Drone News Roundup: Drone Finds Exchange Student Believed Kidnapped, High Energy FPV Drone Shots Over Open Water, and More!

This week we’re covering the story of a kidnapped exchange student who was found by the police with the use of a DJI Matrice 30T.

We’re also covering a new video from Johnny FPV featuring high energy shots taken over the open water, an overhead drone shot of a blue whale at sea, news that the Autel Alpha has hit the FCC’s database, and the possibility that drones will be used to help judge surfing in this year’s Summer Olympics.

Now let’s get to those links!

Exchange Student Believed Kidnapped Found with a Matrice 30T

Recently, the story of a foreign exchange student from China being kidnapped in Utah made national news. It turns out the student was “cyber kidnapped.” That is, he wasn’t actually kidnapped, but his parents in China were receiving threats online saying that they had him and would hurt him if they didn’t receive a ransom. In reality, the student was being controlled by these “cyber kidnappers,” who had told him to go to a remote area and camp there in the snow so it would look like he’d been kidnapped. The story came to a conclusion when police used a Matrice 30T to look for a heat signature in the snow, finally finding the boy and bringing him home safe to his host family.

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Exhilarating Open Water FPV Shots from Johnny FPV

Johnny FPV is a legend. His FPV drone shots have appeared in action movies like Red Notice and Fast X and he’s done the flying for major global companies like Porsche, making him one of the biggest names out there when it comes to FPV flying. This video features some fast, masterful shots he got recently at a sailing race, showcasing his incredible flying skills over the open water.

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This Blue Whale Drone Shot Is Your Moment of Zen

“Listen to the inhale of this blue whale.” That’s the directive written over the footage on this video by its creator, Domenic Biagini. And it’s great advice. If you’re feeling stressed or have had a rough day, take a moment to watch this serene drone shot of a blue whale as it surfaces to breathe. Biagini has an entire YouTube channel devoted to drone shots of whales, including a series called “A Life Amongst the Whales”—follow the link below to see more of his work.

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Autel Alpha Gets FCC Approval to Launch in the U.S.

Leaks of the Autel Alpha first hit the internet last May, including this box image showing the drone’s specs. As shown on the box above, the Alpha has a flight time of 45 minutes, max flight speed of 45 mph, a transmission range of 12.4 miles, and an IP rating of 55. The Alpha made the rounds last year at trade shows around the globe, but no launch date was ever announced. Now, we finally have some news—the Alpha has hit the FCC’s database, making it likely that it will soon be available in the U.S.

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Drones May Solve Judging Challenges for Surfing in 2024 Summer Olympics

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The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris—except for the surfing portion, which will be all the way around the world in French Polynesia. That far-flung location has created some major challenges for judging, since there is currently no location where the judges can sit to see the waves well enough to do their job. Various solutions have been proposed. One approach was to use a tower, but this solution led to objections because it would damage the surrounding coral reefs. Another approach proposed was to use a barge for the judges, but this could also damage the reefs. This is where drones come in. A recent proposal by the International Surfing Association describes an approach for getting the judges the vantage they need that would use drones, as well as boom cameras and cameras held on boats and jetskis. The outcome of this decision could lead to a major sea change in how surfing is judged around the world, thrusting drones into a prominent role.

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