Drone News Roundup: Jetpack Used in Mountain Rescue, DJI’s New Night Vision Camera, and More!
BY Zacc Dukowitz
31 March 2022This week we’re covering a video of a paramedic speeding to the rescue of a girl injured on a mountainside by using a jetpack to fly there instead of traveling on foot.
We’re also covering DJI’s new Zenmuse H20 night vision camera for the Matrice 300 RTK, the latest Mavic 3 firmware update, a beautiful drone video shot throughout the state of New Mexico, and the release of the first technical specs for vertiports by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Now let’s get to those links!
Paramedic Uses Jetpack in Mountain Rescue Test
This video from Gravity Industries demonstrates how quickly a paramedic can get to someone who has fallen from a cliff if they don’t have to travel on foot, but can fly straight to there instead. Gravity Industries makes the jetpack used in the video, and the footage serves as a pretty powerful proof of concept for the technology and how it might be helpful. Check out the link below for other jetpack videos and use cases, including boarding another ship at sea.
SEE MORE VIDEOS FROM GRAVITY INDUSTRIES
DJI’s New Night Vision Camera for the M300 RTK
Credit: DJI
DJI recently unveiled a full solution for enterprise customers: the Matrice 30 drone, which is compatible with a new docking station called the DJI Dock, and also has DJI’s latest enterprise software, called FlightHub 2. Along with these releases, DJI also launched the Zenmuse H20N, a night vision camera designed for use with its Matrice 300 RTK. The H20N is largely made for public safety scenarios, like nighttime fires or search and rescue missions for people lost at night—follow the link below to learn more.
LEARN MORE
Mavic 3 Firmware Update Fixes Frustrating GPS Lag
Credit: DJI
Slow GPS lock times have been a source of frustration for many Mavic 3 users since it was launched late last year, so much so that there are entire community forum threads devoted to the topic. But the latest firmware update for the Mavic 3 should fix the issue, making GPS lock both faster and more secure. According to DJI, the update (v01.00.0600) includes the following:
- Increased the speed of searching GNSS.
- Fixed issue: Quick Transfer was not available for some scenarios in certain regions.
- Fixed some minor bugs.
GET THE UPDATE
Beautiful Tour of New Mexico by Drone
This drone video from YouTuber Flightgeist, which was shot on a DJI Inspire 1 equipped with a Zenmuse X5 camera, does an amazing job showcasing all the diverse natural beauty found in the state of New Mexico. The video’s maker says they “traveled over 1,000 miles through windswept deserts, foggy forests and snow capped mountains in the onset of a blizzard, pushing the camera and the craft to their limits.” All that travel and hard work really comes across in the video, which presents a sweeping, beautiful portrait of one of the most beautiful states in the U.S.
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EASA Becomes First Air Regulator to Provide Specs for Drone Taxi Vertiports
Credit: EASA
Last week we reported that the FAA had issued a call for input on the development of vertiports (airports just for taxi drones). This week we learned that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is pretty far ahead on this topic, since it has issued a long document that provides technical specifications for the creation of veriports. In doing so, the EASA has become the first air transport safety regulator in the world to provide detailed guidelines for the creation of these futuristic UAM hubs.
READ THE SPECS
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