Drone News Roundup: Mavic 3 Pro Tour of Ecuador, Researchers Use Alta X Drone to Study Costa Rica Volcano, and More!

This week we’re covering a tour of Ecuador from Joshua Turner shot on the Mavic 3 Pro and a custom FPV drone.

We’re also covering researchers using the Freefly Alta X to study volcanoes in Costa Rica, a Houston drone meetup that Global Air U is putting on next week, how drones are helping to protect white rhinos in South Africa, and BRINC raising $75 million.

Now on to the links!

Mavic 3 Pro Tour of Ecuador

Joshua Turner’s new tour of Ecuador is a cinematic journey through the country’s diverse beauty, captured masterfully with the DJI Mavic 3 Pro and a 5-inch FPV drone that he paired with a GoPro 11. Turner’s aerial footage sweeps over the towering Cotopaxi and Chimborazo volcanoes, the vibrant city of Quito, and deep into the Amazon rainforest, revealing wild vicuñas—a wild South American animal related to llamas and alpacas—and lush, remote landscapes. According to Turner, he enhanced the film’s cinematic look with the Dehancer Pro plugin in Final Cut Pro, giving each shot a soft, glowy film aesthetic.

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Researchers Use Freefly’s Alta X to Study Volcano in Costa Rica

Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute are using Freely drones to study volcanoes, increasing safety and efficiency. A team recently flew an Alta X drone into the crater of Costa Rica’s Poás Volcano, an active stratovolcano, to measure soil degassing—a task that was previously too dangerous for humans to do. The Alta X was guided by a smaller Parrot drone to scout landing sites inside the crater. Inside the crater, researchers used special sensors attached to the Alta X to collect important data on carbon dioxide, water vapor, soil temperature, and moisture. This innovative approach to data collection allowed scientists to gather data from hazardous environments, improving their ability to anticipate volcanic eruptions.

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Attend the Houston Drone Connect Business Meetup & Networking on April 23

Live in the Houston area? Our partner Global Air U will be hosting the Houston Drone Connect Business Meetup & Networking event on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 6-8 PM in the Memorial area of Houston. This gathering is designed for drone entrepreneurs, pilots, and service providers to connect, collaborate, and grow. Attendees can expect to network with industry professionals, share ideas, and discover collaboration opportunities. Whether you’re focused on inspections, mapping, FPV, or building your drone business, this meetup offers a welcoming atmosphere to expand your network and scale smarter. The event is free but you do need to register—follow the link below to save your spot.

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DJI Drones Help Protect Endangered White Rhinos in South Africa

Credit: DJI

In South Africa’s Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, DJI Matrice 4T drones are making a big impact in the fight against rhino poaching. Facing a crisis that saw over 45 rhinos illegally killed in a single year, conservationists turned to drone technology for enhanced observation, real-time monitoring, and cost-effective security. The Matrice 4T excels at catching poachers with its night vision, multi-sensor capabilities, rapid deployment, and intelligent tracking features, allowing rangers to detect poachers, monitor animal health, and respond swiftly to threats. With over 600 poaching-free days, the reserve’s success is a promising sign of the role drones can play in safeguarding wildlife against poachers.

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BRINC Secures $75M Funding, Partners with Motorola for Enhanced 911 Response

Credit: BRINC

Public safety drone company BRINC has secured $75 million in funding and formed a strategic alliance with Motorola Solutions. This partnership aims to scale the production and deployment of BRINC’s 911 response drones, equipping first responders with advanced tools for safer and more effective operations. BRINC drones provide real-time situational awareness, enabling law enforcement and emergency services to assess threats, search buildings, and communicate with subjects remotely. According to the company, this investment and collaboration will accelerate BRINC’s mission to save lives and improve outcomes in critical situations.

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