Drone News Roundup: Cinematic Mini 5 Pro Reel, 347 MPH Guinness Record Flight, and More!

This week we’re covering a new cinematic video shot on the Mini 5 Pro.

We’re also covering a new Guinness-recognized top speed run for an FPV quad at about 347 mph, DroneDeploy unveiling three AI agents and previewing ground robots, a security drone using a loudspeaker to autonomously deter a trespasser at a car dealership, and a bat-inspired micro-drone that could change search and rescue.

Now let’s get to those links!

Cinematic Mini 5 Pro Reel Shows What a 1″ Sensor on a Mini Can Do

This short reel made by YouTuber Dominic Hayles uses slow reveals, lateral tracking, and locked-off compositions to show off the new Mini 5 Pro’s low-light handling and dynamic range. It’s a clean look at what creators can get from DJI’s newest Mini in real-world shooting—especially around dusk and in mixed lighting—where the 50MP 1″ sensor, 4K/120fps options, and omnidirectional, LiDAR-supported obstacle avoidance helps keep shots smooth and confident, even in tight spaces.

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YouTuber Hits 347 MPH for a Guinness Record

347 mph—that’s how fast this drone can go. In this video, Swiss engineer and creator Samuele Gobbi documents a blistering two-way run with his FastBoy II quad, which uses aggressive aero and inertial water-cooling to survive sustained high-power runs. It’s a tight, technical look at how a purpose-built FPV platform handles aero drag, heat management, and control stability at extreme speed. Gobbi won a Guinness Record for the flight for “Fastest ground speed by a battery-powered remote-controlled (RC) quadcopter.” Since making the video, the record has been stolen by the Dubai Police in partnership with Luke & Mike Bell, who achieved a speed of 360.4 mph—see the official Guinness page at the link below.

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DroneDeploy Updates Software, Unveils Three AI Agents—and Previews Ground Robots

DroneDeploy is getting into robots. These ground-based robots, which will be used for autonomous interior/exterior capture to support next-gen site management along with drones, will go into beta next year. The company has also unveiled a trio of “agentic” AI tools—Progress AI (featured above), Safety AI, and Inspection AI—collectively aimed at automating hazard detection, progress tracking, and predictive maintenance on job sites. Finally, DroneDeploy has rolled out a major update to its flagship software, including 3× better processing quality, accuracy verification workflows, mobile LiDAR 3D scanning, and “Gaussian splats” visualization.

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Security Drone Uses Speaker to Autonomously Deter Trespasser

In this clip from a Kansas City auto dealership, a docked security drone launches after hours and uses an onboard loudspeaker to warn a trespasser—who promptly exits the lot. It’s a clear example of how drone-in-a-box systems can pair overhead video with live audio call-outs from remote operators to intervene quickly. These systems present a huge value for large outdoor properties, like auto lots and construction yards, helping cut minutes from response times while reducing reliance on on-site guards. Theft is a huge problem, accounting for billions in losses each year in the U.S., so even modest reductions in incidents at large outdoor lots can add up quickly, making new drone-based deterrence systems hugely valuable.

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Bat-Inspired Drone Could Help Search & Rescue Teams Find Missing People in the Dark

Credit: AP / PEaR lab

Researchers are prototyping palm-sized drones that navigate using ultrasonic echolocation, letting them operate in darkness, smoke, or dust where camera-based systems fail. The work is being done at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Perception & Autonomous Robotics (PEaR) lab, where a team recently demoed obstacle detection and path planning using hobby-grade parts, 3D-printed noise-reduction shells, and AI filtering to isolate echoes from prop noise. Given the low cost and high value, these bat-inspired drones could potentially be adopted by search and rescue teams in swarms that could autonomously hunt for survivors when visibility is near zero.

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