Drone News Roundup: Autel Alpha Finally for Sale, Journey to the Arctic with the Mavic 3 Pro, and More!
BY Zacc Dukowitz
1 February 2024This week we’re covering news that the Autel Alpha is finally for sale in the U.S.
We’re also covering a trip to the Arctic with the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, the U.S. release of the NDAA-compliant SOTEN drone, DJI’s rebuttal to claims that its drones are secretly spying on Americans, and Verge Aero’s new software for making it easy to put on your own drone light show.
Now on to the links!
Autel Alpha Goes on Sale in the U.S.
Credit: Autel
News of the Autel Alpha was first leaked from a live event Autel held all the way back in May of last year. After that, Autel brought the Alpha on the road, showcasing it at EDRC and several other conferences. But the new enterprise drone hasn’t actually been available for sale in the U.S.–until now. The Alpha comes with two optical cameras—a 560x Super Hybrid Zoom and a 4K 35x Optical Zoom—as well as dual thermal cameras and built-in RTK. It has a transmission range of 12.4 miles and an IP55 rating, making it a solid option for work in rugged conditions. Follow the link below to see a full brochure for the new Alpha.
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Journey to the Arctic with the DJI Mavic 3 Pro
DJI put out this video covering an expedition to the Arctic a month back, at the tail end of 2023. It was created by photographer/videographer Florian Ledoux, who describes himself as “polar obsessed”—Ledoux has done work in the Arctic for the BBC, Disney, Netflix, and Nat Geo. Departing from your typical drone video shot in an exotic locale, which features dramatic shots and music only, this video is a mini documentary. It follows a polar bear and her cub as they fight for survival in the harsh, expansive beauty of the Arctic “where nature unveils its quiet symphony and the human spirit discovers its profound connection to the world around.”
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NDAA-Compliant SOTEN Drone Launches in the U.S.
Japanese-based drone company ACSL is bringing its professional-grade SOTEN drone to the U.S. The SOTEN is made for inspections and other work related to critical infrastructure. It has a hot-swappable camera and uses a robust encryption process. Buzz around the SOTEN’s arrival in the U.S. has been driven by the fact that it’s compliant with the NDAA—meaning it doesn’t contain parts from “covered foreign countries” (i.e., China, though Iran, Russia, and North Korea are also on the list). Also, giving the SOTEN some wind under its wings is the fact that it’s being launched in America on the heels of a recent federal ban on Chinese drones, and a growing movement against DJI and Chinese-made drone technology. Pricing for the SOTEN starts at around $10,000.
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DJI Rebuts Recent Cybersecurity Claims
Credit: DJI
DJI has issued a rare rebuttal to recent developments to block it from selling drones in the U.S. Following the passage of a federal ban on Chinese drones and a joint advisory from the FBI and CISA warning everyone—not just government agencies, but also private companies and individuals—not to buy Chinese drones, DJI has finally decided to push back. In a blog post, the DJI Viewpoints Team writes that “our rival drone-makers are stirring up xenophobia to eliminate market competition,” pointing out that it already follows the standards outlined in the FBI’s memo.
And it’s true. Despite all the political grandstanding about DJI and privacy concerns, there hasn’t been evidence that the company is actually sharing data with the Chinese government (though we do know that it funds at least part of the company). DJI goes on to point out that it has invested heavily in robust safety and security protection; that customers only share data if they choose to do so and can “fly offline” using Local Data Mode; and that it has regularly submitted its products for third-party security audits and certification since 2017.
Politicians are certainly getting their narrative across on DJI and Chinese drones. We recommend you read the post to get DJI’s side.
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Verge Aero’s New Software Lets Anyone Put on a Drone Light Show
Credit: Verge Aero
Verge Aero is on a mission to democratize drone light shows. It started this work by releasing the X7, one of the first ever consumer drones made for drone light shows. And now the company has released drag-and-drop software to make it easy to put on your own drone light show. Called Verge Aero Composer, the software is “effectively Drone Light Show for Dummies” according to Sally French of The Drone Girl. Verge Aero says that the software allows you to plan a drone light show in just seconds, without any technical knowledge required. And that may make it possible, not to mention attractive, for small businesses to consider doing their own drone light shows. With tools like these, we’d expect even more drone light shows to crop up in the coming years.
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