Drone News Roundup: DJI Air 3S Tour of Sri Lanka, FBI Investigates Mysterious Car-Sized Drone Sightings, and More!

This week we’re covering a new drone tour of Sri Lanka shot on the DJI Air 3S.

We’re also covering mysterious sightings of car-sized drones in New Jersey, DJI’s three new agriculture drones, a new drone-compatible gas imaging camera from MFE Inspection Solutions, and research into faster, more reliable communication systems for drones.

Now on to the links!

DJI Air 3S Tour of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is famous for its breathtaking landscapes, with pristine beaches, lush tea plantations, and rich wildlife, making it a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. This drone tour shot on the DJI Air 3S by YouTuber Ame captures that beauty from above, featuring shots of the island nation’s lush green hills, golden beaches, and serene temples. If you’re looking for an escape to a warmer climate right now, this video is just the thing.

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FBI Investigates Mysterious Car-Sized Drones Caught on Camera in New Jersey

Mysterious drone sightings seem to be happening all the time these days. Last week we reported on sightings of unauthorized drones over several U.S. defense installations. This week we have a story about more sightings in northern New Jersey. This time, people are seeing huge, “car-sized” drones—and there’s footage of them. The FBI is currently investigating these sightings, in which people have seen the drones hovering in clusters near critical infrastructure, including water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, and military installations.

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DJI Launches 3 New Agras Drones in China Only

DJI has unveiled three new agricultural drones in China: the Agras T100, T70, and T70P.

• The T100 boasts impressive specs, including a maximum takeoff weight of 330 pounds (149.9 kg), a 75-liter spraying capacity, and a 150-liter sowing capacity. It features advanced AI algorithms for obstacle mapping and flight path optimization, AR capabilities for real-time trajectory predictions, and comes with a dual-nozzle system that offers a 30-liter-per-minute flow rate with adjustable droplet sizes.
• The T70 series, including the upgraded T70P, offers a 70-liter spraying load, 143 pound (65 kg) lifting capacity, and improved energy efficiency.

For now, all of these drones are only available in China. But we suspect they’ll be rolled out globally before too long.

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MFE Inspection Solutions Launches Drone-Compatible Gas Imaging Camera

MFE Inspection Solutions has launched a new gas imaging camera that’s compatible with the DJI Matrice 300 and 350. Called the Detect LW, the camera is the first of its kind that meets the EPA’s strict requirements for Oil and Gas inspections. The camera is integrated with DJI Pilot software, allowing inspectors to get aerial gas data without having to build scaffolding or use a helicopter or airplane. Along with the camera, MFE has developed AI-powered software that automatically identifies gas leaks in inspection footage. For a while now, we have been saying that sophisticated sensors and software to accompany them are the future of professional drone ops—and this launch falls squarely in that category, with a high-quality, drone-compatible gas sensor accompanied by software to help inspectors get the most out of the data they collect.

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Researchers Are Working to Make Drone Connectivity Faster and More Reliable

Researchers at NYU have been looking into ways to improve connectivity for drones, conducting extensive air-to-ground (A2G) and air-to-air (A2A) experiments. The research has employed DJI’s Matrice 600 Pro along with top-of-the-line connectivity technology. Going beyond traditional connectivity methods, these experiments are looking into training generative neural networks to derive realistic aerial mmWave channel models. Put simply, they’re making connectivity for drones a lot faster, and a lot more reliable—watch the video for the details.

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