Roam Research
fromFast Company
3 days agoHow AI-powered echolocation is giving small drones night vision
An ultrasound-based perception system inspired by bat echolocation enables small aerial robots to navigate in low-visibility environments.
KeyBanc lowered its price target to $295 from $330 and kept its Overweight rating after adjusting estimates post-earnings. The firm attributes the target reduction to recent changes to the SCAR program and timing in contract awards. Despite the revision, KeyBanc's broader conviction on AeroVironment is unchanged: the firm maintains that AeroVironment is positioned to capitalize on the proliferation of UAS/cUAS and increased government spending in defense and space-related programs.
Today's models are compact, increasingly affordable and capable of capturing sharp aerial photos and video with minimal effort. Whether you're curious about flying for the first time or looking to upgrade to a more advanced camera drone, the options available in 2026 are broader and more approachable than ever.Entry-level drones now offer features like GPS-assisted flight, return-to-home safety systems and automated shooting modes that take much of the stress out of learning to fly.
Previous leaks have hinted at a dual-lens design with a secondary zoom camera, akin to a recent Insta360 leak and more crucially, the dual camera systems on some of DJI's drones. However, this latest leaked short hands-on video shows a very familiar design with a single lens, but still some notable changes here and there. That dual-lens design might still become a reality as a Pocket 4 Pro.
Hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicles are not a new concept. Drones running on hydrogen fuel have been in experimental forms for over a decade, but this is for the first time, a drone has been fully designed and deployed on full-scale combat duty in an active war zone. The drone is a hybrid version of the Raybird USA developed by Skyeton and is deployed with the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
The Royal Navy said on Friday that they have launched a new full size crewless helicopter which is designed to track submarines and will undertake missions in the North Atlantic. Since Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale war in Ukraine the defence industry has been remodelled as most European government's have increased military spending. The helicopter named "Proteus" has completed a test flight and was part of a £60 million programme,
Antigravity's ambitious A1 360-degree drone is 15 percent off through February 9th. The first-ever discount on this model is available across all bundles, with the most affordable option dropping from $1,599 to $1,359 at Amazon and Best Buy. Pricier bundles are also discounted and include accessories such as a carrying case, additional replaceable drone wings, and extra batteries. The Antigravity A1, Insta360's first drone, really impressed us during our hands-on with a prototype in December 2025.
"The Drone Ban" sounds overly alarmist, but it's real. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has instituted a ban on new foreign-made drones and drone components. Which, considering the huge market dominance of Chinese brands, translates into a "buy them now while you can" situation for hobbyist drones. While this ban prevents any new models from being imported and sold in the U.S., ones that are already here are still available for purchase and use.
I, let's be clear, am not. But I can share what it's like to make the jump from an entry-level model to one of these multifunctional combo units, something I imagine many Verge readers have considered. To say I'm impressed by the performance of the drone maker's first and best robot vacuum is an understatement. But I'm also not convinced anyone should spend over $2,000 for the DJI Romo P, regardless of how much I like its transparent looks.
"We were completely controlling the drone from the helicopter. For us, it's of course unique. Today, what we performed is a world first," Gerin-Roze told reporters on Thursday at the Singapore Airshow. The software is part of Airbus' contribution to the surging industry for drone wingmen, which the world's biggest aircraft manufacturers are betting will be the future of air warfare.
Across its body, the A1 carries eight individual cameras, each equipped with a 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/2.2 aperture, and an ISO range of 100 to 6,400. Harnessing the magic of Insta360 software, these cameras all work together to record 360-degree hemispherical footage. You don't see the sphere at once; instead, the drone routes its video feed directly to the goggles, narrowing it to a 65-degree field of view. You physically turn your head to see the rest of the scene.
Most consumer drones look and feel intimidating to a child. They're loud, angular, full of exposed propellers, and packed with complex controls adults barely understand. Kids want to see the world from above, but parents see spinning blades and fragile arms that cost too much to replace. The mix of fascination and fear turns what could be fun into something closer to borrowing a grown-up's expensive, breakable toy.
Drones come in a crazy wide range of styles and performance levels for a variety of use cases. Some of the more affordable options are essentially just toys, ideal for casual fun at parties or for quick park outings with friends. This is not one of those drones. The DJI Mavic 4 Pro is a premium-grade model specifically built for professional aerial photography and videography.
Insta360 has introduced two AI-powered 4K webcams, the Insta360 Link 2 Pro and Insta360 Link 2C Pro. The new models aim to narrow the gap between basic webcams and professional camera and microphone setups by offering improved video quality, enhanced audio capture, and smarter software tools. The Link 2 Pro has received a 2026 CES Picks Award in the TWICE category. Both webcams are built for desktop use and are said to be aimed at professionals, educators, and content creators seeking reliable performance.
The DJI Osmo 360 Camera is designed to help you create high-resolution, immersive content by capturing a full 360-degree image using a 1-inch 360 imaging system that delivers native 8K 360 video and high-quality still images, wrapping every scene into a single frame. The camera also includes a new 180° invisible selfie stick and an extra battery, so you can keep filming creative third-person angles without stopping to swap batteries.
Confession time: I'm not much of a moviemaker. I try. I strap action cameras to my bike handlebars all the time. And I have hours of GoPro footage I shot living in a vintage RV for years. All these clips sit, unused, collecting dust on external hard drives. I just haven't figured out how to tell stories with video, so the footage sits, waiting for me to learn.
Martin Bochatay is the drone cam pilot for the money shots inside the iconic Tofana schuss, the narrow chute between two walls of Dolomite rock. He is part of a team in control of the buzzing machines that are flying right behind Olympians as they go for gold at the Milan Cortina Games, offering stunning and high-pace visuals to TV viewers back home.