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As unmanned aerial systems proliferate, airports across the country are becoming increasingly concerned over the need to keep unauthorized drones from entering restricted airspace, potentially interfering with scheduled flight traffic, forcing ground delays and posing a possible danger to manned aircraft and personnel.

This bill would allow law enforcement agencies to use federal grants to purchase and operate drones, expanding access to technology that enhances public safety and emergency response capabilities.

In Aug. 2024, a team of NASA researchers and partners gathered in Missoula, Montana to test new drone-based technology for localized forecasting, or micrometeorology. Researchers attached wind sensors to a drone, NASA's Alta X quadcopter, aiming to provide precise and sustainable meteorological data to help predict fire behavior.

Commercial Drone Alliance Calls for Regulatory Clarity and Expanded Counter-UAS Authorities

As more and more public safety agencies recognize the power of drones to enable faster response times, Drone as First Responder (DFR) systems are being adopted by that many more departments.

NASA is working with the wildfire response community to develop new technologies that will enhance aerial firefighting operations, particularly at night. These advancements could enable drones, both remotely piloted and autonomous, to assist in wildfire suppression around the clock, even in low-visibility conditions

As drone incursions at sporting events surge, stadium operators and law enforcement push for Congressional action on counter-UAS measures.

The FAA has designated a "No Drone Zone" for Caesars Superdome in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX on game day, Sunday, Feb. 9 and in the skies around the city's downtown area during the days leading up to the big event.

By integrating data collected from "Meteodrone," the project aims to develop a high-accuracy weather forecasting system. The initiative will improve flight planning and airspace management, particularly in challenging weather conditions.

Jails and prisons in the United States and across the world are facing a growing problem of criminals delivering contraband via drone to inmates. And many officials fear that the weaponization of drones, seen in conflict areas across the globe, could soon become a major problem in nations that are otherwise at peace.

Local, state and federal officials are increasingly calling for changes to current federal law, regarding the ability of facility owners to detect and mitigate unwanted drone incursions. Lawmakers are also demanding that state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) law enforcement agencies be granted new authority to interrupt the flight of, or even bring down errant drones that pose a threat to critical infrastructure sites or other significant potential targets.

At the 2024 Energy Drone & Robotics Summit, the Asset Owner Roundtable brought together industry leaders to discuss how drones and robotics are integrating into energy operations

To understand how DAA development is progressing we reached out to Kraettli Epperson, CEO, Vigilant Aerospace Systems, an Oklahoma City-based company.

Technology companies in Los Angeles and Silicon Valley are volunteering their services, including deploying drones equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities "to detect flare-ups and to try to reach new fires as quickly as possible." These vehicles, the news outlet stated, are "capable of getting closer to the flames than humans would be able to safely, can help map the firefight along with satellites."

The recent New Jersey drone panic has made it clear: people want to know what's flying in low altitude airspace.  Why can't we provide the level of clarity demanded?  What's needed to make it happen?  This guest post by MatrixSpace's Dan O'Shea explains the current gaps in airspace awareness technology and infrastructure.

This week DJI, the world's leading drone manufacturer, announced a new policy removing enforcement of its "No Fly Zone" geofences in restricted areas. The sudden shift may lead to more drones hovering where they shouldn't, which could worsen a lingering national panic over flying objects in the sky. 

Utilizing DFR (Drone as First Responder) programs, safety professionals of all types are using the technology to provide everything from better situation awareness to enabling faster response times to reducing risk to personnel. When operating Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), those benefits can be taken to another level, but a recent milestone showcases the true significance of that next level. 

OPEN CALL for Counter Drone Sponsors and Live Demonstrations for the U.S. Military Drone Racing Championship.

City officials should understand that FAA's rules allow for most areas to be open and drones may be flying in closer proximity to buildings, homes and people that the public may expect.

Experts Urge Action to Close Gaps in Airspace Awareness and Empower Local Law Enforcement

There are more than one million drones lawfully registered with the FAA in the United States and there are thousands of commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones lawfully in the sky on any given day. With the technology landscape evolving, we expect that number to increase over time.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has signed an agreement with the University of North Dakota to become the next school for the Enhanced Air Traffic – Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. The school will join Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Tulsa Community College and the University of Oklahoma as the first schools to offer the same thorough curriculum and advanced technology offered at the FAA Air Traffic Controller Academy in Oklahoma City. 

Mithril Defense and Texas Legislators Push for UAVs with Pepper Spray to Enhance School Safety Amid Funding Challenges

North Dakota's reliance on Chinese-made drones is under scrutiny, as nearly 90% of drones used by state agencies are manufactured in China. Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, has introduced a bill to allocate $15 million to replace these drones.

Drone as First Responder (DFR) system, which is meant to capture data on the origin location of an incident and inform police forces, fire brigades, or rescue organizations going out to the site.

By producing a singular Strategy for Countering Unmanned Systems, the Secretary and the Department are orienting around a common understanding of the challenge and a shared approach to addressing it.

Jeep is looking at ways to integrate drones with its vehicles, as recent patent filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) indicate. One possible use Jeep is looking to patent is off-road spotting. Instead of a person getting out of the vehicle to survey the terrain ahead and direct the driver over the appropriate line through obstacles,

Texas public schools could be guarded by drones armed with pepper spray or Tasers under a new bill filed in the Texas Legislature meant to beef up school security. The measure would boost funding for safety upgrades and let schools deploy drones in place of the armed guards that lawmakers required on every campus in response to the Uvalde school shooting.

ARISE is the latest advancement in autonomous drone swarm technology that will benefit emergency services in Tulsa and beyond. ARISE utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance drone team capabilities for emergency response scenarios. Multiple drones autonomously coordinate and use real-time data integration to analyze the scene and relay information.

How drones used for criminal activity are driving bipartisan calls for expanded detection and mitigation powers.

Drones Prove Effective for Rapid, Real-Time Response in Urban Settings

the need to equip first responders with counter drone technology, training, and authority. 

With the growing number of incidents involving drone flying where and when they shouldn't, local law enforcement agencies and drone security companies are lobbying Congress to pass legislation that would extend the authority to conduct counter-drone measures – currently held by a handful of select federal agencies – to local-level police officials.

In the years since Hurricane Sandy, the city has upgraded its disaster response efforts with the help of drones, which can warn people in low-lying areas of imminent flooding risk, breach storm-damaged buildings to help rescue survivors and conduct post-storm aerial surveys to help assess the extent of the damage.

Leveraging BVLOS and Advanced Imaging, UAS Crews Aid in Damage Assessment and Resource Allocation Across 500 Miles of Affected Roads

Forum will bring together local government leaders to provide timely and strategic advice to the federal government and aviation industry on efforts to integrate advanced air mobility (AAM) like air taxis and drones into U.S. airspace and communities across the country

Volunteers use heavy-lift drones to bring life-saving supplies to isolated communities in North Carolina's mountainous region after roads are destroyed by the storm.

Commercial UAV News publishes regular reports on the use of drones in the public safety sector.

As aviation technology evolves, it's critical for localities to stay ahead and informed, and CAAP provides a scalable, low-cost, introductory solution to meet that challenge with the flexibility to scale for the future

The goal is to develop forecasting tools that can help predict what times of year, what times of day, or what ocean conditions are likely to be more or less sharky.

Harnessing AI and Unmanned Aerial Fleets to Predict, Detect, and Combat Wildfires Across the Globe

The Woodlands, Texas, a master-planned suburban development about 30 miles north of Houston, is joining the growing list of communities that are coming under the watchful eye of police agencies' drones-as-first-responders programs.

Drones equipped with advanced cameras and artificial intelligence (AI) can provide firefighters with valuable time to respond quickly.

An extensive and comprehensive update on the activities of the Drone Safety Team (DST) over the past year.

Georgia's Department of Corrections is grappling with a significant challenge as drones increasingly smuggle contraband into state prisons.

Windracers' AI-Powered Ultra UAVs Show Promise in Early Detection and Rapid Response to Wildfires.

Partnership Aims to Eliminate the Need for Visual Observers in Emergency Drone Deployments

At the DRONERESPONDERS Georgia Public Safety Drone Summit, a session addressed the growing concern of unauthorized or rogue drones. The discussion centered on what law enforcement agencies can do when faced with community complaints about drones involved in illegal activitie

The fire department of the small city of Magnolia, Texas has put its UAV to work to deal with a number of floods and wildfires

This contract will enable ResilienX to work closely with NASA's System-Wide Safety (SWS) project, an R&D project aimed at advancements towards the safety and resilience of future highly-autonomous aviation systems and aircraft.