The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has expanded its list of foreign-made drone systems that are conditionally approved and exempt from its extensive Covered List restrictions. This update, announced in a Public Notice on May 15, 2026, reflects ongoing efforts by federal agencies to navigate the implications of the FCC's stringent regulations on foreign drones and their critical components. The addition of new exemptions aims to facilitate the integration of certain drone technologies while addressing national security concerns. Among the newly exempted companies are Elevon Aerial and Air6 Systems, which are now able to operate under the revised guidelines. This move underscores the FCC's commitment to balancing innovation in the drone industry with the need for regulatory oversight.
FCC Adds More Drone Exemptions to Covered List Ban: Elevon Aerial, Air6 Systems
Robotics needs a service framework.
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
Tesseract Ventures Selected for Pentagon's Autonomous Drone Delivery System Prototype Program
Tesseract Ventures, a Kansas City-based robotics and drone company, has been chosen by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to participate in a prototype program aimed at enhancing the U.S. military's use of autonomous drones. This initiative, known as the Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS), focuses on deploying unmanned aerial systems in...
Military
SYNDÉO Introduces SmartVault Drone Base for Underground Autonomous Flight Solutions
SYNDÉO, a Verona, Wisconsin-based infrastructure company, is advocating for underground drone bases, specifically its SmartVault Drone Base, designed for critical missions like infrastructure inspection and border security. This innovative subsurface station features a load-bearing hatch for drone charging, secure storage, and advanced AI capabilities, di...
Drone News Dual Use News
FAA Grants Approval for Drone Amplified's MONTIS Avalanche Control System
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved Drone Amplified's MONTIS drone system for avalanche control, paving the way for its use by transportation agencies and ski resorts. This approval allows operators to deploy explosive charges remotely, enhancing safety by keeping personnel away from hazardous areas while still effectively managing aval...
News
Civil Liberties Groups Urge FAA to Amend Drone Rule to Protect Journalism
A coalition of civil liberties organizations, including the ACLU and EFF, is advocating for amendments to a proposed FAA rule that could limit drone flights over critical infrastructure. They argue that overly broad restrictions could hinder independent journalism and the use of drones for news-gathering. The FAA has extended the comment period for the pr...
Drone News Drone News Feeds FAA
Chinese Internet Association Launches AI Agent Data Protection Pact with Major Firms
The China Internet Association has introduced a self-regulatory agreement focused on personal information protection for AI agents during a forum in Beijing. Major companies including Baidu, Tencent, Alibaba, and Volcengine are among the initial signatories of this pact, which aims to establish standards for the collection, processing, and usage of person...
News Feed
BayCare Partners with Zipline for Drone Delivery Network in Tampa Bay by 2027
BayCare, the largest not-for-profit academic health-care system in West-Central Florida, has announced a partnership with Zipline to establish a drone delivery network. This system is expected to be operational by late 2027, initially focusing on high-volume hospital and laboratory locations in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area. The network will facilita...
Applications Delivery Drone News
ROBOTTODAY Weekly July 6 – 10, 2026
This week in robotics: AI² Robotics raises $735M for wheeled humanoids, Unitree G1 performs first live surgery, Dexmal launches DexOS platform, Agility Robotics announces SPAC, and Ondas acquires DZYNE for $875.8M. July 6–10, 2026.
RobotToday Weekly
FCC Fines Eight Companies for Alleged DJI Drone Bypass in the US Market
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has initiated a crackdown on eight companies suspected of facilitating DJI's circumvention of the US foreign drone ban. Each company, including Cogito Tech and Xtra Technology, has been fined $25,000 for failing to respond to FCC inquiries regarding their marketing of radio equipment in the US. The deadline for ...
Policy Tech
Piaggio Fast Forward Brings kilo® Autonomous Mobile Robot to Automate 2026
Piaggio Fast Forward showcases kilo®, an infrastructure-free collaborative AMR (300 lb payload, 360° LiDAR), at Automate 2026 booth #17054.
Market and Business News
Physical AI Landscape: From Digital Intelligence to the Embodied Physical World
A comprehensive industry analysis of Physical AI — covering Embodied AI, Field AI, Factory AI, VLM, World Model, VLA, and the VLA vs WAM architecture debate. Includes 20+ companies, 28 references, and the RobotToday Physical AI Landscape diagram. July 2026.
Artificial Intelligence
Manna Establishes First U.S. Drone Delivery Hub in Tulsa with Job Creation Plans
Manna, an Irish drone delivery company, has officially launched its first metropolitan drone delivery hub in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This initiative marks a significant step in Manna's American expansion, which includes plans for U.S. manufacturing and the creation of over 1,000 jobs in the region. The hub aims to enhance commercial drone operations in urban are...
Applications Delivery Drone News
Siemens collaborates with Databricks and FFT to enhance production data with AI insights.
Siemens has unveiled a new edge-to-cloud integration in collaboration with Databricks, a leading Data and AI company, and its long-time automation partner, FFT Produktionssysteme. This innovative partnership aims to streamline the connection of production data directly to enterprise AI, eliminating the need for complex IoT middleware. By facilitating this...
Artificial Intelligence Automation Industry
Midwest Drone Repair
United States
Midwest Drone Repair is a US-based service provider specialising in UAV maintenance, repair, and support. The company serves commercial drone operators across various industries. Website was inaccessible at time of scrape; classification based on company name and directory context.
OpenSky Drones
United States
OpenSky Drones provides drone-based inspection and remote sensing services for infrastructure and industrial assets. Its platforms enable safe access to difficult or hazardous locations with data capture and analysis capabilities.
Terra Drone (JP)
Terra Drone is a Japanese UAV solutions provider offering commercial drone services and software for surveying, inspection, logistics, and precision agriculture. The company operates globally with subsidiaries across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Acquire to Decide
France
A2D specializes in automated infrastructure monitoring solutions utilizing advanced photogrammetry and AI for fault detection. Our A2D Cloud and A2D Real Time platforms facilitate rapid data acquisition and processing, generating 3D digital twins with defect visualization. This technology enables proactive maintenance strategies, enhances risk management, and optimizes operational costs, ensuring precise diagnostics and timely decision-making for engineering structures.
ReSim.ai
United States
Resim develops cloud-based simulation and validation infrastructure for robotics and autonomous vehicles. Its platform supports scenario generation, data replay, system regression testing, and performance analytics to accelerate verification and continuous integration of autonomy stacks.
Disruptive Technologies (NO)
Norway
Disruptive Technologies manufactures miniature wireless IoT sensors with peel-and-stick form factor for monitoring temperature, proximity, touch, and humidity. Sensors transmit data to cloud infrastructure for asset tracking and facility management.
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