Drones

In an announcement today, the FAA revealed that it has granted UPS Light Forward, a subsidiary of delivery company UPS, with both air carrier and operator certification. This makes UPS Flight Forward the first company to get the full Part 135 Standard certification for operating a 'drone airline,' paving the way for an expansion of the company's existing drone delivery efforts across many industries.

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I love drones but I'm a terrible pilot, and that's why Skydio's self-flying technology is so appealing - particularly when the new Skydio 2 makes it so much more affordable. Back when the Skydio R1 launched last year, it was an expensive taste of what AI-powered autopilot could do. Now, Skydio 2 aims to fly that right into the midst of the mainstream drone segment.

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Chinese drone company Yuneec has introduced the Typhoon H3, the company's first drone launched in partnership with camera manufacturer Leica. The drone features the ION L1 Pro, a camera that features a large 1-inch sensor and Leica technology. Yuneec claims the Typhoon H3's camera was designed specifically for aerial photography.

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In August 2018, Boeing was awarded an $805 million contract from the U.S. Navy for the development of an 'unmanned aerial refueler.' The resulting MQ-25 autonomous refueler drone has successfully completed its first test flight, according to Boeing, which plans to produce four of these aircraft for the U.S. Navy. The test included an autonomous takeoff and flight.

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Alphabet subsidiary Wing, a company that developed a drone system capable of delivering small packages, has announced an upcoming pilot program that will conduct some deliveries for Walgreens and FedEx. The pilot program will start next month in Christiansburg, Virginia, where Wing says it will use this opportunity to 'explore' things like offering better access to health care products, opening new doors for local businesses, and presenting a last-mile delivery option.

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The folks at Parrot just released their new Parrot ANAFI FPV All-In-One Pack, and we've been giving it the once-over for the past couple of weeks. The Parrot ANAFI FPV All-In-One Pack is basically the ANAFI drone with FPV accessories and a handy all-in-one backpack. Parrot's aim with this pack is to provide an easy-to-use yet professional drone experience for every sort of user - newbies and veterans alike.

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The Federal Aviation Administration really wants the public to stop attaching weapons and fireworks to drones. Officials with the agency published a statement about the matter last week, warning that operating weaponized drones is not only dumb and dangerous but also against the law. Anyone caught flying a drone modified with these items faces a huge fine, something that could snowball into more serious punishment if someone gets hurt.

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DARPA, the agency behind a number of defense-related projects, has published a new video showing a swarm of autonomous drones surrounding a target. The demonstration took place under the agency's OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) program, which seeks technology that will eventually allow small infantry units to wield drone swarms comprised of up to 250 UAVs.

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DJI has a new way to get a drone's eye view, with the DJI Digital First Person Viewing (FPV) Transmission System pairing live-streaming video with a set of digital goggles. Targeting the growing field of drone racing, along with videographers wanting a higher framerate from their footage, the system promises digital quality with latency to compete with traditional analog streaming systems.

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DJI is preparing to release a first-person-view drone alongside goggles and a remote controller, according to documents recently published by the FCC. The filings cover three products, hinting at DJI's upcoming launch in the FPV drone racing market, something it dabbled in with its previous DJI Goggles Racing Edition, a $550 headset launched in 2018.

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Parrot is grounding its toy drone business, opting to axe models like the Mambo and Swing and focus on more higher-end fare. The French company hovered into the drone segment back in 2010, with the original AR.Drone, and then proceeded to launch numerous models at consumer-friendly price points.

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The United States Army has started testing pocket-sized infrared drones in Afghanistan with the expectation that they will eventually become part of a soldier's standard gear. The tiny drones, which are described as resembling miniature helicopters, were made by FLIR Systems. The drones can be deployed in less than a single minute and operated over a full mile.

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