Drone News Roundup: FPV Drone vs. Volcano, DJI Goggles N3 Appear in FCC Filing, and More!

This week we’re covering footage shot by an FPV drone flying over an erupting volcano—the drone was lost, but the footage survived, making for an incredible short video.

We’re also covering the DJI Goggles N3 hitting the FCC database, how China’s sanctions on Skydio have led to a battery shortage for its drones, a drone light show breaking five Guinness World Records at once, and the Drone Racing League announcing an event in partnership with the Air Force.

Now let’s get to those links!

FPV Drone vs. Volcano

This short FPV video of a drone flying directly over an erupting volcano in Iceland has racked up almost 60 million views. And you can see why. The shot is incredible, featuring up-close footage of magma spewing out of the giant mouth of the volcano, captured from directly overhead. The video was shot by YouTuber Danny McGee, who lost the drone to get the footage. Although McGee doesn’t say where he was flying in Iceland when he got the shot, to us it looks a lot like the Fagradalsfjall Volcano. Follow the link below for an article covering a mission Flyability took to that same volcano a few years back, just before launching the Elios 3.

LEARN MORE

DJI Goggles N3 Appear on FCC Database

That’s it. Goggles N3 is now in the FCC database.#djigogglesn3 https://t.co/QN23eASRDu

— Igor Bogdanov (@Quadro_News) October 25, 2024

Last week we covered leaks about the DJI Goggles N3, which will be part of an inexpensive FPV combo for DJI’s Neo selfie-drone when it launches. Just a few days after publishing that article, the Goggles N3 hit the FCC database, seeming to confirm that the new combo will be launched soon. The filing shows that the N3s will have a 7.2V battery with 2450mAh capacity, which should support a good amount of operating time. According to leaks, the new Neo Motion Combo will feature not only the Goggles N3 but also a motion controller, allowing for intuitive FPV flying for the Neo. See the FCC filing for the Goggles N3 here and follow the link below to learn more about the Goggles N3 and the new Neo combo.

LEARN MORE

China Sanctions Skydio, Leading to X10 Battery Shortage

Credit: Skydio

In a recent letter to customers, Skydio’s CEO Adam Bry shared that China has announced sanctions on the company. According to Bry, the sanctions are meant to punish Skydio for selling drones to Taiwan. (China views Taiwan as belonging to it, while Taiwan views itself as independent—and China is generally hostile to actions that support Taiwan’s views of independence.) Why are these sanctions important? Because Skydio relies on China for its batteries. As a result of the sanctions, Skydio’s battery supplies will be reduced for several months. As a result, Skydio will be rationing X10 batteries, only allowing for one per drone. Although Bry claims that sales to Taiwan are the reason for the sanctions, we can’t help but think that the perception of Skydio’s role in the DJI ban movement may also be connected.

LEARN MORE

Drone Show Breaks 5 Guinness World Records at Once

The drone light show featured in the video above won a whopping five Guinness World Records last week. The show, which features 5,500 drones, was put on by Indian drone show company BotLab Dynamics at the Amaravati Drone Summit. As noted in the company’s description for the YouTube video, “This was more than a record-breaking moment. It was about showing the world what India can do.”

Here are the 5 awards BotLab Dynamics won with this drone show:

1. Largest Aerial Vehicle Display
2. Largest Aerial Landmark (for the Buddha Stupa)
3. Largest Aerial Display of the Planet
4. Largest Aerial Logo Display (International Civil Aviation Organization / ICAO)
5. Largest Aerial Image of a Flag (the Indian tricolor flag)

LEARN MORE

Drone Racing League and Air Force Partner on Miami Drone Racing Event

The Air Force has expanded its partnership with DRL to include sponsorship of a new event called the “DRL U.S. Air Force Miami Invitational.” This is the first time that the Air Force has allowed DRL to use its name in the title of an event. The Invitational will take place in Miami on February 1, 2025 at 7pm ET. According to a statement from DRL, it will be “DRL’s first major showcase since being acquired by artificial intelligence firm Infinite Reality earlier this year; feature 12 pilots; and involve retrofitting loanDepot park into a drone racing arena, including large-scale gates and aerial obstacles around the venue.” DRL is expecting a major turnout for the event—the venue can accommodate up to 10,000 people, and it sounds like DRL is expecting to fill the majority of those seats.

LEARN MORE

Make sure to sign up for our free weekly newsletter using the button below so you can get our weekly newsletter every Saturday, with this roundup and our other featured stories from the week.