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22 December 2025
On December 18, President Trump signed law S.1071, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.
In his "Statement By The President" on that date, Trump stated: "The Act will enable the Department of War to carry out my Peace Through Strength agenda, protect the homeland from domestic and foreign threats, and strengthen the defense industrial base...Over the next three years, the United States will host numerous major events that necessitate new authorities to combat emerging security threats. The Act includes the critical SAFER SKIES Act, which provides State and local law enforcement with the authority to protect against unmanned aircraft when they present a threat to the public and creates a new felony offense for a second violation of national defense airspace."
The Safer Skies Act is obviously of most interest to the drone community, as it provides state and local authorities the power to deploy technology to thwart UAV threats at sporting events, concerts, festivals, and other large public gatherings.
The NFL, in particular, has sought the assistance of a law such as S.1071 for at least three years, citing more than 2,000 unlawful drone flights over stadiums during that time. While the FAA temporarily restricts the airspace around a stadium from one hour before and one hour after a game&mdash;the limitations being flights below 3,000 feet and within three miles of the event&mdash;drones often defy the restrictions.
Even more remarkably, thousands of NFL amd Major League Baseball games have been played without local officials on-site with the legal authority to bring down drones. In fact, such actions in the past required federal law enforcement to be on hand to disable unauthorized drones, and only the Super Bowl, World Series, and World Cup final were eligible for such action.
"We thank President Trump and our Congressional champions from both political parties who took decisive action to keep fans safe," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. "With a rising number of drones flying in restricted airspace, it is critical that state and local law enforcement have the tools to prevent harm. This important step will help protect fans at stadiums across the country."
Bouyed by bipartisan support, the Safer Skies/National Defense Authorization Act passed the Senate before Trump's signature, and opened the door for state and local officials to receive the same training, as well as the ability to take action, as federal agents who may be on location during massive events.
"As drones become more common, the risk of them causing disruptions or being used for malicious activities at sporting events only grows stronger," stated Senator Gary Peters (D-Michigan). "Law enforcement officials must be able to protect stadiums in their communities from these growing threats&mdash;especially as the United States prepares to host next summer's FIFA World Cup and the upcoming 2028 LA Olympics."
<h5>Learn More</h5>
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Safer Skies Act Signed Into Law

18 December 2025
If you're an Avatar fan, you won't be able to see the third installment of the series&mdash;Avatar: Fire and Ash&mdash;until tomorrow (Friday, December 19), but we can share the Disneyland Paris drone show that celebrates the new movie.
The Paris event featured 3,700 drones that were synchronized to Simon Franglen&rsquo;s soundtrack for Avatar: Fire and Ash.
<h5>Watch the Big Disneyland Paris Drone Show</h5>
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Avatar: Fire and Ash Drone Show!

17 December 2025
The &ldquo;Direct-to-Device&rdquo; (D2D) revolution, previously dominated by smartphone emergency messaging, has officially expanded into the realm of autonomous robotics.
On December 16, Globalstar and Skydio&mdash;the leading U.S. autonomous drone manufacturer&mdash;announced the successful completion of a technology trial that integrates satellite-licensed spectrum into drone operations.
The trial validated the compatibility of Skydio&rsquo;s X10 drones with Globalstar&rsquo;s licensed Band n53 spectrum and its XCOM RAN private 5G platform. This development disrupts the current D2D narrative&mdash;often focused on consumer handsets and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)&mdash;by demonstrating satellite spectrum can serve as a critical &ldquo;control link&rdquo; layer for industrial IoT (Internet of Things) and public safety robotics.
<h5>What Is D2D?</h5>
D2D for drones means they communicate directly with each other (or with ground devices) without needing base stations. This creates robust, infrastructure-less networks for tasks such as collision avoidance, emergency relays, content sharing, and coordinated swarm operations. These networks often use 5G or satellite tech for reliability, security, and energy efficiency in challenging environments.&nbsp;
<h5 class="has-hp-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-117d51b5d102a3c14a7e154579d07fd2">Expanding the D2D Ecosystem</h5>
While the satellite industry has focused heavily on connecting consumer smartphones (Supplemental Coverage from Space), this trial highlights a lucrative B2B and government vector for satellite spectrum: high-bandwidth, interference-free control for autonomous systems.
During the trial, the companies evaluated Band n53 and XCOM RAN as high-performance alternatives to traditional Wi-Fi or public cellular networks, which are often unreliable in contested or congested environments. The successful test confirmed that Globalstar&rsquo;s spectrum could support the demanding uplink requirements of autonomous drones, including reliable command and control (C2) and real-time streaming video.
<h5 class="has-hp-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-f0552c4b700959e1a0f806d52f9a4876">Technical Validation</h5>
The trial&rsquo;s success relied on the unique properties of Band n53&mdash;a dedicated mid-band spectrum licensed to Globalstar&mdash;combined with the XCOM RAN architecture, which is designed for high-capacity uplink performance.
Skydio CTO Abe Bachrach highlighted the ease of integration, noting that the team was able to &ldquo;integrate Band n53 using an existing module already supported within Globalstar&rsquo;s ecosystem,&rdquo; allowing for rapid real-world testing. This &ldquo;plug-and-play&rdquo; capability suggests that the hardware barrier for adding satellite-spectrum resilience to commercial drones is lower than previously expected.
<h5 class="has-hp-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-626dfcda25f886eb7631dd70791b3654">Strategic Implications</h5>
For Globalstar, this trial moves the company beyond the &ldquo;emergency SOS&rdquo; market associated with its Apple partnership. It positions Band n53 as a critical enabler for the &ldquo;Internet of Moving Things,&rdquo; particularly for first responders and industrial inspection teams who cannot risk signal loss during a mission.
&ldquo;This trial highlights the strength of Band n53 and the XCOM RAN architecture for high performance uplink applications like autonomous drones,&rdquo; said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, CEO of Globalstar. &ldquo;We are proud to support a future where first responders have the tools they need to move faster and stay safer.&rdquo;
<h5 class="has-hp-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-fa269a2486ff1068de84022531b23400">Market Outlook</h5>
This validation arrives as regulators and defense agencies increasingly view commercial satellite spectrum as a way to harden the &ldquo;kill chain&rdquo; and supply chain against jamming and interference. By leveraging licensed satellite spectrum rather than crowded public frequencies, operators can ensure &ldquo;sovereign&rdquo; control over their assets&mdash;a key trend in both the commercial and defense sectors.
The successful trial paves the way for mass-market adoption of satellite-spectrum-enabled drones in sectors ranging from public safety to critical infrastructure monitoring, effectively graduating D2D from a consumer safety feature to an industrial necessity.

Globalstar & Skydio Trial Validates D2D for Drones

16 December 2025
The <a href="https://www.temu.com/?_x_ns_irclickid=Rao1NNVOxxycTWhWdZVHGUdiUkpQFMSZISsQ3c0&amp;_x_ns_randint=11739&amp;_x_ns_ts=1765891068311&amp;_x_vst_scene=adg&amp;_x_ns_adtype=ONLINE_TRACKING_LINK&amp;_x_ads_channel=impact&amp;_x_ns_prodsku=&amp;_x_ads_account=18350&amp;_x_ns_mp_value2=&amp;_x_ads_id=1580294&amp;_x_ns_irpid=6711703&amp;_x_ns_irmpgroupname=%22lw%22&amp;_x_ns_sharedid=%7Bantiguanewsroom.com%7D&amp;_x_ns_irmpname=Homevbyz&amp;_x_ns_mp_value3=&amp;_x_ns_irmptype=mediapartner&amp;_x_ns_iradname=Online%2BTracking%2BLink&amp;_x_ns_iradsize=&amp;_x_sessn_id=3lbouwk3tv&amp;refer_page_name=home&amp;refer_page_id=10005_1765955261805_1ckhzuz980&amp;refer_page_sn=10005" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Temu</a> online marketplace is like a discounter mashed up with a casino. Hit the site, and no matter what you're looking for, you'll likely be barraged with pop-ups promising even more incredible deals than a $13 mini chainsaw, or an $11 mattress, or a $77 robo dog, or any number of wonders.
But is it a viable destination for drone purchases?
Many of the products offered on the site are generally cheaply made and of varying quality, and Temu has weathered its share of controversies regarding its labor force, advertising, customer service, and other practices. But if you're looking for a bevy of drones priced under $100&mdash;sometimes way under $100&mdash;Temu is your prime hunting ground.
What can you expect if you take the plunge?
In October 2025, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@UnboxAnalysisOfficial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unbox Analysis</a> provided some insight with its review of the top five drones sold on Temu at the time. The YouTube influencer's findings may send you running to more conventional retail outlets, or perhaps entice you to take a chance on what's being offered. Whatever the outcome, the video is interesting, at times humorous, and definitely a peek into the world of deep discounts.
<h5>Get a Peek at What's in Store for Drone Shoppers on Temu</h5>
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Why Would You Buy a Drone From Temu?

15 December 2025
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/news/categories/brazzel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Timothy Brazzel</a>&nbsp;
On December 9 and 11, I was invited to help teach a group of high school seniors from La Quinta High School in La Quinta, California.
It turned into an experience far more fulfilling than I expected. It was actually one of those rare opportunities that remind you exactly why you fell in love with drones in the first place.&nbsp;
Under the leadership of Skip Fredricks and the steady guidance of Rosann Denton&mdash;both drone cinematographers from <a href="https://www.commercialuavnews.com/supplier-directory/hollywood-drones-dronetv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hollywood Drones</a> in Palm Springs, California&mdash;I stepped into a classroom of curious, energetic young people who had never flown a drone before. They didn&rsquo;t even know the terminology or the maneuvers. Some had never held a controller in their life.
But what they did have was curiosity.
And if you&rsquo;ve been in the drone world long enough, you know that curiosity is the spark that pulls someone into this field for good. Watching that spark ignite in real time is something special.
<h5 class="p5">Starting with the Basics</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/By5TEKikTZFkducXEfTiXK8nF2WKEREZJ2UzGkEd.png" alt="" width="459" height="334" />
Before any propellers started spinning, each student completed their TRUST test&mdash;the FAA-required step for recreational flyers. We didn&rsquo;t just hand them drones and say, &ldquo;Have fun.&rdquo; We walked them through what it actually means to fly responsibly.
From there, we covered drone safety, airspace awareness, and basic maintenance&mdash;the stuff most beginners skip, because they want to get straight to the good part. But these kids actually cared. They asked questions. They took notes. They weren&rsquo;t just trying to fly&mdash;they wanted to understand why the rules exist and how to operate drones with confidence.
One student said something that stuck with me: &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know flying a drone involved all of this. It&rsquo;s actually kind of serious.&rdquo;
Exactly. And that level of respect is what keeps the skies safe.
<h5 class="p5">The Five Maneuvers that Unlock Everything</h5>
Once we hit the field, the real fun began. I walked them through five simple but foundational drone maneuvers that build muscle memory and coordination:
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li4">Rise Up</li>
<li class="li4">Drop Down</li>
<li class="li4">Dolly Forward</li>
<li class="li4">Dolly Back</li>
<li class="li4">Track Left/Right</li>
</ol>
When you teach beginners, you can always tell who&rsquo;s going to pick it up quickly. Some were cautious. Some were adventurous. Some were quietly skilled. But without exception, all of them were locked in and focused.
Then came the challenge: a four-point square box formation, clockwise, using only the right stick.
This sounds simple, but it requires real control. You need to keep altitude steady, coordinate corners, and trust your movement. For students who had just learned to take off minutes earlier, this was quite a test.
One by one, they tried. One by one, they succeeded. Their confidence grew by the minute. You could see the shift from, &ldquo;I hope I don&rsquo;t crash&rdquo; to "I&rsquo;m actually getting this.&rdquo;
<h5 class="p5">Cinematic Movement and Drone Storytelling</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/RZjgzQZN3D8mcUtz1u43dfywtcLsbzkuTssT7idh.png" alt="" width="462" height="391" />
After we laid the foundation, Fredricks stepped in and delivered a short session on drone cinematography: How to move the camera with intention, how to think like a filmmaker, and how certain maneuvers translate into visual storytelling.
Instantly, the students&rsquo; flying changed. They weren&rsquo;t just pushing sticks anymore, they were creating. They were trying arcs, reveals, pullbacks, and angles that showed they were starting to see drones as something more than toys.
It&rsquo;s incredible how quickly creativity unlocks once the basics click. You give someone skill, then you give them imagination. And you get something powerful.
<h5 class="p5">Tech That Lights Up a New Generation</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/0L1dPBji3nHIhLfqfQDJiYgsAm5AIxSz4bJO6GZI.png" alt="" width="459" height="309" />
If you ever want to see teenagers get excited, hand them a drone with active tracking and gesture control. The DJI Flip and the Neo 2 stole the show. The active tracking modes had them laughing like they just discovered superpowers. The hand-gesture technology on the Neo 2 genuinely blew their minds.
Every new feature sparked questions: &ldquo;Can it follow a bike? Can it track a person if they run? Can this shoot a music video? How far does gesture control work?&rdquo;
This is the type of curiosity we need in the drone community. Not fear. Just excitement, discovery, and possibility.
<h5 class="p5">The Drone Community Needs to Stop Gatekeeping</h5>
This experience also made me reflect on something I shared in a video I recorded during the training.&nbsp;
The drone community needs to reach a place where we become teachers, not gatekeepers. Too many people in the drone world guard knowledge like it&rsquo;s a secret treasure. They hold onto skills, connections, and opportunities, instead of sharing them.
But here&rsquo;s the truth...
If we want the drone industry to grow, we have to grow the people in it. If we want better pilots, we need more mentors. If we want innovation, we need fresh minds entering the space.
We need programmers, software engineers, design engineers, and drone repair specialists for consumer and enterprise drones. This is not just to help make better drones and advance drone technology, but also to educate and train others how to do the same, so the U.S. eventually becomes a manufacturing hub for innovation, technology, drone parts, repairs, software engineering, and so forth.
There are aspiring pilots everywhere: Young people, content creators, hobbyists, future professionals, and students who simply need someone to say, &ldquo;Yeah, you can do this. Let me show you how.&rdquo;
Knowledge isn&rsquo;t currency. Knowledge is legacy. And legacy is something you build by giving away what you know.
<h5 class="p5">How Are You Positioning Yourself for 2026?</h5>
The question I&rsquo;ve been asking myself&mdash;and now I&rsquo;m asking you&mdash;is simple: How are you positioning yourself in 2026 to mentor, educate, or inspire someone else?
Because drones aren&rsquo;t slowing down. Technology isn&rsquo;t slowing down. Opportunities aren&rsquo;t slowing down.
But people will get left behind if we don&rsquo;t step up and help them.
Mentorship doesn&rsquo;t always come from a classroom:
&bull; It can be answering questions in a Facebook group.&bull; It can be showing your little cousin how to take off.
&bull; It can be explaining camera settings to a new pilot at the park.
&bull; It can be posting educational content online.
&bull; It can be volunteering at a local school or youth center.
&bull; It can be taking a beginner under your wing and helping them grow.
Small seeds turn into big trees. You don&rsquo;t always know who you&rsquo;re inspiring. You don&rsquo;t always know whose life changes because you took five minutes to teach them something new.
<h5 class="p5">My Mission</h5>
These last two days didn&rsquo;t just teach the students something. They taught me something, too.
They reminded me why I created <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Inspirewithdrones3342" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Inspire With Drones</a>&mdash;to give back, to educate, and to open doors for people who might never have walked through them without a little encouragement.
There&rsquo;s a quote I love that fits perfectly here: &ldquo;A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.&rdquo;
That&rsquo;s mentorship. That&rsquo;s community. That&rsquo;s the future of the drone world.
And if these high school students are any indication of what&rsquo;s coming, we&rsquo;re in good hands. The next generation is bright, curious, fearless, and ready for opportunities. They just need someone to hand them the controller.
<h5 class="p5">Closing Thoughts</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/BnaBnIhoENFElVBUT3wLfCHySCsL7VTTBn8elgJb.png" alt="" width="463" height="310" />
This experience was more than teaching basic maneuvers, showing off new drone tech, and watching first-time flyers take off with shaky hands and big smiles. It was a reminder that we all have something to give. We all have something we can teach. We all have the power to inspire.
So, here&rsquo;s my challenge to you: Don&rsquo;t gatekeep. Give back. Mentor someone. Teach someone. Encourage someone. The future of drone piloting depends on what we choose to share today.
And trust me&mdash;the next generation is ready to fly.

Inspiring the Next Generation

12 December 2025
Atmospheric rivers have been bedeviling Western Washington and Northwest Oregon, causing massive rain, flood watches, and evacuation advisories.&nbsp;
As of today, imminent threats to public safety are still in effect, as rivers continue to reach record levels. The worries are such that Washington Governor Bob Ferguson issued an emergency declaration.
"I just received a phone call from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem," reported Ferguson. "Secretary Noem informed me that the president signed our request for an emergency declaration. We have also received written confirmation of that emergency declaration. I expressed my thanks to Secretary Noem on behalf of the people of the State of Washington during this extremely challenging time."
In addition, the Washington National Guard was sent to endangered areas to assist with rescue operations for those trapped by the floodwaters.&nbsp;
<h5>Watch Drone Footage of the Floods</h5>
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Drones Capture Video of Washington State Floods

11 December 2025
<div class="featured-template-dek">China may have logged a significant lead in the combat drone battle with the December 11 launch of its jet-powered Jiutian "mothership" in Pucheng County.</div>
<div class="featured-template-dek">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="featured-template-dek">Jiutian is a big boy&mdash;certainly as compared to other uncrewed combat aircraft&mdash;with a wingspan of about 82 feet, a 54 foot fuselage, a takeoff weight of approximately 17.6 tons, and a payload capacity of nearly 13,228 pounds. Of course, its size makes Jiutian a near perfect delivery system for deploying drone swarms wherever they might be needed. In addition, the unmanned UAV can fly for up to 12 hours at a speed of 435 miles per hour with an operational ceiling of 49,212 feet.</div>
<div class="featured-template-dek">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="featured-template-dek">Last year, <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.twz.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The War Zone</a> commented on China's drone swarm developments: &ldquo;China&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.twz.com/17698/chinas-is-hard-at-work-developing-swarms-of-small-drones-on-multiple-levels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interest in swarming capabilities</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.twz.com/42694/chinese-flying-wing-drones-launch-swarming-decoys-at-enemy-warships-in-industry-video" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the ability to launch them</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.twz.com/42694/chinese-flying-wing-drones-launch-swarming-decoys-at-enemy-warships-in-industry-video" target="_blank" rel="noopener">various platforms</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.twz.com/china-sees-balloon-launched-drone-swarms-in-its-future" target="_blank" rel="noopener">including high-altitude balloons</a>, is not new. For military purposes, swarms have a number of inherent benefits, including the ability to rapidly fan out across a broad area to carry out various missions depending on how they are configured, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, and kinetic strike. Individual drones in a swarm can also be equipped with different payloads to give the entire grouping a multi-mission capability. Large numbers of uncrewed aerial systems operating closely together also present significant challenges for defenders who could easily find themselves overwhelmed or otherwise confused about how to best respond to the incoming threats.&rdquo;</div>
<div class="featured-template-dek">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="featured-template-dek">Apparently, there's more to Jiutian than its potential deployment as a strategic combat weapon. Both China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) have identified non-military uses for the "mothership."</div>
<div class="featured-template-dek">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="featured-template-dek">&ldquo;Its modular payload system enables roles ranging from precise deliveries of heavy cargo to remote regions, to emergency communication and disaster relief, to geographic surveying and resource mapping,&rdquo; the China Military Bugle&mdash;an official media outlet for China&rsquo;s military&mdash;posted on X, .</div>
<div class="featured-template-dek">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="featured-template-dek">
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<div class="pw-footer-container-incontent">
<div class="pw-border-incontent-after">However Jiutian ends up being deployed, its existence further showcases China's massive dominance in the global drone market&mdash;military or otherwise.&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>
<h5 class="article-paragraph skip">Get a Sneak Peek at Jiutian</h5>
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</div>
</div>
</div>

China's Jiutian Mothership Drone Takes First Flight

Photo Courtesy VTT
10 December 2025
Drawing inspiration from human eyesight, a European research project led by <a href="https://www.vttresearch.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VTT</a> has developed machine vision mimicking the cooperation of the eye and nervous system, implemented as edge-computing circuits. Edge computing means processing data where it is generated and where the results of computing are needed. This enables, for instance, intelligent robots and drones that can operate independently in a rescue mission after an earthquake without constant network connections or bulky batteries.
Launched in 2021, the&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4577607-1&amp;h=3832422538&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.misel-project.eu%2F&amp;a=MISEL+project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MISEL project</a>&nbsp;(Multispectral Intelligent Vision System with Embedded Low-Power Neural Computing)&nbsp;is now nearing completion. Coordinated by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the project has combined neuromorphic computing-which mimics the way the brain processes information-with semiconductor technologies.
"Our goal is to build truly smart devices that can make observations and decisions on their own, without sending data to supercomputers or the cloud. Neuromorphic computing can be hundreds or even thousands of times more energy-efficient than conventional digital processing," explains&nbsp;Jacek Flak, Research Team Leader at VTT, who coordinates the project.
The MISEL project received nearly EUR 5 million in funding from the EU's Horizon 2020 programme. Alongside VTT, partners include the universities of Ł&oacute;dź, Lund, Santiago de Compostela, and Wuppertal, the Fraunhofer Institute, France's LNE national research institute, and the companies Kovilta Oy (Finland) and AMO GmbH (Germany). The consortium unites expertise across disciplines, including materials science, electronics, and algorithm design.
<h5>Smarter Mobile Devices Without Constant Connectivity</h5>
Artificial intelligence typically requires either good network connectivity to cloud services or substantial local computing power. However, the MISEL project brings intelligence to the edge-directly into the devices themselves. This approach allows battery-powered systems to process and interpret sensory data quickly and with low power consumption, while also reducing cybersecurity privacy risks.
"Imagine a drone searching for survivors after an earthquake through smoke, dust, and debris. It needs to interpret its surroundings and make decisions instantly. There may be no network connectivity, and battery life is limited," says Flak.
<h5>Human Eyesight and the Brain as the Blueprint for Machine Vision</h5>
Nature has been a source of inspiration for the project. The model for machine vision has been the collaboration between the human retina, visual cortex, and prefrontal lobe for perception and interpretation. The fruit fly also serves as an ideal model as it consumes minuscule amounts of energy to fly, navigate, avoid danger, and find food.
A key result of the project is a system on chip developed by Kovilta, a company specialised in advanced integrated circuit technology. The new circuit includes both imaging and a significant portion of image processing on the same silicon chip. It combines high dynamic range image sensing (over 120 dB), high frame rate (over 1000 frames per second), and massively parallel image processing, enabling versatile motion analysis and pattern recognition.
"Unlike a conventional video camera that actually captures static frames, this sensor detects motion and changes in time and space-just like a biological eye," Flak explains. "The result is a highly efficient, compressed data stream without sacrificing accuracy."
The project also explored so-called quantum dot image sensors, a cutting-edge camera technology that extends vision beyond the spectrum visible to humans into the infrared range. This allows devices to detect patterns and movement even in low-light or foggy conditions where human vision struggles.
<h5>Designing the Entire Signal Chain As One System</h5>
Within MISEL, sensors, memory units, algorithms, and electronic components have been co-designed as a unified system. Optimizing the entire signal chain is key to achieving a compact and efficient system. The project has also developed specialized processor cores, or edge-AI accelerators, that boost AI performance while keeping power consumption minimal.
"Designing hardware and software in close integration ensures that all components work seamlessly together while maintaining exceptional energy efficiency," says Flak.
Together with Lund University, VTT developed non-volatile memories based on ferroelectric materials, which can be integrated directly onto a chip. These memories have proven functional, and development continues. Kovilta plans to apply the accelerator architectures developed in MISEL to fields such as autonomous robotics and vehicle technology.
"A superior ability to observe the surroundings and accurately interpret observations is a must for robots and vehicles to operate independently and safely among people. For instance, future robots assisting humans need to make rapid decisions to avoid colliding with people moving around them. Simultaneously, the equipment must be small, consume little energy, and be built with moderate costs suitable for a mass product," says&nbsp;Mika Laiho, Chief Technology Officer at Kovilta.
<h5>Applications from Industry to Security</h5>
The solutions developed in the project can be utilised in a wide range of applications. Smart cameras could autonomously monitor industrial processes, warehouses, or border areas, while mobile robots could make decisions safely even in the presence of humans. The next step is to leverage the project's results in new projects and VTT's pilot production lines.
"In the future, these results can be used in autonomous devices that see, think, and act as independently and energy-efficiently as a fruit fly," Flak concludes.

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09 December 2025
Unlike old Tarzan movies and horror flicks, it is near impossible to die from being trapped and sucked under the surface by quicksand.
The water-saturated, murky sand is denser than the human body, so while you can get stuck in it, you'll likely only sink to your thighs and actually float over it.
But that doesn't mean it's any fun to get trapped in it, as a hiker in Utah's Arches National Park discovered when he was stuck for several freezing hours in 21-degree temperatures.
Happily, rescuers were able to use a drone to find the man, who was trapped in a "wash"&mdash;a mostly dry riverbed that takes on water during rains.
&ldquo;Where this person was, there was just no sun shining down in this canyon area,&rdquo; said rescue technician Jake Blackwelder said. &ldquo;One of the first things we said was just, &lsquo;Hey, how&rsquo;s it going?&rsquo; He was pretty tired and stuck and ready to get out.&rdquo;
The man, who was identified as Austin Dirks&mdash;an experienced hiker&mdash;was uninjured.
&ldquo;He just got into some innocuous-looking wet sand that happened to be quicksand,&rdquo; explained Blackwelder. &ldquo;I think he was as surprised as we were to get the call.&rdquo;
<h5>Watch the Rescue</h5>
<iframe style="width: 681px; height: 383px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3JkE9uEaH_Q?si=MCsWBm9hOKdnUs6l" width="681" height="383" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Drone Saves Hiker Trapped in Quicksand

Photo courtesy of Wagoner County Police Department
08 December 2025
Today, first responders in America often deploy drones for disaster and public safety missions. Drones can be the swift answer when a lack of officers can't effectively or efficiently help on the ground&mdash;especially in situations where the terrain is dense. In addition, a drone equipped with a thermal camera can reduce search time from hours or days to mere minutes&mdash;an incrediable benefit when time is of the essence in finding survivors.
For example, a <a href="https://www.dronenerds.com/products/dji-matrice-30t-m30t-drone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DJI Matrice 30</a> recently assisted in the rescue of a missing 90-year-old Atoka County, Oklahoma man. He had been lost for almost 12 hours in freezing temperatures. Oklahoma officers asked for help, but the National Guard and other ground crews being called to the scene, it was the drone team at&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.wagonercounty.ok.gov/185/Emergency-Management" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wagoner County Emergency Management</a> that found the man's location.&nbsp;
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/oxmhtXsBkTMjaGsb0YiZzE8EPTSLXX26myHSbUEa.png" alt="" width="677" height="629" />
Within 15 minutes after launch, volunteer pilot Eric Lane reported his drone's thermal camera picked up a heat signature in the woods. Switching to a visual camera, Lane saw the man&mdash;as well as his dog, Daisy&mdash;huddled together to use their body heat to survive the frigid night. Lane also used his drone's speaker to announce to the man that help was on the way. Rescue personnel was dispatched to the area to bring the man and pup home, and offer whatever medical assistance was needed.
This happy ending isn't the only one logged by Wagoner County Emergency Management. Director Tyler Puckett shared that drones are deployed almost daily to guide firefighters through grass fires, locate missing juveniles, track crime suspects, and more.
Unfortunately, the Matrice 30's career as an airborne first responder is threatened by the United States government's pending ban of DJI drones. The Matrice 30 is well suited for search and rescue missions, as it can fly for up to 41 minutes, can climb to nearly 23,000 feet, has good wind resistance, is fast, and can handle harsh environments.&nbsp;

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