dronelife

Ag drone company to ramp up output with new Texas plant by DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magil Hylio, which makes large autonomous agricultural drone systems, plans to greatly expand its ability to produce American-made products by opening a new manufacturing plant in Texas in the coming months. In an interview at the recent Xponential 2025 […] The post Texas-Based Hylio Scales Up: From Dorm Room to 5,000 Ag Drones a Year appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

New offering aims to simplify operations and investment in drones, supporting scalable, profitable business models Australia-based startup Drone Forge has announced a major milestone in the commercial drone industry: the development and upcoming delivery of the world’s first turn-key fleet of drones. The fleet, known as DF Fleet 1, is expected to be available in […] The post Drone Forge Unveils First Turn-Key Drone Fleet to Scale Commercial Access in Australia appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Michael Hill, Program Manager at the Unmanned Safety Institute, speaks with Drone Radio Show host Randy Goers about how it helps prepare students for viable careers in the drone industry. Listen here: Drone Radio Show · Training Tomorrow’s Drone Pilots: Michael Hill, Unmanned Safety Institute Michael Hill is Program Manager of College Workforce Programs […] The post Training Tomorrow’s Drone Pilots: Unmanned Safety Institute on the Drone Radio Show! appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

The drone industry stands at a pivotal moment as Project ULTRA demonstrates unprecedented integration between military unmanned systems and civilian airspace, potentially unlocking new possibilities for commercial beyond visual line of sight operations and establishing critical precedents for airspace management that could transform how all drones operate in the National Airspace System. In a panel […] The post Breaking Barriers: Military UAS Project Paves Way for Commercial Drone Integration in National Airspace appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

New trials showcase maritime drone deliveries on the Great Lakes and world-first automated water quality monitoring in the UK by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb British drone operator Skyports Drone Services recently announced two exciting projects on either side of the Atlantic, including a scheme to monitor water quality using automated drones and cloud-based […] The post Skyports Drone Services Launches Groundbreaking Projects in US and UK appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

RedEdge-P camera to be integrated with Spirit UAV, expanding U.S. drone capabilities for precision agriculture At AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2025, Ascent AeroSystems and AgEagle announced a strategic collaboration to integrate the RedEdge-P™ multispectral camera with Ascent’s rugged Spirit™ UAV. This partnership reflects the growing expansion of options in the U.S.-manufactured drone ecosystem, especially for agricultural applications. […] The post Ascent AeroSystems and AgEagle Partner to Deliver Advanced Agricultural Drone Solution appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Acquisition Aims to Boost Data-Driven Decision Making for Farmers Through Drone Imagery and Integrated Platforms John Deere has announced the acquisition of Sentera, a Minnesota-based provider of remote imagery solutions for agriculture. The move is set to enhance John Deere’s precision agriculture tools by integrating high-resolution drone imagery into its existing digital platform, the John […] The post John Deere Acquires Sentera to Expand Aerial Scouting Capabilities appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

In a previous post, Aviram Adi, founder of SkyClean NYC, explains how drones are revolutionizing building maintenance by improving safety, cutting costs, and enhancing sustainability. Now, he provides the deep dive on navigating the complex regulations that impact commercial drone building maintenance in New York City. DRONELIFE neither makes nor accepts payment for guest posts. Navigating […] The post How One Service Provider Navigates NYC’s Airspace Rules for Drone Building Maintenance appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

At XPONENTIAL 2025, industry leaders reveal how design-driven manufacturing and supply chain innovation are powering a new era for American-made drones The annual XPONENTIAL conference, hosted by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicles and Systems International (AUVSI), brought more than 7,500 global leaders and end users from over 60 countries to Houston, Texas, from May 19–22, […] The post Designing for Scale: How U.S. Drone Manufacturers Are Building a Competitive Edge appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

At XPONENTIAL 2025, the annual gathering of more than 7,500 leaders and end users in the uncrewed systems industry, the topic of U.S. drone policy and national security took center stage. In a panel titled The High Stakes Debate: Security and the Future of Innovation, industry experts tackled how ongoing federal efforts to restrict Chinese […] The post High Stakes Debate at XPONENTIAL: How Security Policy Is Shaping the Future of Drone Innovation appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Partnership Will Explore Sensor Integration and Payload Development for Rugged UAS Platforms At the 2025 AUVSI XPONENTIAL conference in Houston, Massachusetts-based Ascent AeroSystems and Vietnam-based Gremsy JSC announced a new strategic collaboration aimed at advancing payload integration for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during a joint press […] The post Ascent AeroSystems and Gremsy Form Strategic Collaboration at XPONENTIAL 2025 appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

ANRA Technologies Leads Consortium to Demonstrate Safe Shared Airspace Operations for Emergency and Commercial Drones by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently announced that a grant from the Airspace Modernisation Support Fund (ASF) has been awarded to a consortium led by ANRA Technologies UK Ltd, with partners Lancashire […] The post UK CAA Awards Grant for First Operational Multi-UTM BVLOS Drone Trial appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

The commercial drone industry is evolving fast—with new technologies, regulations, and use cases emerging around the world. Now more than ever, it’s critical to stay informed, share your insights, and help guide the future of the sector. That’s why Drone Industry Insights (DRONEII) is launching the 8th Global Drone Industry Survey, and they want your […] The post Help Shape the Future: Participate in the DRONEII 2025 Global Industry Survey appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Company develops hybrid power system for Army drones by DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill A small private company, which produces heavy-fuel-capable rotary engines and hybrid electric power systems, has designed a system for the U.S. Army that it hopes can serve as a compact, highly efficient power source for the military’s next generation of UAVs […] The post From the Floor of Xponential 2025: LiquidPiston’s Hybrid Power System Offers Army Drones Extended Range and Stealth appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Remote drone inspections from miles away: MFE to demo Skydio X10 and Dock across the U.S. under new FAA authorization by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNab Edmonton-based MFE Inspection Solutions, a leading provider of advanced inspection tools, has been granted a broad BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) waiver by the FAA to operate […] The post FAA Waiver Enables Fully Remote Drone Inspections with Docked Systems appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

A Warning and a Call to Action for the Tech Community At XPONENTIAL 2025, the premier global event for uncrewed systems and robotics hosted by AUVSI (Association for Uncrewed Vehicles and Systems International), Axios Co-Founder and CEO Jim VandeHei delivered a keynote that challenged industry leaders to confront the realities of political and technological convergence. […] The post Jim VandeHei at XPONENTIAL: Why Innovators Can’t Ignore Washington appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau emphasized the agency’s commitment to balancing innovation with safety during a keynote fireside chat at the AUVSI XPONENTIAL conference, addressing critical updates on drone regulations, airspace modernization, and counter-UAS strategies. Rocheleau, a seasoned aviation leader who played a pivotal role in establishing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) after the 9/11 […] The post FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau Discusses Regulatory Priorities at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2025 appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Prism SKR and Supervisor software enhance AI-driven tracking and mission control for Project Artemis UAS platforms. by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb Teledyne FLIR OEM, a division of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, recently announced that US-based defense technology developer Dragoon is using the Prism™ Supervisor and Prism SKR software for its AI-driven object detection, tracking, […] The post Dragoon Taps Teledyne FLIR Autonomy Software for Next-Gen Defense Drones appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

XPONENTIAL 2025, hosted by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicles and Systems International (AUVSI), is underway in Houston, TX, bringing together more than 7,500 global leaders, technologists, policymakers, and end users from over 60 countries to shape the future of autonomous systems and robotics. This annual gathering is recognized as a premier event for collaboration and […] The post XPONENTIAL 2025: Sue Gordon, Rush Doshi Reveal What Tech Leaders Must Do to Win Now appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

XPONENTIAL 2025, hosted by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), is underway in Houston, TX, from May 19–22, 2025. This annual gathering brings together more than 7,500 global leaders, technologists, policymakers, and end users from over 20 industries and 60 countries to advance innovation in uncrewed systems and robotics. Michael Robbins: National Security […] The post Michael Robbins at XPONENTIAL 2025: U.S. Drone Industry Must Lead “Uncrewed Arsenal of Democracy” to Secure National Security appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

New Initiative Equips Young Professionals with Skills for the Future of AI, Robotics, and Aviation A New Pathway for the Next Generation As artificial intelligence and robotics reshape the global workforce, the need for new training programs is growing fast. A new initiative, the Elevate Scholarship Program, aims to prepare young professionals for careers in […] The post Industry Leaders Unite to Launch Elevate Scholarship Program for Drone Careers appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Unveiled at XPONENTIAL 2025, Osprey supports high-end sensors for inspection and ISR operations At the AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2025 conference, American drone manufacturer Skyfish introduced its latest enterprise drone, Osprey—a lightweight, survey-grade UAS designed as a U.S.-made alternative to leading foreign systems like DJI. The launch took place at Booth #3812 on May 20, 2025. Osprey […] The post Skyfish Launches Osprey: A New American-Made Drone Designed to Compete with DJI appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Nevada-Based Companies Collaborate on Advanced Aerial Imaging for Government and Commercial Use A New Collaboration for Enhanced Aerial Sensing Drone America, a U.S. manufacturer of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), and SpecTIR, a specialist in hyperspectral imaging technologies, have signed a new strategic agreement. The partnership will focus on delivering advanced aerial imaging solutions for use […] The post Drone America and SpecTIR Partner to Expand Hyperspectral UAS Capabilities appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Texas constable’s office beefs up its drone program By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill In a recent incident, a suspect whose vehicle had evaded deputies from Harris County Texas Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman’s office tried to evade capture on foot by running into a wooded area. Using drones, deployed in combination with K-9 dogs, […] The post Drones on Patrol: Texas Constable’s Office Expands UAV Program appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is taking a major step forward in drone operations by automating compliance for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights using AirData’s fleet management platform. This move enables PG&E to expand its drone program safely and efficiently, supporting critical missions like wildfire prevention across its 70,000-square-mile service area in California. […] The post PG&E Automates BVLOS Drone Compliance with AirData: A Case Study appeared first on DRONELIFE. View the full article