Category Archives: Non-Military & Commercial UAS

US MQ-9 Drone Just Flew a Mission Deep into Mexico

An MQ-9 Guardian medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) flew deep into Mexico last week, according to flight tracking data. What at least appears publicly to be a very rare event comes as the Trump administration has reportedly authorized the military to take action against cartels in Mexico. Continue reading

Drones Boost Grid Reliability with Faster Inspection of 400 Miles of Power Lines

Consumers Energy has expanded its use of drone technology across the electric grid by doubling its fleet in the past 2 years reinforcing its commitment to delivering reliable, safe and affordable service. By enhancing inspection speed and accessibility, drones enable the early detection and resolution of potential issues—particularly in areas where traditional inspections are difficult—helping to prevent service disruptions and improve customer experience. Continue reading

Frontex Deploys Shield AI’s V-BAT Drone to Secure Borders in Eastern Europe

Shield AI, the deep-tech company building state-of-the-art autonomy software products and aircraft, announced that its V-BAT unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has been operational in Europe since early June under a contract with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, and in partnership with Global Sat Tech, to provide a comprehensive border management solution. Continue reading

Teaching Drones to Fly Through Air Ducts

A new article published in npj Robotics addresses the challenge of flying small quadcopters in ventilation ducts with a maximum diameter of 35 cm. This research, conducted by a team of researchers from Inria, CNRS, the University of Lorraine, and Aix-Marseille University, opens up a new field of possibilities relating to the accessibility and inspection of confined environments. Continue reading