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NASA is stepping up preparations for an advanced air mobility (AAM) future. The U.S. agency's researchers recently completed simulations involving a vertiport hosting large volumes of eVTOL aircraft operations as part of its high-density vertiplex (HDV) subproject.

Aquiline Drones Corporation (AD) has successfully completed the licensing process to establish its own insurance subsidiary – Aquiline Drones Indemnity Corporation (ADIC), through the State of Connecticut Insurance Department, making AD the first U.S. drone manufacturer to do so. 

Aquiline Drones, the first black US-based drone and cloud technology company, offers a new drone training program, Flight to the Future, which they hope will help Americans who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19.

Hovering amid this new enthusiasm for drone-based delivery services are questions about how best to ensure air traffic safety, particularly for drones operating in densely populated areas.

In our 2019 drone industry survey, we sought out to understand how the U.S. drone industry is doing — are pilots making money? What industries are they in? How often are they flying?

In California, Enterprise UAS collaborated with partners from drone industry players including DJI Enterprise, FLIR sUAS, and GoProfessional Cases to host a two-day drone training event for public safety agencies.

Surveyors are harnessing the power of drone technology by focusing on at-risk riparian areas of northern New Jersey. In fact, images captured by unmanned aerial vehicles have become part of the documentation for a FEMA program that saves Pompton Lakes residents hundreds of thousands of dollars per year on flood insurance premiums.

A recently released whitepaper from drone technology provider PrecisionHawk and Skylogic Research outlines the areas of opportunities for BVLOS inspections with electric utilities, insurance companies the oil and gas industry and other businesses. According to the paper, what motivates companies to explore BVLOS operations with UAS are safety, costs, data quality and consistency and time to value.

The market for commercial drones is expanding faster than earlier predicted and is drawing record-breaking levels of investment from venture capitalists.

State Farm Insurance has been granted a waiver to conduct operations over people and beyond the pilot's visual line of sight, an approval that builds on previous limited-duration waivers.

The commercial drone industry in the U.S. is still very young — it was only two years ago that the Federal Aviation Administration passed rules giving companies the green light to fly their own drones. That means some of the first movers in the industry are scaling at eye-popping rates, as embodied by Raleigh drone startup PrecisionHawk, which today announced its fifth acquisition in one year.

The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018 recently signed into law is being hailed a significant step forward by those in the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry and by aviation law experts. But to those who have criticized the slow pace of lawmakers and regulators in implementing a clear path forward for the UAS industry, the legislation not only provides five years of funding for the FAA's priorities, but also promises more regulatory guidance.

According to a study recently unveiled by Munich Reinsurance America Inc., nearly three-fourths of all U.S. farmers "are currently using or considering adopting the technology to assess, monitor and manage their farm."

Despite the growing opportunities in the drone industry today, challenges still exist that may hamper or prevent the level of growth forecasted by industry experts.

We've talked about what it means for commercial drone operators to assess risk, but the nuances associated with different types of insurance and whether or not standard policies cover a given operation have many people exposing themselves to liability without fully realizing what they're doing. It's an issue that can cause serious issues financially and legally.

Mike Nevins has worked on the cutting edge of technology before — he began his career at the beginning of the revolution in personal computing, in fact. Nonetheless, Nevins admits he has no idea where the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles will lead or what the future holds for an industry for which the sky is literally the limit. For now, Nevins prefers to focus on what he does know, and that's the varied services his UAV and his business, MountainSky Aerial, offers.

It's been a good month for drone software developers. In the U.S., San Francisco-based Converge received a $750,000 round of seed funding from a group of big-name investors, including Samsung NEXT, Techstars Ventures and Kima Ventures.

It's been a good month for drone software developers. In the U.S., San Francisco-based Converge received a $750,000 round of seed funding from a group of big-name investors, including Samsung NEXT, Techstars Ventures and Kima Ventures.

This new paradigm of Drone-based inspections is helping industries improve efficiency and quality of data acquisition while increasing safety and speed of delivery. Although a new and emerging technology, (which is still evolving), in early 2018, most companies are not aware of the possible benefits they can achieve using small unmanned aerial vehicles to inspect their assets.

Drones are going to see significant new capabilities in 2018. The use of multiple high-functioning cameras as well as upgraded Global Navigation Satellite System will enhance navigational acumen far beyond that of today's drone models. This, combined with ultra-fast charging and longer-lasting batteries, means the drones of 2018 will have far greater range and performance flexibility. Expect to see more and more sectors incorporating drones into their operations this year as a result.

U.S. drone sales in 2017 topped $1 billion for the first time ever, but don't raise a glass too quickly if you are in New Jersey, where lawmakers are poised to outlaw drunken droning next week.

The Federal Aviation Administration says commercial drone companies make up the majority of more than 2,800 interested party applications to the U.S. Department of Transportation's UAS Integration Pilot Program announced in October 2017.

North Dakota is America's leading state in drone research and testing, the Silicon Valley of drone innovation — testing, developing applications and training operators. Four elements came together in North Dakota to give the Roughrider State a head start in the unmanned aerial systems industry (UAS) — its emptiness, its weather, its university and its UAS-friendly policies.

Over 2,800 commercial drone firms have applied to be "interested parties" – partnering with state, local and tribal governments on the UAS Integration Pilot Program.

Few would have imagined the transformation of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, from toys for adults to revolutionary machines for businesses, the military, cinema, maintenance groups, fire-fighters, health services, farming and so much more. But, as competition in the marketplace drives down prices, how exactly will drones revisit traditional business models? One thing is for sure: thanks to them, companies not only can design innovative value propositions, but also radically modify the way they operate.

Industrial drone platform provider Kespry has raised $33 million in a series C round of funding led by G2VP, with participation from Cisco Investments, Shell Technology Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, DCM Ventures, Spectrum 28, ABB Ventures, and H. Barton Asset Management.

The millions of small civilian drones plying the nation's skies can cause significant damage to airliners and business jets in a midair collision, new research commissioned by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration concluded.

The International Drone Racing Association (IDRA) has announced that drone events are now eligible to apply for event liability insurance. After using IDRA's semi-professional series, 2017 Challengers Cup, as an opportunity to test the liability insurance with partnered event organizers, the company is motivated and excited to expand the coverage to other drone related events around the globe. IDRA is confident that the service will have a positive impact in helping drone events find applicable and affordable coverage to protect their businesses, pilots, and spectators.

Opinion piece by Elaine Chao, U.S. Sec. of Transportation, regarding the potential benefits of drones and the new, recently launched initiative to allow state, local, or tribal leaders to partner with drone operators to test and deploy drone operations that currently require special authorizations.

People often pose the question, "What will happen if I get caught flying a commercial drone without a Remote Pilot Certificate?" This is a very valid question, considering answers found on the internet might not always be accurate. For example, there are online forums suggesting 1) you won't get caught by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); 2) you shouldn't bother getting a Remote Pilot Certificate; or 3) it's not worth it to invest in drone training or certification.This is not sound advice. The risk associated with non-certificated individuals can not only harm others but can also result in serious legal issues for both the individual and the hiring business.

With hurricane season in full swing and Hurricane Irma battering the southeastern United States, drones are expected to play a significant role in recovery efforts and could shift the narrative surrounding the benefits of drone use, particularly as it pertains to emergency response.

National insurance organizations have a stake in proposed congressional legislation regulating the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and commercial drones — both as users of the emerging technology and as providers of liability coverage.

DARTdrones, a provider of drone training and consulting, has announced four separate workshops on deploying unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for mapping, journalism, search and rescue (SAR), and roof inspections. DARTdrones, whose founder and CEO, Abby Speicher, grabbed a deal with Mark Cuban on ABC's "Shark Tank" earlier this year, is rolling out the workshops this fall.

Teal Group's 2017 World Civil UAS Market Profile and Forecast forecasts that non-military UAS production will total $73.5 billion in the next decade, soaring from $2.8 billion worldwide in 2017 to $11.8 billion in 2026, a 15.5 % compound annual growth rate in constant dollars.

Michele Nash-Hoff, president of ElectroFab Sales, recently visited North Dakota and its Northern Plains UAS Test Site in Grand Forks and questioned why the FAA selected North Dakota as a UAS test site. After hearing all of the reasons why, she determined that it was entirely appropriate to select the state as a designated testing site as opposed to her home city of San Diego, Calif.., and home county of San Diego County.

To most people a drone is one of two very different kinds of pilotless aircraft: a toy or a weapon. It is either a small, insect-like device that can sometimes be seen buzzing around in parks or on beaches, or a large military aircraft that deals death from the skies, allowing operators in Nevada to fire missiles at terrorist suspects in Syria. The first category, recreational drones aimed at consumers, are the more numerous by far; around 2m were sold around the world last year. The second category, military drones, account for the vast majority (nearly 90%) of worldwide spending on drones. But after a pivotal year for the civilian drone industry, an interesting space is now opening up in the middle as drones start to be put to a range of commercial use.

Kansas State Polytechnic is offering several new UAS training options in June. UAS Data and Image Processing, June 16-17, is an introductory data processing course focusing on collecting quality still imagery with a sUAS for precision mapping and vegetation analysis. Attendees will learn about sensors, cameras, and other related technology to capture the best data.

Unmanned Aerial Systems are without a doubt at the forefront of aerial innovation. As an emerging industry that is inherently fraught with risk, it should come as little surprise that the insurance market is quickly trying to capture and develop this promising new market.  One major carrier, Liberty Mutual, recently announced a joint venture with Acend, Inc. to launch a new drone insurance platform..

At some point in the not-too-distant future, fleets of commercial drones are expected to swarm across American skies. Companies in a wide range of industries will employ unmanned vehicles for tactical advantage—inspecting infrastructure, surveying crops, maybe even estimating how much your new roof will cost.  And when these drones fly, a torrent of data will follow them like an invisible contrail.

Colleges are eager to put drones to use both inside and outside the classroom, but federal agencies and university risk managers are taking a cautious approach before opening the airspace above college campuses.

The company in question is not alone my research suggests. Insurance companies have shown little signs of adapting rapidly enough to the rise of drones, which are fast growing as both commercial tools and recreational devices, with liability issues increasing in step with their popularity.  As drone flying continues to grow, and the number of incidents likely to follow suit, this ambiguity from insurance companies can make for an unpleasant and potentially costly experience for the insurers and their customers. There's a pressing need for the insurance industry to better define what is a 'drone' in policies, as well as more clearly stipulate what is and isn't covered with the respect to these aircraft .

When a corporate drone crashes, it can be one of the worst-case scenarios for owners who rely on UAS technology to conduct a wide-array of business functions. Aside from the obvious monetary concerns, however, commercial drone owners and operators need to be familiar with the accident reporting requirements of both the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") and National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB"). Although the respective regulations complement each other in many respects, the FAA and NTSB requirements are not identical. This article provides an overview of the current regulations related to drone accident reporting.

Allstate Insurance is using drones to assess spring storm related property damage claims across four states, including Oklahoma. A fleet of drones are ready in Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas to help evaluate property damage issues after storms this spring.

Farmers Insurance is testing drones while assessing hail damage across North Texas. Drones could be commonplace in assessing storm damage in the future.

Small businesses are pioneering the use of commercial drones. Here's where they are being used right now.

Whether you refer to them as ­unmanned aerial vehicles, remotely ­piloted aircraft, or unmanned aircraft ­systems, we affectionately know them as drones, and they are rapidly expanding beyond the settings in which we've grown accustomed to seeing them. What began as military weapons are being adapted for a myriad of commercial purposes. Unfortunately, as attorneys are all too aware, technological advancement necessarily creates ­additional liability.

From Lady Gaga using hundreds of Intel Corp. Shooting Star drones during the Super Bowl halftime to Amazon.com's patent for its blimp-like airborne flying center to help drones quickly deliver packages, there are plenty of reasons unmanned aerial vehicles are going mainstream.