Drone News Roundup: Get $1,000 for College with Our Scholarship, Drones for Ski Resorts, and More!

This week we’re covering a chance for two college students to get $1,000 each by applying to our college scholarship.

We’re also covering a Japanese ski resort using drones to keep the slopes safe, a high school student winning a DOD award with an innovative drone design, a partnership between Wing and Flytrex that allows them to make drone deliveries safely in the same airspace, and Zacc’s upcoming panel on changing culture to drive innovation at the 2025 Energy Drone & Robotics Summit in Houston.

Now on to the links!

Get $1,000 for College—Apply to Our Scholarship Now!

Need money for college? Or know someone who does? Our Drone Technology College Scholarship is still open for applicants! Every year we award two scholarships, with each recipient receiving a one-time $1,000 cash award. The scholarship is for current or rising college students at U.S. colleges or universities who demonstrate an interest in pushing the drone industry forward. High school seniors are eligible to apply. The application requires students to answer three questions, including a short essay, as well as providing recommendations. We’ll be accepting applications until June 13—follow the link below to learn more, and to apply.

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Drone-in-the-Box Improves Safety at Japanese Ski Resort

At Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort in Japan, the DJI Dock 3 and its accompanying Matrice 4D drone are now central to daily safety and operational routines. Before the slopes open, ski patrol teams use the drones to fly pre-programmed routes, capturing high-resolution imagery and generating 3D maps to spot avalanche risks and other hazards—tasks that previously required staff to venture into dangerous terrain. The drones also conduct safety inspections of cable cars and hard-to-reach infrastructure after storms, streamlining maintenance and reducing labor costs. The resort is also testing drones with loudspeakers to deliver real-time audio warnings to guests who stray into closed or hazardous areas, improving out-of-bounds enforcement and emergency response while keeping staff out of harm’s way. Watch the video for the full story.

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High School Student Wins DoD Award for Breakthrough Drone Design

Seventeen-year-old Cooper Taylor has developed a groundbreaking drone with a motor-tilting mechanism that reduces both cost and energy waste, making it significantly more efficient than traditional models. His modular, 3D-printed VTOL design allows for easy customization and upgrades, and can be built for just a fraction of the price of commercial drones. The Department of Defense (DOD) has recognized Taylor’s innovation with $23,000 in awards, highlighting the potential impact of his work on the future of drone technology.

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Historic Drone Delivery Partnership: Flytrex and Wing Launch Shared Airspace Operations

Credit: Wing

In a first for the U.S., Flytrex and Wing—two of the country’s leading drone delivery companies—are now flying in the same airspace at the same time, thanks to a groundbreaking Uncrewed Traffic Management (UTM) system. This partnership, launched in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, marks the debut of real-time, automated airspace coordination between commercial drone operators. Instead of dividing up territories, both companies’ drones share “4D flight intent data,” allowing them to automatically detect and avoid conflicts as they deliver packages. This milestone not only boosts operational efficiency and safety, but also sets the stage for a scalable, competitive drone delivery ecosystem in which multiple operators can serve the same communities, giving consumers more choice and accelerating the future of aerial logistics.

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Check Out Zacc’s Panel at the 2025 Energy Drone & Robotics Summit

Attending the Energy Drone & Robotics Summit (EDRS) in a few weeks in Houston? Don’t miss my panel, “From Hesitation to Integration: Building a Culture of Innovation in Energy Inspections.” As robotics and AI-powered tools transform industrial inspections, the biggest hurdle often isn’t the technology—it’s the culture. The panel will feature leading experts in Oil & Gas and the Chemicals industry talking about how they’ve fostered internal buy-in for using drones and advanced robotics, navigated resistance, and scaled innovation from pilot projects to fully integrated programs. Topics for discussion include:

• How to foster a company culture that supports emerging technology and operational innovation
• Key decision points when choosing between building an in-house drone program vs. hiring external vendors—or going the hybrid route
• Lessons from real-world case studies on scaling robotics programs and applying AI-driven insights

EDRS 2025 is happening June 16-18 at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott in Houston, Texas—follow the link below to learn more about the panel. Hope to see you there!

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