Drones

A contract to track down illegal fireworks by drone in Kern County, Calif., was justified, according to fire officials. Initial estimates show the drone flagged 100 potential violations with citations of $1,500 each.

The historically Black university is working with AeroX and Piedmont Flight Training so students in the Mecklenburg County area can complete a four-year degree in aviation science and unmanned aircraft systems online.

Kern County Fire Chief Aaron Duncan demonstrated the department's new technology during a press conference attended by representatives of various county agencies and local hospitals, which also provided safety tips.

California State University's annual five-day workshop trained more than 70 students, professors and industry professionals in safety, data management and real-life applications of the technology.

The university’s new course, with scholarships from Draganfly, offers an introduction to unmanned aerial vehicles, regulations, operation and navigation, and a chance to earn a remote pilot certification.

The unincorporated community of Lockeford, Calif., is slated to be Amazon’s first attempt at making Prime Air a reality. The company will be working to get the program operational later this summer, officials say.

The debate over a plan to buy a drone for the Worcester Police Department has come to an end with a 7 to 3 City Council vote in favor of the purchase. Opponents voiced concern about potential civil liberty implications.

After a $5 million grant from the Department of Commerce, the Yurok Tribe plans on getting a customized fixed-wing aircraft that will provide mapping and data collection for their lands to aid in habitat restoration.

Acting City Manager Eric Batista said he would not move forward with plans to buy a drone for the Worcester Police Department if the proposal was not approved by residents and the City Council.

Residents of San Joaquin County farming towns will be able to order "thousands of everyday items" online and can expect a drone to drop them in their backyards in less than an hour, said an Amazon spokesperson.

San Diego's Shield AI, a startup that makes artificial intelligence software to power military drones and other aircraft, has raised $90 million in venture capital and $75 million in debt in a new funding round.

The state's highest court has now remanded a civil lawsuit, centering around whether municipalities have the right to fly a drone over someone's property, back to the state's Court of Appeals.

Uber Eats is launching two autonomous delivery pilots in Los Angeles with Serve Robotics, a robotic sidewalk delivery startup, and Motional, an autonomous vehicle technology company. The pilots will focus on shorter and longer trips respectively.

Police Chief Steven Sargent has been working to allay councilor concerns that an unmanned drone his department is looking to purchase could negatively impact the city’s homeless population.

The increasing use of drones to cast fishing lines hundreds of yards from shore has raised safety and environmental concerns. Now fishers are waiting to see if the governor will sign the ban into law.

Police in Worcester, Mass., would like to purchase drones to help with various tasks, including search and rescue missions. However, the police department hasn't developed a drone policy, raising multiple concerns.

In what might be a first, officers with the Dublin Police and Alameda County Sheriff’s Office used a small drone to locate eight frightened ducklings that had fallen into a storm drain in a Dublin neighborhood.

Almost 10 years ago, Jeff Bezos suggested that Amazon would be delivering goods via drones within five years. But an investigation reveals the company hasn't made much progress due to preventable mistakes.