feeds low-altitude cooperative aircraft data from uAvionix’s FlightStation network into the Airwise Nexus platform for Skyway Range BVLOS operators. uAvionix and Airwise Solutions announced a strategic partnership on August 18, 2026. The integration supports Skyway Range in Tulsa, Oklahoma. uAvionix FlightLine surveillance data flows into the Airwise platform and Nexus common oper…

Company says sixfold expansion will bring drone delivery to tens of millions of customers by the end of 2026 Amazon plans a major expansion of its Prime Air drone delivery service across the United States. The company says it expects to reach nearly 500 cities and towns by the end of 2026. The expansion would […] The post Amazon Prime Air Plans Drone Delivery Expansion to Nearly 500 U.S. Cities a…

Robbins will leave AUVSI on September 30 to lead the Semiconductor Industry Association; the AUVSI Board has launched a search for a permanent successor. The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has announced a leadership transition effective this fall. President and CEO Michael Robbins will leave the organization on September 30, 2026. Chief Operating […] The post AUVSI…

D.C. Circuit sends part of the case back to the district court as DJI continues to face separate U.S. market restrictions The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has partially reversed a lower court ruling in DJI’s challenge to its designation by the Department of Defense as a “Chinese military company.” In an […] The post Appeals Court Partially Reverses Ruling in DJI Challenge to Pentago…

Inside SES.AI, advanced battery chemistry, AI-driven materials discovery and global manufacturing illustrate the challenge of building the industrial base beneath America’s growing drone market. On the factory floor at SES.AI’s Massachusetts facility, the challenge of building a secure U.S. drone supply chain becomes tangible. Batteries are being developed for applications where weight, performan…

Sponsored Content by Appelix. Executive Summary: Purpose: This evaluation analyzes commercial exterior cleaning drones available in August 2026 — comparing Apellix, Lucid Bots, Aquiline Drones, KTV Working Drones, and modified DJI platforms across key operational parameters. Top Performance Benchmarks: The Apellix B2 leads purpose-built drone cleaning models in maximum published working height (1…

FAA says major NextGen systems are operational as it begins looking toward the next phase of airspace modernization The Federal Aviation Administration released a new NextGen fact sheet on August 17, outlining changes to the National Airspace System [NAS] and plans for continued modernization. The Next Generation Air Transportation System, known as NextGen, has transformed […] The post FAA NextGe…

Strategic partnership will bring Zipline drone delivery to Uber Eats customers, starting in existing U.S. markets later this year Uber and Zipline have announced a strategic partnership aimed at bringing drone delivery to millions of Uber Eats customers across the United States. The companies plan to begin deployments later this year and target one million […] The post Uber and Zipline Target One…

Section 232 action sets tariffs of 25% to 100%, with lower rates for qualifying allied supply chains and incentives for U.S. manufacturing President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs on imported drones and certain drone components following a Commerce Department national security investigation. The August 13 proclamation uses Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act […] The post White House Impo…

Fort Indiantown Gap trains soldiers on new military drones while developing hands-on counter-UAS tactics By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill From training on “low-tech” counter-UAS tactics, such as shooting at “hostile” drones with shotguns, to becoming a leading proving ground for testing out the latest one-way attack drones for the U.S. Army, the Pennsylvania National […] The post Pennsylva…

Recent cases involving misuse of automated license plate readers offer a broader lesson for public safety agencies adopting increasingly capable technology. News and Commentary.  Automated license plate readers help law enforcement find stolen vehicles, locate missing people and develop leads in criminal investigations. Recent controversies involving Flock Safety cameras also demonstrate the need…