![AI-powered BVLOS long range search and rescue drones](https://dronelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SLSNSW_3-scaled-e1691254164549-300x225.jpeg)
As a result of the help of drone training specialist Aviassist, Surf Life Saving NSW’s Australian UAV Service could soon begin deploying long range drones to locate missing bushwalkers or people swept into rough seas. The technology was tested each night and day at Evans Head on the NSW far north coast, finding a pair of mock hikers who were “lost” in nearby scrubland.
![state and local drone regulations, FAA preemption, state drone laws, FAA fact sheet](https://dronelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Flag_map_of_the_United_States_Subdivisions-e1691419676439-300x188.png)
John emil hernandez, CC BY-SA 4.0
FAA Updates Fact Sheet on State and Local Drone Regulations
Since before the passage of Part 107 in 2016, regularizing industrial drone use in the US, state and native laws – sometimes in conflict with FAA regulations – have developed. This issue is usually discussed as Drone Federalism, resembling the failed “Drone Federalism Act of 2017,” or as FAA Preemption, which is the concept that the FAA rules the airspace from the bottom up. Former FAA Administrator Michael Huerta warned against the proliferation of state and native drone laws, saying that a “patchwork quilt” of regulations across the U.S. would only create confusion, limiting the industrial industry and never enhancing safety.
![Battle Creek Michigan drone park](https://dronelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1024px-Battle_Creek_Michigan_2008-e1691427227952-300x225.jpeg)
battlecreekcvb, CC BY 2.0
State Pledges $7 Million for Michigan Drone Park in Battle Creek: MICH-AIR
Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) has closed a $7 million appropriation in Michigan’s 2024 state budget signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on July thirty first. This funding will probably be leveraged to support the event of MICH-AIR, a sophisticated air mobility park on the Battle Creek Executive Airport (BTL). The airport has roughly 200 acres of land available for development, making it the proper site for drone operations.
SkyBound Rescuer Brings Eyes to the Sky: Automated Drone Service Helps Keep Traffic Flowing and Communities Secure
SkyBound Rescuer is on the forefront of public safety drone use. Internationally recognized founder and CEO Gemma Alcock is a thought leader in search and rescue (SAR) drone operations and the usage of drones for community safety, expanding the use cases and value of aerial imagery within the U.K. and beyond. Now, SkyBound Rescuer has announced the trial of a brand new fully automated drone service for Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) – one which guarantees to assist resolve a serious problem for cities and towns across the globe. SkyBound Rescuer have installed an automatic drone station in Walsall, designed to assist smooth transportation across bus, train, road and tram networks.
AI-Powered Analytics, Digital Twins: Pointivo for Asset Inspection, with SmartNav™ [VIDEO]
Founded in 2014, Atlanta-based Pointivo is a pioneer in digital twins and analytics, developing a large portfolio of the enabling technologies used as in-house systems in enterprise organizations. Now, Pointivo continues its mission in powering the inspection, monitoring and management of physical assets with Pointive for Asset Inspection – the one solution available on the market with Pointivo’s patented digital twin, SmartNav™ technology.
Distant Sensing Company Birdstop Secures Funding to Grow BVLOS Network
Distant sensing company Birdstop has secured $2.3M in funding for the needs of growing its BVLOS network, improving its AI capabilities, and providing customers with more data-driven value. Led by Lerer Hippeau, the funding round saw participation from Anorak Ventures, Correlation Ventures, Data Tech Fund, Graph Ventures, Techstars, Timberline Holdings, in addition to strategic investors Talon Aerolytics.
Global Mapper Mobile: Streamlining Data Collection and Processing
Available on iOS and Android systems, Global Mapper Mobile allows data to be delivered to and from the sector for reference, augmentation, and recent data collection. The Pro version of Global Mapper Mobile, available with an annual subscription, improves functionality with additional support for external GPS device connections, expanded online data streaming sources, on-the-go terrain processing, and more.
NPS-DDP Marks forty seventh Drone Donation for Pennsylvania Fire Department: Paying it Forward within the Public Safety Community
NPS-DDP stands for National Public Safety Drone Donation Program. The name says all of it: the organization is concentrated on getting drones into the hands of communities who need it most, but may not have the general public funding available to construct a fleet. By collecting donations from individuals, drone manufacturers and partners, and NPS-DDP President Mark Langley’s drone services company Airborne Works, which directly supports NPS-DDP, this system is capable of match applicants from communities across the country with the hardware they should start.
![Garuda Aerospace partners](https://dronelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/uav-sentinel-G3-e1691604973601-300x169.jpeg)
Aero Sentinel G3
Garuda Aerospace Offers Entry Into Growing Indian Drone Market: Partners with Manufacturers in US, Canada, Israel and Europe
Garuda Aerospace, a industrial and defense UAV firm based in Chennai, India, recently announced recent partnerships with Titan Innovations, Easy Aerial, Azur Drones, Aero Sentinel, and Securiton for nationwide distribution of their units across security, infrastructure, and defense applications. After they announced aggressive expansion efforts in June, this major increase in Indian distribution for these international firms is available in the wake of India’s recent decision to ban DJI drones amidst rising tensions between the Indian and Chinese governments.
Groundbreaking Drone Flights with Radiation Detection Pave the Way for Improved Safety on Nuclear Sites
Groundbreaking Elios 3 Flights at Sellafield Pave Way for Improved Safety on Nuclear Sites. Drone pilots at UK nuclear site Sellafield Ltd have successfully accomplished two flight firsts resulting in increased worker safety during decommissioning. Flyability’s Elios 3 drone was successfully deployed with a LiDAR sensor, marking a serious milestone for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) team and achieving peerless efficiency in mapping and 3D modeling.
EMED Group, Skyports Partner on Trial of Medical Courier Services by Drone
Leading healthcare logistics provider EMED Group and drone logistics and monitoring leader Skyports Drone Services have accomplished a proof-of-concept project looking for to supply medical courier services with additional innovation and sustainability advantages. The four-week trial launched this past June, and was run with EMED Group customer East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT). The project saw the successful delivery of greater than 400 pathology samples between two ESNEFT sites, demonstrating the power of frequent drone operations to help traditional medical courier services in further enhancing services for patients and healthcare professionals.
Insider View: How Latest York Power Authority Powers Their Enterprise Drone Program with ANRA MissionManager
Because the world embraces the potential of drone technology, enterprises just like the Latest York Power Authority (NYPA) are finding revolutionary ways to leverage unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for streamlined operations. Drawing insights from a recent ANRA Huddle webinar featuring NYPA’s UAS Program Manager Peter Kalaitzidis and ANRA Technology‘s Chief Strategy Officer Brent Klavon, this text delves into NYPA’s adoption of cutting-edge technology and software to boost the efficiency and safety of their enterprise drone operations.
Skydio Shifts Focus: Transitioning Away from Consumer Drones
US drone manufacturer Skydio has announced that they’ll sunset their consumer drone business to give attention to the enterprise market. In a blog post by Skydio CEO Adam Bry published today, the corporate revealed that it is going to discontinue its consumer drone line to prioritize its offerings for the enterprise and public sector. This decision comes 4 years after the launch of the Skydio 2, a drone that gained attention for its unique features like follow-and-film capability and autonomous cinematography.