If you weren’t already hyped for Palm Springs Drone Fest & Expo happening this month from March 21-23, new details on where to stay just took this event to the next level. We now know exactly where the VIP speakers, performers and sponsors will be staying. And trust me — it’s not just a hotel, it’s a full-on desert retreat that will make this event feel even more exclusive. I can’t wait to see the FPV footage coming out of the resort grounds.

Palm Springs Drone Fest 2025: what to know

Palm Springs Drone Fest is a first-of-its-kind celebration of all things drones. Running from March 21 to 23, 2025 at Palm Springs High School in California, it’s set to be the ultimate drone fan event. Registration is already open, but new details around where the hotel (and afterparty) is make this even more compelling.

First off, we have a list of the speaker lineup, which consists of top industry leaders including La’Quata Sumter, Ph.D of Steam Thru Drones, drone pilot and safety expert Desiree Ekstein, agricultural photographer Fiona Lake, Promo Drone CEO Jamar Williams, Women and Drones founder (and children’s book author) Sharon Rossmark and even me, Sally French!

Also expect to get to meet VIP guests including Moon Hee Suh of FIDA International and China’s April Wei.

The Palm Springs Drone Fest hotel: Acres Landing Airstream Resort & Hotel

Acres Landing Airstream Resort & Hotel (Desert Hot Springs) stands as the official Palm Springs Drone Fest hotel. This VIP hotspot isn’t your typical event lodging — it’s a luxury Airstream resort with hot mineral spring pools, epic desert vibes and a level of exclusivity that’s unmatched. This is where the who’s who of the drone industry will be staying, making it the place to network, unwind and maybe even sneak into the invite-only afterparty.

Rumor alert: There’s an invite-only VIP afterparty happening here…and if there is, I may or may not be there.

If you’re looking for a nearby stay, check out Aqua Soleil Hotel, another great option just minutes away from the action.

Why Palm Springs Drone Fest is a game-changer

Looking for a way to meet other drone pilots in person? There hasn’t been a ton in the way of large-scale meetups. Many of the larger conferences like Interdrone in Vegas have called it quits. COVID-19 also put a damper on much of the momentum around in-person events.

But finally, the Palm Springs Drone Fest offers something this industry has desperately needed.

Sure, there are conferences focused almost entirely on the business side. There are targeted events for industries like DFR or law. But what about a huge celebration around the pure joy of drones? Palm Springs Drone Fest is it.

This will bring together hundreds of people who love all facets of drones to Palm Springs High School.I expect it to be the best (and most fun) drone event of 2025. Palm Springs is located in southern California’s Sonoran Desert and is famous for its resorts (and also for hosting the famous Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival). With this, maybe it’ll become famous for its drone festival, too.

Palm Springs Drone Fest highlights

Here are some other highlights to expect:

• Live Demos & Hands-On Experiences: Get up close with the latest drone tech and watch the pros in action.
• Special Performance by Esther Anaya: International violinist Esther Anaya will bring her electrifying performance to the festival, blending music and drone artistry like never before.
• Stunt Actor Fiona Dorn: Because drones aren’t just for filming action—they ARE the action!
• Incredible Drone Light Show: As the sun sets over Palm Springs, prepare to be mesmerized by a jaw-dropping drone performance. If you’ve never seen a drone light show before, know that this will redefine your perception of aerial entertainment.
• Drone Film Festival: Enter (or just watch) cinematic drone footage.
• Drone Soccer World Cup Qualifiers: Witness (or compete in) fast-paced drone soccer matches. And yes, you can fly with the Korean Drone Soccer National Team or train to be a drone soccer official.
• Breakout Sessions: Learn from industry experts about drone business opportunities, film production, and even drone-based search and rescue.

The ultimate drone festival experience

As it stands today, large-scale drone festivals like this are rare. While there are scattered drone meetups, competitions, and educational conferences across the country, few offer the comprehensive experience of Palm Springs Drone Fest. Whether you’re into high-adrenaline drone sports, cinematic aerial photography, or simply networking with fellow drone lovers, this event is set to be a must-attend destination for the drone community.

Register now for Palm Springs Drone Fest

It’s the first-ever Palm Springs Drone Fest. That means yes, you need to be there.

As far as tickets? They’re already flying fast. With no-risk refunds up to 7 days before (aside from fees), grab yours now before they sell out.

A one-day pass is just $33.85 (includes festival entry, breakout sessions, trade show access, free parking, and more). But let’s be real—you’re going to want the three-day all-access pass to catch every light show, tournament, and demo.

Oh, and rumor has it I’ll be there too. So if you want to meet up, this is the event to make it happen. Whether you’re coming to compete, connect, or just have your mind blown, Palm Springs Drone Fest is THE event of 2025. See you in the desert!

The post Palm Springs Drone Fest hotel, speaker details emerge appeared first on The Drone Girl.

A military reconnaissance drone with a 26-meter wingspan has completed its first long-distance flight in Europe’s busy airspace. The 3-hour, 10-minute flight was designed to test how uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and civilian aviation can coexist in a challenging environment. The drone used in the experiment was the Israeli-made Heron TP, a turboprop UAV “customized” […]

Switzerland should do more to stop Swiss components ending up in Russian drones used to attack Ukraine, says Russian chess grandmaster and dissident Garry Kasparov. “Russians always find a way to get the components,” Kasparov said on February 18 in Geneva while attending the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. “Ukrainians present new evidence […]

In another sign that first response-oriented drones are a huge focus area for the drone industry in 2025, the world’s largest drone maker has unveiled its latest advancement in the field of DFR drones. DJI today released its DJI Dock 3, a “drone-in-a-box” solution designed for 24/7 remote operations. With the ability to support vehicle-mounted deployments, this next-generation system marks a new chapter in enterprise drone capabilities — and DJI’s focus on creating drones for more than just taking photos.

DJI Dock 3 signals shift toward enterprise automation

While consumer drones have in some ways hit a plateau in terms of innovation and adoption, enterprise drones continue to advance rapidly, as seen by what is now the third generation in DJI’s Dock lineup.

Among the biggest standout features of DJI Dock 3 is its ability to be vehicle-mounted — a first for the company. That feature is critical in allowing for flexible, on-the-go deployments. Clearly DJI Dock 3 stems from the need for automated, remote operations, particularly in areas including public safety, emergency response, surveying and infrastructure inspections.

Emergency responders, for instance, can now deploy drones directly from their vehicles, ensuring faster response times in critical situations. Similarly, infrastructure inspectors can use the system to monitor long stretches of power lines, railways, or pipelines without needing to manually launch and land drones at every stop.

DJI Dock 3 and the Matrice 4D

DJI Dock 3 is paired with the relatively new DJI Matrice 4D and 4TD drones, which launched in early 2025. The Matrice 4 series is designed with first responders in mind, meant to offer improved flight and protection performance. The series consists of two different drones: The Matrice 4T‘s key selling point is its thermal imaging. It starts at $7,299. Meanwhile, the 4E excels in high-speed aerial mapping and starts at $4,799.

Both drones include features such as IP55-rated dust and water resistance, a flight time of up to 54 minutes and advanced imaging capabilities, including full-color night vision and infrared sensors.

Here are some other key features when using Matrice 4D with the DJI Dock 3:

Ability to withstand harsh environments

For operations in harsh environments, DJI Dock 3 has been designed to function in extreme temperatures ranging from -30°C (-22°F) to 50°C (122°F). This rugged design makes it ideal for use in locations where weather conditions might otherwise limit drone operations (again critical for first response).

Airborne Relay

One of the most groundbreaking features of the Matrice 4D series is its ability to act as an airborne relay. Using the DJI RC Plus 2 Enterprise remote controller, one drone can serve as a signal relay, extending the operational range of another drone. This is particularly valuable for search-and-rescue missions or inspections in obstructed environments, such as mountainous regions where traditional radio signals might struggle to maintain connectivity.

Smarter automation and data collection

Pairing DJI Dock 3 with DJI FlightHub 2 enables automated flight routes, allowing drones to autonomously detect and document changes in their environment. The system can capture images of vehicles and vessels and detect infrared temperature anomalies. It can even provide periodic environmental change analysis, which is a game-changer for disaster response teams and conservationists.

Furthermore, new features like intelligent change detection streamline the process of monitoring large-scale projects, ensuring operators receive timely updates on alterations in a given area. These advancements push enterprise drone operations further into the realm of autonomous, intelligent aerial surveillance.

Enterprise drone adoption accelerates

The introduction of DJI Dock 3 underscores a broader trend: the enterprise drone market is evolving at a much faster pace than the consumer drone sector. While consumer drone technology has stabilized, enterprise applications continue to demand greater autonomy, reliability and real-time data processing.

Industries such as energy, agriculture, law enforcement, and environmental protection are increasingly integrating drones into their daily workflows. As regulations evolve to accommodate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, solutions like DJI Dock 3 will become even more critical in enabling hands-free, fully automated drone deployments.

And it’s not just DJI leaning into “drone in a box” technology. In September 2024, American drone company Skydio launched its Skydio Dock for the X10 drone — effectively its version of the DJI Dock 3 released today.

With products like the DJI Dock 3, the potential for autonomous drone operations has never been greater. The ability to deploy drones remotely, conduct automated inspections, and maintain real-time situational awareness will continue to drive enterprise drone adoption forward.

As 2025 unfolds, it is clear that enterprise drones are not just supplementing existing workflows—they are redefining how industries operate. DJI Dock 3 is not just an incremental improvement; it represents the next step in fully autonomous drone solutions, setting the stage for a future where drones seamlessly integrate into everyday operations across multiple industries.

The DJI Dock 3 is available today through enterprise dealers including my preferred store, Drone Nerds.

The post DJI Dock 3 focuses on first response, signaling more investment in enterprise drones appeared first on The Drone Girl.

– General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) continues to expand the role of unmanned aerial systems, demonstrating the first-ever Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capability on an MQ-9B SeaGuardian. In a groundbreaking test from January 20-30, 2025, a company-operated MQ-9B SeaGuardian successfully deployed and tested anti-submarine sensors using multiple pre-production Sonobuoy Dispensing System (SDS) pods. Having already […]