Drone News Roundup: First Pyro Drone Light Show, Autel Blacklisted, and More!

This week we’re covering a pyro drone show put on by Sky Elements for July 4th—check out the first video below to see the first time drones launched fireworks in a public show.

We’re also covering the U.S. Department of Commerce blacklisting Autel, North Carolina’s repeal of its state drone license requirement, DJI’s move into ebikes, and AUVSI’s key takeaways from the FAA Reauthorization bill.

Now let’s get to those links!

July 4th Pyro Drone Light Show

A few weeks back, we covered Sky Elements getting the first authorization from the FAA to launch fireworks from drones—a phenomenon it calls pyro drones—and shared a video of a test the company performed with its new exemption. In this video, Sky Elements puts that permission to use for the first ever public pyro drone display. The show took place to celebrate July 4, featuring a red, white, and blue eagle made of light show drones, which launches fireworks from its wings, making for an incredible spectacle against the backdrop of the night sky.

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Autel Blacklisted by the U.S. Department of Commerce

Credit: Autel

The U.S. Department of Commerce has added Autel Robotics to its entity list, also known as its blacklist. The list contains foreign individuals, companies, and organizations deemed a national security concern. (DJI was added to the list back in 2020.) Being placed on the entity list is not the same as being banned—DJI has continued operating in the U.S. since being placed on the list four years ago. But it will make it harder for Autel to do business in the U.S., requiring the company to jump through more hoops to export its goods. Like DJI, Autel’s addition to the list could signal that it’s the next company to be targeted with bills like the Countering Drones CCP Act, otherwise known as the DJI ban. And that would make sense, given that Autel is the second biggest Chinese drone company operating in the U.S.

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North Carolina Repeals State Drone License Requirement

Image source

North Carolina has repealed its requirement for commercial drone pilots to pass a state knowledge test offered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) to obtain a permit and operate there. The reason for the repeal is simple: the rule hurt the economy. By making it harder to operate drones for work in North Carolina than in other states, the rule effectively drove commercial drone pilots into opening businesses elsewhere, or simply choosing not to operate at all. But the repeal wasn’t inevitable. It required hard work from AeroX, a North Carolina-based nonprofit focused on pushing forward drones and advanced air mobility, which dedicated itself to educating lawmakers about the benefits of drones and the importance of advanced drone operations to the state economy.

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DJI Is Getting into—Wait for It—Ebikes

Credit: DJI

DJI just announced that it’s getting into e-bikes. According to the company, this is a natural move since it has developed advanced battery and motor technology to power its drones and the gimbals they carry. DJI’s foray into the ebike world comes in the form of the Avinox Drive System for a new bike company called Amflow. As you might expect, the Avinox system leverages technology typically found in drones and smartphones, including a 2″ color OLED touchscreen that displays things like real-time riding data, setup options, and the bike’s remaining range. The first electric bike to feature the system will be the Amflow PL, an e-MTB (electric mountain bike), which will launch later this year.

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AUVSI’s Top Takeaways from FAA Reauthorization Bill

AUVSI recently shared some insights about the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, which serves as a roadmap for the agency’s upcoming priorities from now through 2028. The two main areas the Reauthorization Act focuses on are BVLOS  for drones and powered lift aircraft (i.e., large VTOL aircraft like drone taxis and others used for cargo delivery).

Here are the key takeaways:

• Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). The law requires the FAA to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking within 4 months and a final rule within 16 months that establishes acceptable levels of risk for BVLOS operations and provides an approvals process. The uncrewed systems industry broadly agrees that enabling routine operations BVLOS is critical for high-value uses. Examples include inspections and surveying, package delivery, public safety missions, and disaster response.
• Drone Inspection Grants and Educational Programs. The FAA Reauthorization Act establishes a grant program to support the use of drones when inspecting, repairing, or constructing critical infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will award grants to state, tribal, and local governments to purchase and use drones to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve worker safety. It also directs DOT to establish a grant program for educational institutions conducting UAS workforce training.
• Powered Lift Aircraft. The FAA Reauthorization Act requires the FAA to issue a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for the operations of powered lift aircraft within seven months, which will help to meaningfully move the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry forward. The law supports type-specific training and qualification for pilots, which will support the safety of early AAM operations.
• AAM Infrastructure. The FAA Reauthorization Act makes clear that existing infrastructure, in concert with new infrastructure, is eligible for grants under the previously established AAM Infrastructure Pilot Program. It also extends the Pilot Program for two years, through 2026.

AUVSI will be hosting a Drone and AAM Symposium later this month focused on the future of the integration of drones and AAM into the national airspace system. The symposium will feature talks on drone regulations, UAS detection and mitigation, infrastructure, and complex operations.

The event will take place from July 30-August 1 in Baltimore. Follow the link below to learn more.

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