Welcome to your weekly UAS information replace. We’ve 4 tales for you this week. First, the DJI Mavic 4 Professional launch date, specs, and pricing have been leaked. Second, a analysis crew developed a battery that lets drones fly in excessive temperatures—and once we say excessive, we imply excessive. Third, a lacking lady in Wisconsin was discovered rapidly due to a drone. Lastly, President Trump nominates a brand new FAA administrator. Let’s get to it.
DJI Mavic 4 Professional Leak
First up this week, we now have thrilling leaked details about the DJI Mavic 4 Professional. In accordance with Jasper Ellens, the drone is ready to launch on Thursday, April 24, 2025, which is simply across the nook. Anticipate an official teaser from DJI round April 17. This aligns with earlier leaks, giving us confidence within the date. Now, let’s dive into the important thing options. The Mavic 4 Professional will boast three cameras with focal lengths of 28 mm, 70 mm, and 168 mm—equal to 2.5x and 6x zoom, barely completely different from the present 3x and 7x setup.
It’ll reportedly file in 6K with a bigger sensor than the DJI Mavic 3, although the sensor dimension isn’t specified but. This guarantees even higher picture high quality than we’ve seen thus far. The gimbal is getting a significant redesign with 360-degree multi-directional motion, plus an sudden characteristic: an digital ND filter system. No extra carrying or forgetting ND Filters—a mistake we’ve made loads of instances ourselves. If true, that’s spectacular. DJI claims a flight time of 52 minutes, which we’ll check when it’s launched.
Charging three batteries in simply 90 minutes aligns with the leaked 240W charger. A brand new controller, the DJI RC Professional 2, can also be coming, that includes a 7-inch tilting touchscreen. Value-wise, leaks counsel $2,250 for the bottom mannequin with the RC Professional 2. The Fly Extra Combo with the RC Professional 2 is round $3,200. The highest-tier 512 GB Creator Combo, doubtless with an onboard SSD, contains the RC Professional 2 and prices $4,400. These costs are topic to vary, and there’s concern about potential customs will increase attributable to tensions with Chinese language drone producers.
Breakthrough Battery Tech
Subsequent, a analysis crew from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics has made a breakthrough in battery know-how. They efficiently flew an e-copter in temperatures as little as -32°F (-36°C). It is a massive deal as a result of normal lithium-ion batteries wrestle in excessive chilly, usually shedding 30 to 50% of their capability. This new battery retains over 90% of its capability at -40°F, with endurance loss below 10%. This opens up prospects for drone use in border surveillance, polar exploration, and emergency response in frigid areas. Past drones, this tech may gain advantage electrical autos and distant energy stations.
Drone Rescues Lacking Girl
Subsequent, a real-world “drone for good” story from Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. A 59-year-old lady was rapidly positioned by a drone after floor searches failed. She’d been outdoor for about three hours and couldn’t stand. Rescuers reached her inside one minute of detection, simply earlier than a storm hit. The Wisconsin Rapids Police Division, Grand Rapids Hearth Division, and Wings of Hope Search and Rescue collaborated on this success. Apparently, the police didn’t personal the drone; Wings of Hope, a nonprofit, supplied it. This highlights monetary challenges small departments face in buying life-saving tech like drones, particularly as rules make reasonably priced choices more durable to acquire.
New FAA Administrator Nominated
Lastly, the White Home nominated Brian Bedford, CEO of Republic Airways, to go the FAA. This follows aviation incidents, together with a midair collision at Washington Nationwide Airport that killed 67 individuals. Bedford, a pilot with over 30 years of expertise, faces massive challenges if confirmed: deciding on Boeing 737 MAX manufacturing approvals, addressing a scarcity of about 3,500 air site visitors controllers, and overhauling the nation’s growing old air site visitors management system, which wants tens of billions from Congress. This nomination is essential for aviation, together with the Drone Business, and Bedford’s actions shall be intently watched.
Closing Notes
That’s it for this week. That is our final recording from the present studio—we’re tearing it down proper after this. We’ve cherished the final three years right here however sit up for the brand new facility, the place we’ve been settling in for almost two weeks. As a result of transfer, there’s no comfortable hour or dwell session this Monday. We’ll see you subsequent week with a information replace from our new setup. Till then!
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