Maldives President Launches National Defense Force Bayraktar TB2 Drones

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on Friday night, has launched the drones acquired for Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) to surveil the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the clock. The drones were launched, and President Muizzu signed the order permitting the operation of operations during a ceremony held for the purpose at N. Maafaru airport. […]

Ukrainian Soviet-Era Tu-143 Reys UAVs Repurposed as Kamikaze Drones

Ukraine is reaching deeper into its stocks of Cold War-vintage leftovers to find weapons—any weapons—that can strike military and industrial targets deep inside Russia. Somewhere, somehow, someone seems to have found an additional batch of 1970s-vintage Tupolev Tu-141/143 drones—crude, hulking but nevertheless potentially effective vehicles that the Ukrainians last deployed a year ago, four decades […]

Drones Aid Reforestation in Austria’s Tyrol Forest

In Austria’s Alps, drones are being used in a pilot project to protect areas of the forest vulnerable to deforestation. In a project orchestrated between the State Forestry Directorate and the East Tyrol District Forestry Inspectorate drones are being used to fight against the destructive bark beetle. If successful, the initiative could be applied in […]

The best drone photos of 2024 (according to SkyPixel)

If this collection of best drone photos of 2024 are any indication, drone photography has come a long way since its inception. In 2024, drone photography continued its ascent to new heights, capturing breathtaking landscapes, wildlife encounters and even human endeavors in ways never before possible with a camera on land or a helicopter in the sky.

SkyPixel today announced the winners of its 9th Annual Photo & Video Contest. The winners were selected across more than 130,000 submissions, which is a 100% increase from the previous year.

Out of all 130,000 aerial photos, this was deemed the best drone photo of 2023:

Photo: “Mongolian Yurt” by Daolai

The photo above is titled “Mongolian Yurt,” and it was submitted by the aerial photographer who goes by Daolai.

Daolai shot the image on a snowy morning in the Ulan Butung Grasslands of Inner Mongolia using a Mavic 3 Pro drone. For this specific photo, Daolai capitalized on the drone’s three times zoom functionality.

So what’s so standout about this particular photo against the thousands of other SkyPixel entries?

“Captured this photo depicts herdsmen making preparations for the grassland event,” according to a statement from SkyPixel. “The scene is naturally picturesque, authentically depicting the lives of the herdsmen as they interact with the horses, the camels and the landscape, with their yurt, their homes, as a central focus. Against the stark contrast created by the snow, Daolai found the scene reminiscent of a traditional Chinese ink painting.”

That photo was selected by a judging panel of seasoned experts including:

  • Wen Huang, a World Press Photo judge and Senior Editor
  • Anne Farrar, Assistant Photography Chief Editor at National Geographic
  • Nan Li, the Photo Director of Southern Weekly
  • Daniel Kordan, a renowned landscape photographer

““I was drawn to the storytelling of this image,” Farrar said. “Such a beautiful wispy landscape has a lovely painterly look, very soft and almost feels like powder. A beautiful aerial landscape that doesn’t rely on graphic quality alone and tells a community story.”

Other great drone photos of 2024

While Daolai took the overall grand prize in the SkyPixel 9th Annual Photo & Video Contest, there were plenty of other deserving images. SkyPixel also released the results of the other ‘Top 10’ winners as well as the five ‘Nominated Photo’ winners. Here they are:

Top 10 Photos of 2024

A Bold, Bare-Chested Ride by Parker
A Symphony in Snow by Guofu
Bird’s eye view on Iceland by Pawel Zygmunt
E IN THE LAKE by Ekrem SAHİN
Balloon floating over trees in winter by Jonas Hoffmann
Hunting together by Pham Huy Trung
Motion and Stillness by Patrick Wong
Silence by Nguyen Khanh Vu Khoa
“Fatigue Sleep” by Muhammad Amdad Hossain
Tree of life by Isabella Tabacchi

Top Nominated Photos of 2024

Abyss by Dylan de Haas
Back home by Jeremiasz Gadek
Mining Farm by Xuhaha
Pioneering New Realms by David
“City Spider-Man” by Qihui Chen

What happens to the winners?

Besides honor and exposure, the photographers behind the best drone photos of 2024 actually get physical prizes.

The Annual Best Work prize entailed more than $14,000 worth of gear. That kit included a Hasselblad X2D 100C medium format mirrorless camera, which alone goes for more than $8,000. Additionally, SkyPixel named Daolai as an official SkyPixel Creator (which includes a prestigious trophy and an award certificate).

Meanwhile, the Top Photo winners each received the DJI Mavic 3 Pro Fly More Combo (DJI RC), a trophy, and award certificate, with a total value of nearly $3,000. The Nominated Prizes each received the Osmo Action 4 Adventure Combo and award certificate (worth about $400) and the People’s Choice Prizes received the Osmo Mobile 6 and award certificate (worth about $150).

The 9th Annual SkyPixel Photo & Video Contest winners were selected through a submission period which opened on Nov. 7 2023 and ran through Feb. 2, 2024. All entries had to have been shot on a drone (though it didn’t necessarily have to be a DJI drone).

Curious what the competition was like last year? Check out the winners from the 7th edition of the contest, which were named in 2023. And come back later this week for a guide to the best aerial videos of 2023, also based on SkyPixel winners.

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The post The best drone photos of 2024 (according to SkyPixel) appeared first on The Drone Girl.

Anti-Drone Units to Keep Paris 2024 Olympics Safe

Security is the Paris 2024 Olympics’ hottest topic and France intends to leave no stone unturned as it prepares to secure the Games with the help of anti-drone units. The military base of Villacoublay just outside Paris will be the home of an anti-drone coordination centre where police, gendarmerie and army officers will work hand […]

Houston Prepares for eVTOL Air Taxi Operations: DRONELIFE Exclusive Interview

Houston Aviation Department outlines vision for future air taxi operations By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The city of Houston is laying the groundwork for establishing an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) system in the surrounding region. As part of this effort, the Houston Airport System recently announced it was in discussions with several manufacturers of […]

The post Houston Prepares for eVTOL Air Taxi Operations: DRONELIFE Exclusive Interview appeared first on DRONELIFE.

Commercial Drone Alliance, AUVSI Release FAA’s Drone Remote ID Rule FAQ

FAQ Helps Drone Operators, Manufacturers Comply with FAA’s Drone Remote ID Rule The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) and the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) have jointly released a comprehensive guide clarifying the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) UAS Remote Identification (RID) Rule. This guide serves as a resource for operators and manufacturers navigating the […]

The post Commercial Drone Alliance, AUVSI Release FAA’s Drone Remote ID Rule FAQ appeared first on DRONELIFE.

360° drone filming for a Fulldome VR360 movie

A look back at three days of drone filming in VR360 video in the breathtaking landscapes of the Alpes-Maritimes around the Mercantour National Park, with Sébastien Gauthier, for the Réserve Internationale de Ciel Étoilé (RICE).

 Tournages drone en vidéo 360 pour un film Fulldome VR360
Retour en images sur ces trois jours de tournage drone en vidéo VR360 au cœur des paysages époustouflants des Alpes-Maritimes autour du Parc National du Mercantour, avec Sébastien Gauthier, pour la Réserve Internationale de Ciel Étoilé (RICE).

The post 360° drone filming for a Fulldome VR360 movie appeared first on DRONESTAG.

Pentagon unveils ambitious $1 billion investment in “Replicator” drone initiative

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks this month announced a planned investment of $1 billion over the next two years in the Pentagon’s “Replicator” program, which puts drones front and center. Announced last year, the “Replicator” program is a government effort to quickly round up relatively low-cost drones cheap drones that could be used for military purposes.

The idea? The flying robots that have historically been used as “military” drones have also historically been expensive. It’s more than just cost, though. Traditional defense acquisition programs have often been criticized for lengthy timelines.

But as recent examples — most notably the war in Ukraine — have evidenced, even consumer drones can function as military drones. Ukrainians have used drones for a myriad of use cases, including:

  • performing tactical intelligence.
  • conducting surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) on the battlefield to help identify enemy formations.
  • using aerial visuals to understand their enemy’s scheme of maneuver and improve targeting accuracy.
  • conducting post-strike analysis.
  • documenting war crimes.

Yet even Ukraine doesn’t have enough drones. According to W. Mark Valentine, President of Global Government at Skydio, Ukrainian forces are losing up to ten-thousand drones per month to Russian counter drone operations.

“By contrast, based on open-source information, it appears the U.S. Military has fielded enough drones to last less than two-months at a similar rate of attrition,” he said in a September 2023 blog post on the Replicator initiative.

Thus, the U.S. is looking to beef up its own arsenal of military drones using small, low-cost drone systems. Still, even the U.S. is spending a hefty sum of money. The Replicator Initiative’s core objective is largely to counter China’s growing military strength by overwhelming adversaries with what might be considered more expendable drones.

The planned $1 billion investment translates to about $500 annually dedicated to rapidly producing and deploying large fleets of autonomous drones. In March 2024, we learned that the Department of Defense had requested $500 million to support its Replicator initiative in fiscal year 2025. It’s expected to submit an additional $500 million reprogramming request for Replicator for fiscal year 2024 if Congress does not appropriate those funds in the FY2024 budget. Reprogramming refers to the method of shifting funds around within Pentagon accounts to meet what the department considers urgent needs.

What is the Replicator Initiative?

Adam Bry, Skydio CEO and Co-Founder, Deputy Secretary of Defense Katheen Hicks, and Doug Beck, Director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense, view an autonomous drone demonstration. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

Announced in August 2023, the Replicator initiative is an effort to equip the U.S. military with affordable, autonomous systems.

“It’s clear that the character of warfare is changing,” Hicks said in a prepared statement from December 2023. “Replicator is part of how — at the Department of Defense — we’re putting our thumb on the scale to make sure America, not our strategic competitors and adversaries, are the ones who see, drive, and master the future character of warfare.”

The Replicator initiative focuses on using cost-effective drones to overwhelm adversaries with their sheer numbers. The program’s key focus lies in accelerating the fielding of operational drone swarms within an 18-24 month timeframe. This aggressive timeline represents a marked departure from traditional defense acquisition timelines. That suggests a prioritization of streamlined processes and potential integration of commercially available technologies.

Replicator Initiative: a project shrouded in secrecy

Still, much of the project has been under wraps. Though, the Pentagon has said it would offer up more details once it has money and lawmakers’ approval.

“We’re developing classification guidelines, that’ll help us walk that line of sharing information that really shows industry what we’re doing, and at the same protects the things that we think are important,” Hicks said.

In addition, specific details regarding the Replicator drones and the companies involved remain classified. The Pentagon has also not yet publicly disclosed the initial capabilities targeted by the initiative, nor the physical characteristics of the drones themselves. While this secrecy may expedite internal processes, it has also raised concerns about transparency. With public trust in drone programs hinging on open communication, some experts have cautioned that the shroud of secrecy surrounding Replicator could hinder public support.

What companies are involved in the Replicator initiative?

What companies are involved in the Replicator initiative? That’s also part of the secret.

Back in November 2023, Hicks said the Pentagon would select the candidates within the next few weeks.

“I would not necessarily say the candidates will be announced,” she said at a Defense Writers Group breakfast in Washington, DC in November 2023. “We’re being very careful. I’ve talked to Congress in classified sessions on this, but how we choose to speak about it, in terms of the particular programs or projects that will be accelerating through Replicator is to be determined.”

While the Pentagon has not announced the list of companies officially involved with Replicator, there are some signs. (Note this is neither an official nor definitive list of involved companies or drone types, and should be considered speculative):

Skydio

The Skydio X10 drone flying at night.
Skydio X10 drone. Photo courtesy of Skydio

In particular, American drone companies like Skydio have garnered attention in connection with Replicator. While specific details remain under wraps, Skydio’s experience in mass-producing small, autonomous drones aligns with potential needs of the initiative. Skydio also claims to be the largest drone manufacturer in the U.S. The company has publicly announced its support for the Replicator program.

Skydio in late 2023 launched the Skydio X10 drone, an enterprise-range quadcopter that stands out for its high-resolution cameras. That makes it particularly powerful at night or in other low-light situations, which is critical for military applications. The lightweight, portable drone is also standout in military use given its weather resistance and capability to fight against jammers.

Skydio already has strong military ties. For example, last August Skydio announced a massive U.S. Army contract worth up to $99.8 million. Additionally, Skydio is one of just about a dozen companies participating in the U.S. Department of Defense’s pilot program called Blue sUAS 2.0. With Blue sUAS 2.0, private companies work with the government to prototype a new process of approving U.S. military-compliant drones.

Maritime drones

And not all drones might necessarily be the flying ones. Some experts point to ocean drones as critical.

Just look to China’s Haidou-1 AUV as one example. According to state media, the Haidou-1 AUV conducted a mission in May 2020 in the Mariana Trench. There, it reached depths as much as 35,784 feet. According to state media, that was a record for Chinese underwater vehicles.

“With all this ocean drone activity, it is no surprise China has rapidly developed and deployed capabilities comparable to or exceeding those of the United States,” wrote Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, U.S. Navy (Retired) in a post for the U.S. Naval Institute. “This in part is the reason for the Defense Department’s new Replicator initiative, which intends to deliver thousands of attritable, all-domain, autonomous systems to counter the rapid growth of China’s armed forces. Kinetic interceptors will be included through the production-ready, inexpensive, maritime expeditionary small USV solicitation by the Defense Innovation University.”

What about Blue sUAS?

The Replicator initiative is not the only Department of Defense initiative to bring more private drone makers into the fold of producing drones for military or government use.

The DoD in August 2020 established the Blue sUAS program. Blue sUAS’s intent is to provide secure, trusted, drone capabilities to the U.S. government. As a Blue sUAS program participant, the DoD has verified that they meet standards for U.S. government procurement.

Blue sUAS program participants are not necessarily involved in the Replicator program. But, it wouldn’t be unlikely that Replicator participants are already Blue sUAS participants. As of December 2023, drone companies (followed by the specific drone models) on the Blue UAS Cleared List are:

  • AgEagle (formerly SenseFly): eBee TAC
  • Ascent Aerosystems: Spirit
  • Blue Halo, IE-V2 Jeti
  • Easy Aerial: Osprey
  • Flightwave: Edge 130
  • Freefly Systems: Alta X
  • Harris Aerial: H6 Electric, H6 Hydrone, H6 EFI
  • Inspired Flight: IF 1200A, IF 800, IF 750
  • Parrot: Parrot ANAFI USA GOV, Parrot ANAFI USA MIL
  • PDW: C100
  • Skydio: X2D Color 1.8 GHz, X2D Color 5 GHz, Thermal 1.8 GHz, Thermal 5 GHz, X2D Multiband
  • Teal: Teal 2, Golden Eagle
  • Vantage: Vesper
  • Wingtra: Wingtra One Gen II

Is the U.S. behind?

Some experts worry that — even with the Replicator initiative — the U.S. is behind in terms of its approach to small drones.

“The U.S. military is woefully unprepared for warfare in this newly contested subdomain of the air littoral,” David Barno and Nora Bensahel wrote in a piece for War on the Rocks, which is a platform for analysis and debate on strategy, defense, and foreign affairs. “Needless to say, the U.S. drone inventory looks nothing at all like Ukraine’s. It is a fraction of its size and scale, focusing on small numbers of highly advanced systems.”

And even the Replicator initiative might not be enough, some experts say.

“Even the Pentagon’s highly touted Replicator initiative aims to develop only “thousands” of attritable autonomous systems in the next two years —  and right now, it is far from clear that the initiative will ultimately succeed,” Barno and Bensahel wrote.

But many drone industry experts are optimistic too. That’s largely because the Replicator project could infuse American drone companies with much-needed capital.

“The potential for DoD investment into these systems, many of which are dual purpose commercial and defense technologies, benefits the warfighting capabilities of the United States,” according to a white paper from AUVSI, which is a drone lobbyist group. “It also boosts U.S. industry, spurring job creation, investment, and advanced R&D.”

The post Pentagon unveils ambitious $1 billion investment in “Replicator” drone initiative appeared first on The Drone Girl.

The Best Drone-spots in Lille, France !

We tell you all about the most beautiful drone spots in the main French cities that our members had the opportunity to film!
Let’s dive into the aerial exploration of Lille, this multifaceted city. Of the majestic Citadel with the timeless charm of Old Lille, passing through the dynamism of Euralille and the serenity of Parc Henri Matisse. We will end our trip with some tips for finding a local professional pilot.
Read the post about Lille in this article with Lets Fly Productions, our drone pilot based in Lille and Hauts-de-France.
Enjoy your reading & your drone flights !
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On continue notre série sur les plus beaux points de vue drone dans les principales villes françaises que nos membres ont eut l’occasion de filmer!
Plongeons dans l’exploration aérienne de Lille, cette ville aux multiples facettes. De la majestueuse Citadelle au charme intemporel du Vieux-Lille, en passant par le dynamisme d’Euralille et la sérénité du Parc Henri Matisse. Nous terminerons notre voyage avec quelques astuces pour dénicher un pilote professionnel local.
Lire l’article sur Lille avec Lets Fly Productions, notre correspondant sur la ville et la région Hauts-de-France.
Bonne lecture et bons vols !

 

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