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By MATTHEW WEISSMAN Drones have room for a major upgrade through faster wireless connectivity, such as 5G. For instance, drone pilots traditionally have to stay close to their drones to ensure good connectivity. With an upgraded wireless connectivity system, drones can communicate and process information faster and more effectively over greater distances. One significant upgrade is the capability to livestream videos. With increased speeds, the videos sent can now be smoother

The US Department of Homeland Security launched a new office for drone and counter-drone technologies, in preparation for the FIFA World Cup and the 250th birthday of America. $115 million will be put into these efforts, as the Trump Administration aims to ensure safety and prevent illegal activities occurring in the sky while the US hosts the largest World Cup ever. This preparation is needed in my opinion. Drones are the future in the skies for both legal and illegal activi

BY MATTHEW WEISSMAN Although many have heard about the over 150 aircraft used, a Stealthy US Air Force drone played a crucial role in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to Defense News. Online videos show the RQ-170 Sentinel reconnaissance drone helped provide real-time intelligence and updates on to help the extraction force. This is definitely a use of drones in a way never publicly seen before. It is very cool to see the important role UAV drones

On Monday Dec. 22nd, The FCC officially blacklisted all new foreign made drones and components due to national security risks. This includes popular Chinese drone manufacturer DJI, which accounts for over 90% of the global market share of drones. I made a blog entry earlier this year about DJI specifically, so be sure to check that out! While I understand that the best intentions are in mind, it seems to me like there are few to no good alternatives to DJI drones, especially

BY MATTHEW WEISSMAN An emerging issue regarding drones is their use in smuggling phones, weapons, and drugs into prisons across America. In fact, the Georgia Department of Corrections 71 drone incidents in November alone. According to ABC News, these drones are being operated by gangs and even some Mexican Cartels. However, because drones are registered aircraft, FAA rules state that it is illegal for prison staff to bring down drones. In my opinion, States should work with t

An Atlanta man who flew a drone over Truist Park during the 2025 MLB All Star Game has been issued a $500 fine and six months probation. The FAA had issued a flight restriction over Truist Park during the game, and the man's drone was not registered, nor did he have a remote pilot certificate. This should serve as an example to discourage others from attempting similar situations, especially as the US prepares to host some of the 2026 World Cup matches. I discussed that in a

BY MATTHEW WEISSMAN Walmart is now expanding its drone delivery program to Atlanta, the company’s third city with drone delivery services. Walmart uses drones from Wing, owned by Google parent company Alphabet. The retail chain also plans to roll out the delivery service to Charlotte, Houston, Tampa, and Orlando soon. These drone deliveries can arrive as soon as 30 minutes after an order is placed, and can travel up to 60mph. You can check if drone delivery is available where

Drone delivery company Zipline is expanding its services to Africa to help deliver blood and medicines to those in need. The State Department has said it will provide up to $150 million to help Zipline’s expansion. Zipline has completed over 1.8 million drone deliveries since 2016 and has provided reliable delivery of medical supplies. Zipline has partnered with companies like Walmart, Panera, and Chipotle for drone delivery services. I think this expansion is amazing and a g

BY MATTHEW WEISSMAN The Florida Department of Education announced on Monday that they are piloting a program in three counties that uses drones to improve safety in schools. The goal of the Guardian Angel Drone pilot program, part of Florida’s $1.3 billion investment in campus security, is to provide law enforcement with real-time audio and visual footage, while also being able to distract the perpetrator during potential threats. If the pilot program proves to be successful,

BY MATTHEW WEISSMAN The U.K. has sent anti-drone specialists to Belgium drone sightings caused local airports to be shut down multiple times. There was also an incident where there was unexplained drone activity near a Belgian military base where the US stores nuclear weapons. Nobody has been blamed yet, but many of the infrastructure where these drones have been spotted have relations to helping Ukraine. I hope that these experts can resolve the issues, and prevent future i

BY MATTHEW WEISSMAN A White House Task Force recently met with World Cup leaders to discuss drones and security ahead of next year’s FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by 11 North American cities. This meeting included discussions regarding preventing unauthorized drone use, as well as counter aircraft systems for unauthorized UAVs. I believe this meeting is both necessary, and a deterrent to people who are or may plan to do harm, or just anyone trying to use drones near t

BY MATTHEW WEISSMAN In October, according to the Guardian, the Munich Airport in Germany was shut down after drones were sighted, cancelling three flights and delaying flights for thousands of passengers. This comes as drone sightings in Denmark and Norway faced similar situations, where airport operations were disrupted due to drone sightings. I believe that this should serve as a call to action not only for Europe, but for the infrastructure of all nations, due to how easy

BY MATTHEW WEISSMAN The US Army has recently told Reuters that it plans to purchase at least a million drones over the next few years. This comes as drones have played a crucial role in the Russia-Ukraine War, where they can be used to avoid anti-aircraft systems. I believe that this is great news, as many of America’s adversaries, such as Russia and China, produce and purchase millions of drones each year. This purchase by the US helps ensure the playing field is more level

By MATTHEW WEISSMAN Delivery drones have been a common headline for over a decade, but the FAA has made that reality one step closer. The DOT and FAA have allowed for delivery drones to be flown at up to 400 feet. The permit also allows for US drone operations for farming and land surveying. This comes as Walmart and Amazon are already permitted to use drone delivery in select US cities. However, there will still be some strict restrictions. Drones will have to yield to mann

By MATTHEW WEISSMAN National security concerns about sales in the U.S. of drones made by Chinese companies such as DJI,...

By MATTHEW WEISSMAN Wondering how to get a drone license? You’re in the right place! There are two main categories of drone operations....

By MATTHEW WEISSMAN Throughout the last few months, there have been many articles in the media and talk on social media regarding...