The Smithsonian announced just before “May the Fourth” that it has added a Boeing Cargo Air Vehicle to its collection at the National Air and Space Museum. The drone, dressed up to look like a Star Wars X-Wing, was used to fly the first commercial operation of a “large eVTOL aircraft,” which took place at Disney World back in 2019.

Efforts to launch air taxi activities are really heating up for Volocopter, but not in a way Europe’s leading electric takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer would like: a struggle to secure additional funding to complete certification and manufacturing of its craft.

Axon, the company behind the infamous Taser drone project, has announced plans to acquire Virginia-based counter-drone technology developer Dedrone. Axon says having drone solutions in its portfolio will help it protect more lives in more places.

Automated drone mission planning platform Drone Harmony has released an exciting new update to help DJI Dock users unlock their flying camera’s potential.

Legislators in Connecticut have taken a significant step toward banning the purchase and use of DJI drones by state and municipal agencies, after a Democrat-led majority of Senate members passed a draft law phasing out use of the company’s UAVs over the weekend.

Swarm drone specialist UVify has achieved a new Guinness World Record for the most drones airborne simultaneously. The Seattle-based company recently orchestrated a breathtaking drone show of 5,293 IFO aircraft that lit up the night sky in Songdo, South Korea.

For the first time ever, emperor penguin chicks have been caught on camera jumping off a 50-foot ice shelf in Antarctica. Bertie Gregory, an award-winning British cinematographer for National Geographic, captured this spectacular, heart-stopping moment as the baby penguins were leaving their colony for the first time to travel to the ocean for their maiden swim. But the feat wouldn’t have been possible without a camera drone equipped with a telephoto lens.

Tethered drone systems specialist Volarious has released a new solution for the Vesper drone manufactured by Vantage Robotics. This is the first time Volarious has extended support for a drone in the Blue sUAS list — a favored choice for US government departments

ModalAI, a Blue UAS framework manufacturer of autonomous drone technology, has unveiled the latest iterations of its popular VOXL 2 development drone. The new Starling 2 and Starling 2 Max feature upgraded image sensor suites, including FLIR Lepton thermal, for reliable indoor and outdoor navigation. Both models come with impressive flight times and are compliant with NDAA regulations.

Public safety technology developer BRINC is joining forces with drone consulting company Skyfire to provide regulatory support, equipment, software, and training to law enforcement and emergency response agencies deploying drones.

Remote ID is a feature that allows a drone in flight to provide its identification and location information to other parties. The FAA likens it to a “digital license plate” for a drone. Most drones operating in the US airspace are required by law to have this capability. So, which DJI drones currently have Remote ID?

Anyone flying a drone in the United Kingdom is responsible for flying within the guidelines and regulations established by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). That means it’s your responsibility as a drone pilot to understand the rules and identify safe flying areas. This is where the Drone Scene platform steps in to assist you.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says it is now accepting applications from potential drone service suppliers for the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC).

Drone autopilot and component manufacturer Embention says it has entered into a strategic partnership with Amazon to support the Prime Air drone delivery initiative. More specifically, Embention will provide essential safety hardware and software for Prime Air drones.

Automated drone inspection software company Drone Harmony has announced a major app update. The company has combined all versions of its app into one streamlined platform, enabling both enterprise and professional users to access the features most relevant to their projects easily.

DJI’s latest audio recording solution, Mic 2, now supports connection with select Sony cameras. The feature has been made possible via a firmware update and the release of a new camera adaptor accessory for the DJI wireless microphone.

Creating a smaller, less fancy product usually means making sacrifices in terms of performance. But, today, even mini drones — that fit into your pocket and weigh less than 250 g — can capture stunning cinematic shots and photos, and that too at a fraction of the cost of larger, more advanced models. Here are the best mini drones on the market right now, based on price, ease of use, camera quality, and flight time.

DJI’s latest sub-250-gram camera drone, Mini 4K, is now available to buy at an incredible price of $299. Despite being highly affordable, this beginner drone can shoot 4K video at up to 30fps with 2x digital zoom and 2.7K footage at up to 60fps. The new DJI Mini 4K further supports video bitrates of up to 100Mbps. All these are significant upgrades compared to the Mini 2 SE, the cheapest-ever camera drone by DJI.

Insta360 has released a new firmware update for its AI-enhanced action camera, Insta360 Ace Pro. The camera, which recently saw its price drop to $400, now supports in-camera 360º Horizon Lock and DJI Mic wireless microphone devices.

Tech giant DJI has begun informing users that it will no longer support future updates of its drone flying app on devices running iOS 12. DJI’s Fly app lets users fly drones with a simplified UI, flight tutorials, and an intuitive editor.

As the farming season starts in the US, the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) is urging drone operators to be extra careful near low-flying crewed agricultural aircraft. The safety of ag aviators is crucial because they help farmers on over 127 million acres of land to increase productivity and protect crops.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given security robotics company Asylon new approval for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations using the US-made DroneSentry drone-in-a-box system. The waiver removes the requirement for on-site personnel.