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<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>12 December 2025</em></span></p>
<p>Atmospheric rivers have been bedeviling Western Washington and Northwest Oregon, causing massive rain, flood watches, and evacuation advisories.&nbsp;</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p id="anchor-a400eb" class="body-graf">"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."</p>
<p class="dcr-130mj7b">In addition, the Washington National Guard was sent to endangered areas to assist with rescue operations for those trapped by the floodwaters.&nbsp;</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Watch Drone Footage of the Floods</strong></span></h5>
<p><iframe style="width: 677px; height: 381px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gGIGhyDs4Fk?si=DvcK1SYoA7dSPK9G" width="677" height="381" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe style="width: 676px; height: 380px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ez24S9FUwaA?si=bOl-2tWJXdG5LdG0" width="676" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe style="width: 672px; height: 378px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9g-mhC0GHVw?si=946QksHVBug6FUCx" width="672" height="378" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>

Drones Capture Video of Washington State Floods

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>11 December 2025</em></span></p>
<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, <span style="color: #ba372a;"><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.twz.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><em>The War Zone</em></strong></a></span> commented on China's drone swarm developments: &ldquo;China&rsquo;s <strong><a href="https://www.twz.com/17698/chinas-is-hard-at-work-developing-swarms-of-small-drones-on-multiple-levels" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;">interest in swarming capabilities</span></a></strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><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></strong></span>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><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></strong></span>,&nbsp;<span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><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></strong></span>, 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 <span class="Yjhzub">Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) have identified non-military uses for the "mothership."</span></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>
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<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>
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<h5 class="article-paragraph skip"><strong style="color: #ba372a; font-size: 18px;">Get a Sneak Peek at Jiutian</strong></h5>
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China's Jiutian Mothership Drone Takes First Flight

<p><span style="color: #34495e;"><strong>Photo Courtesy VTT</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>10 December 2025</em></span></p>
<p>Drawing inspiration from human eyesight, a European research project led by <a href="https://www.vttresearch.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>VTT</strong></span></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.</p>
<p>Launched in 2021, the&nbsp;<span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><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></strong></span>&nbsp;<em>(Multispectral Intelligent Vision System with Embedded Low-Power Neural Computing)</em>&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.</p>
<p>"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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Smarter Mobile Devices Without Constant Connectivity</strong></span></h5>
<p>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.</p>
<p>"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.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Human Eyesight and the Brain as the Blueprint for Machine Vision</strong></span></h5>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<p>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.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Designing the Entire Signal Chain As One System</strong></span></h5>
<p>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.</p>
<p>"Designing hardware and software in close integration ensures that all components work seamlessly together while maintaining exceptional energy efficiency," says Flak.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>"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;<strong>Mika Laiho</strong>, Chief Technology Officer at Kovilta.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Applications from Industry to Security</strong></span></h5>
<p>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.</p>
<p>"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.</p>

Europe's VTT Developing machine vision inspired by human eyesight

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>09 December 2025</em></span></p>
<p>Unlike old Tarzan movies and horror flicks, it is near impossible to die from being trapped and sucked under the surface by quicksand.</p>
<p>The water-saturated, murky sand is denser than the human body, so while you <em>can</em> get stuck in it, you'll likely only sink to your thighs and actually float over it.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p id="anchor-dae930" class="body-graf">&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;</p>
<p id="anchor-43297e" class="body-graf">The man, who was identified as Austin Dirks&mdash;an experienced hiker&mdash;was uninjured.</p>
<p id="anchor-1e7d5f" class="body-graf">&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;</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Watch the Rescue</strong></span></h5>
<p><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></p>

Drone Saves Hiker Trapped in Quicksand

<p><span style="color: #34495e;"><strong><em>Photo courtesy of Wagoner County Police Department</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>08 December 2025</em></span></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>For example, a <a href="https://www.dronenerds.com/products/dji-matrice-30t-m30t-drone" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>DJI Matrice 30</strong></span></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"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Wagoner County Emergency Management</strong></span></a> that found the man's location.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/oxmhtXsBkTMjaGsb0YiZzE8EPTSLXX26myHSbUEa.png" alt="" width="677" height="629" /></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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;</p>

How Drones Are Changing Search and Rescue

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>05 December 2025</em></span></p>
<p>Some of the wackiest experimental drones we've seen have been designed by an engineer from Peru who calls himself <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@starsistor" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Starsistor</strong></span></a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Starsistor likes to transform bizarre ideas involving physics, chemistry, electronics, and engineering into working prototypes to "share knowledge and spark curiosity."</p>
<p>For example, his latest unconventional and strange-looking drone is based on the <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Magnus Effect</strong></span> for generating lift.</p>
<p>Huh?</p>
<p>Let's go to AI for an explanation: "The Magnus Effect is a physical phenomenon where a spinning object moving through a fluid (like air or water) experiences a sideways force, causing its path to curve. This happens because the spin affects airflow, speeding it up on one side (lowering pressure) and slowing it down on the other (increasing pressure), pushing the object toward the low-pressure side."</p>
<p>It may not sound like it from that definition, but there is an aeronautical aspect to the Magnus Effect, as aircraft designs could potentially utilize rotating cylinders to create lift.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More About the Magnus Effect</strong></span></h5>
<p><iframe style="width: 665px; height: 372px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AHeu-3lGzQQ?si=69ehpOJQRKJU99Vj" width="665" height="372" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>For Starsistor's drone, the off-center wing&mdash;aided by a single propeller to provide a rotational force&mdash;spins to generate lift. It's likely not going to challenge conventional drones for maximum ceiling or longest flight, but it's certainly a thought-provoking design&mdash;and that's one of Starsistor's goals.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Watch the "Magnus Effect" Drone</strong></span></h5>
<p><iframe style="width: 674px; height: 379px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oh3A8HBEQP0?si=M0AL9I2WlKcvz-0X" width="674" height="379" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>More Strange Starsistor Drone Creations</strong></span></h5>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><iframe style="width: 676px; height: 380px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l38R_o7eM1w?si=R_RvyPo1PPMTzu8a" width="676" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><iframe style="width: 672px; height: 378px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N0q95rafgfQ?si=WXkQZyxhBAKqyVTX" width="672" height="378" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></span></p>

Is This THing for real?

<p><span style="color: #34495e;"><strong><em>Photo courtesy of SimActive.</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>04 December 2025</em></span></p>
<p>At <a href="https://www.simactive.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>SimActive</strong></span></a>, we have spent the past year working with sensor manufacturers, system integrators, and mapping professionals around the world. One message has come through loud and clear: fast is the new standard.&nbsp;<br /><br />As defense operations expand and the frequency of natural disasters and emergency response missions increases, the pressure to deliver mapping products faster keeps growing. The focus is shifting away from complex 3D modeling towards robust, proven workflows that can turn raw imagery into accurate usable maps in record time.</p>
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<p>The challenge is not just about speed. It is about maintaining confidence in the output while cutting down processing time. Automation, streamlined workflows, and optimized sensor integration have become essential. Organizations are seeking end-to-end systems that minimize manual steps and reduce time-to-delivery without adding unnecessary complexity. Users need systems that prioritize efficiency and reliability, turning data into actionable results with minimal delay.</p>
<p>In 2026, the race will not be about who can build the most intricate models. It will be about who can deliver trusted data in the shortest time. That is why SimActive has always designed Correlator3D&trade;&nbsp;&nbsp; with reliability and speed at its core, delivering production-grade mapping software that turns data into precise results, efficiently and consistently.</p>
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Drone Mapping Trends for 2026

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>02 December 2025</em></span></p>
<p class="p2"><a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/news/categories/brazzel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>By Timothy Brazzel</strong></span></a></p>
<p class="p2">Drone takeover systems &mdash; such as those developed by <span style="color: #ba372a;"><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://d-fendsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>D-Fend Solutions</strong></a></span> &mdash; are built to detect, hijack, and safely land drones perceived as unauthorized. Instead of jamming or shooting drones down, these systems &mdash; often using radio-frequency (RF) interception, signal spoofing or decryption &mdash; take control of the drone&rsquo;s communications link, override the original pilot input, and redirect the drone to a safe landing. This approach promises less collateral damage and more controlled resolution than kinetic or purely disruptive methods.</p>
<p class="p2">Such tech is typically pitched for protecting sensitive or critical infrastructure: airports, power plants, prisons, public events, etc.</p>
<p class="p2"><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/JxxET3bl8ebkUh3FP0YO9cEwWYOfQMQsfIZv1t71.png" alt="" width="135" height="305" /></p>
<p class="p2"><strong><em>Photo Courtesy D-Fend Solutions</em></strong></p>
<h5 class="p1"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Why This Matters to Drone Operators&nbsp;</strong></span></h5>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li2">For licensed commercial pilots (under Part 107), even &ldquo;routine&rdquo; flights near restricted or protected zones might be intercepted if takeover tech is deployed near those zones.</li>
<li class="li2">Recreational pilots or hobbyists &mdash; an errant drone flight passing over a protected area could be seized and landed without warning.</li>
<li class="li2">FPV pilots &mdash; especially those flying aggressively (fast, low, near structures) &mdash; might lose control mid-flight, even if it&rsquo;s just an accident rather than malicious intrusion.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p2">In short: as this capability spreads, the &ldquo;invisible boundaries&rdquo; become more real &mdash; and ignorance isn&rsquo;t a defense.</p>
<p class="p2"><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/oXpJNVhpNrjwFmKr1VyDYgl4FkYpbqdiCmlfAmzY.png" alt="" width="460" height="454" /></p>
<h5 class="p1"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Taiwan&rsquo;s Adoption of Drone Takeover Tech</strong></span></h5>
<p class="p2">According to a December 1 report from <em>DroneXL</em>, Taiwan is actively moving to build a national counter-drone network that includes takeover technology &mdash; not just jamming or detection.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p2">Here are the key take-aways:</p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li2">Taiwan&rsquo;s government &mdash; through its homeland-security office and its weapons-development arm (NCSIST) &mdash; issued requirements for the counter-drone system that include RF takeover capability, jamming, and spoofing to protect airports, power plants, and other critical infrastructure.</li>
<li class="li2">The system must be able to decode the transmission protocols used by many civilian drones &mdash; specifically including versions of DJI&rsquo;s OcuSync (versions 2, 3, 4, and 4+).</li>
<li class="li2">That requirement sparked debate &mdash; some lawmakers warn that basing the system around a single brand (DJI) is problematic, both from fairness and effectiveness standpoints. There&rsquo;s also concern over whether decrypting DJI&rsquo;s links is even technically feasible.&nbsp;</li>
<li class="li2">Officials claim the civilian-use takeover plan is separate from the military&rsquo;s counter-UAV purchase, but Taiwan&rsquo;s military is simultaneously acquiring hundreds of counter-drone systems &mdash; with both &ldquo;soft kill&rdquo; (takeover/jamming) and &ldquo;hard kill&rdquo; (possibly kinetic) options for use in a more aggressive defense posture.</li>
<li class="li2">Experts quoted in the article caution that takeover tech works reliably only when the drone uses known, vulnerable or unencrypted links. Homemade drones, custom FPV builds, or drones with strong anti-tampering/encryption may evade takeover altogether.</li>
<li class="li2">Also, in a wartime or large-scale scenario &mdash; with multiple drones, swarms, low-flying routes, or drones carrying payloads &mdash; takeover alone might be insufficient; Taiwan appears to be planning a layered defense: detection, soft takeover, jamming, and hard kill if necessary.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p class="p2">Basically, even though takeover tech sounds impressive on paper, things don&rsquo;t always play out that smoothly in the real world. A lot of drones have built-in safety features &mdash; like automatically hovering or landing if their signal gets jammed &mdash; and custom or non-standard drones might not respond to takeover commands at all. Because of that, Taiwan isn&rsquo;t relying on just one method. They&rsquo;re putting together a layered defense system that uses a mix of cyber takeover tools, jamming, and even traditional &ldquo;hard kill&rdquo; options. It really shows how fast counter-drone technology is shifting from a specialized solution to a major part of national defense.</p>
<h5 class="p1"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>What This Means Globally </strong></span></h5>
<p class="p1">Taiwan&rsquo;s move illustrates how &ldquo;no-fly zones + active takeover&rdquo; frameworks are gaining traction beyond Europe or Middle East &mdash; now advancing in East Asia. This increases chances that similar systems could be adopted elsewhere, including in democratic nations that rely heavily on drones (like the U.S.).</p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li2">For commercial drone operators, hobbyists, and FPV pilots &mdash; this trend underscores the importance of situational awareness. Flying near &ldquo;sensitive sites&rdquo; (infrastructure, airports, power plants, prisons, etc.) may no longer just be illegal &mdash; your drone could be actively hijacked and seized.</li>
<li class="li2">For drone manufacturers and the broader industry &mdash; relying on proprietary or strongly encrypted communications protocols (or adding failsafe/&ldquo;return-home&rdquo; logic) might be essential to protect customers. But even that might not be enough if takeover tech becomes advanced enough.</li>
<li class="li2">For regulators and policymakers &mdash; as this kind of tech becomes more accessible, there will need to be clearer laws and transparency: what counts as a &ldquo;protected zone,&rdquo; who authorizes takeovers, and how seized drones are handled (returned? destroyed?). Civil-liberty, privacy, and property-rights concerns become more urgent.</li>
</ul>
<h5 class="p1"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Drone Pilots: Stay Alert</strong></span></h5>
<p class="p2">The escalation from niche counter-drone systems to national-level defense networks shows how quickly drone-related security is evolving. What started as a protective measure around airports and events is morphing into broad infrastructure protection &mdash; and now, national defense strategy (as Taiwan&rsquo;s case shows).</p>
<p class="p2">If you fly drones &mdash; commercially, recreationally, or as FPV &mdash; it&rsquo;s more important than ever to:</p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li2">Know where you&rsquo;re flying &mdash; check for restricted zones, critical infrastructure, and local regulations.</li>
<li class="li2">Be extra cautious near sensitive areas.</li>
<li class="li2">Understand that &ldquo;airspace legality&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t just about licensing or paperwork &mdash; the skies are increasingly becoming shared with counter-UAV systems.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p2">Because the drone you fly today&hellip; might not always be yours to control.</p>

What is Drone Takeover Technology?

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>01 December 2025</em></span></p>
<p>The potential ban of DJI drones in the United States is coming fast, and it has been big news.</p>
<p>We've done our part to try to keep you informed, as well as attempt to limit misinformation and fear lurking in user groups, influencer content, and even respected media outlets.</p>
<p>So much data to parse, and we likely won't know for sure what this all means to DJI fans, pilots, hobbyists, and the general drone market until the U.S. government actually hands down a decision.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Below, we've compiled some of the DJI-related YouTube videos within the past three weeks to provide our community with the latest news.</p>
<p>The reports belong to the various influencers&mdash;in the spirit of providing an unfetered dialog, we haven't fact checked anyone&mdash;so keep in mind that some "news" may be opinions and speculation, and some data may be accurate and vital. Please do your own follow-up research to determine whether a datapoint is reliable in how it may relate to you personally, or the droning community in general.</p>
<p>Whether the DJI debacle races to a conclusion on December 23 of this year, or gets punted to another deadline for further study, absorbing the various info threads should be critical for all drone pilots&mdash;whether they currently fly American drones or drones made in China (or any other country).</p>
<p>We've tried to make it easy for you to see the most recent YouTube chatter on the subject...</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Dig In!</strong></span></h5>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><iframe style="width: 679px; height: 382px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PeLJYY7QXGY?si=9BV-KoQlcSX38tn3" width="679" height="382" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></span></p>
<p><iframe style="width: 681px; height: 383px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XIR98V8Vtrc?si=LmmgH-V6l562qPTT" width="681" height="383" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe style="width: 679px; height: 382px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fq4EY-hg4GU?si=gMZwk9rCr9Wiq5Hb" width="679" height="382" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe style="width: 677px; height: 381px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7f9RhNbvDUE?si=cYdXMDBT0iNecgLF" width="677" height="381" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe style="width: 679px; height: 382px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r1lR_5usK0w?si=Iqz6m8esetan4giL" width="679" height="382" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe style="width: 681px; height: 383px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D5S7vt5Uisg?si=eqxkky8zIcrXSccC" width="681" height="383" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe style="width: 677px; height: 381px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ViSavX8lDMY?si=uMxGw-ggFX9-u8pM" width="677" height="381" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe style="width: 676px; height: 380px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jisc5zuaKW4?si=9mwOPQ_4t3i6lRtx" width="676" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe style="width: 674px; height: 379px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SXm7MvpBLog?si=hpQ9TMr5l8_sLhN6" width="674" height="379" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe style="width: 672px; height: 378px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A5yZlaTR5xI?si=IhatYnKtPPVYvvcW" width="672" height="378" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Read The Droning Company Reports on the DJI Ban</strong></span></h5>
<p><a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/grounded-in-hope-the-unbreakable-spirit-of-the-drone-community" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/grounded-in-hope-the-unbreakable-spirit-of-the-drone-community</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/dont-believe-everything-you-hear-about-chinese-drones-in-the-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/dont-believe-everything-you-hear-about-chinese-drones-in-the-us</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/the-fcc-s-game-changing-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/the-fcc-s-game-changing-vote</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/can-dji-beat-the-u-s-drone-ban-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/can-dji-beat-the-u-s-drone-ban-</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/opinion-the-dji-situation-and-my-hope-moving-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/opinion-the-dji-situation-and-my-hope-moving-forward</strong></a></p>

Top 10 YouTube Updates About The DJI Ban

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>28 November 2025</em></span></p>
<p>Apparently, the fire-breathing winged creatures who were to soar above Universal Orlando's Epic Universe for its <em>How to Train Your Dragon</em> world need more training.</p>
<p>When the Isle of Berk attraction that celebrates the movie's theme opened on May 22, however, there were no dragons in sight.&nbsp;</p>
<p>As of press time, fans of the film&mdash;as well as everyone who loves immersive theme park experiences&mdash;have yet to witness the drone-powered dragons.</p>
<p>It has been a disappointing development&mdash;especially as some pretty stunning footage has been leaked showing the dragon Hookfang on the ground (<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@wesh2orlando/video/7481706438268652843?embed_source=121374463%2C121468991%2C121439635%2C121433650%2C121404359%2C121497414%2C121477481%2C121351166%2C121487028%2C121679410%2C73347566%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%2C121503376%3Bnull%3Bembed_pause_share&amp;refer=embed&amp;referer_url=wdwnt.com%2F2025%2F03%2Fbreaking-first-look-at-flying-dragon-drone-coming-to-universal-epic-universe%2F%3F&amp;referer_video_id=7481706438268652843" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>click to see him here</strong></span></a>) and in flight (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Eb4SQywHQUI" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>view the video here</strong></span></a>).&nbsp;</p>
<p>But getting a drone dressed up as a dragon to fly safely around the park was far more challenging then initially considered&mdash;a situation explained in the Peacock documentary, <span style="color: #ba372a;"><em><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.peacocktv.com/blog/epic-ride-the-story-of-universal-theme-parks-release-date-trailer" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Epic Ride:</strong> <strong>The </strong><strong>Story of </strong><strong>Universal Theme Parks.</strong></a></em></span></p>
<p>"Our engineering team came to me in 2017 or 2018 and said, 'Hey you&rsquo;re doing a dragon&rsquo;s land&mdash;if we were going to do a drone, how fun would that be?'" says&nbsp;Katy Pacitti,&nbsp;Executive Producer, <em>How to Train Your Dragon</em>, Isle of Berk in the documentary. "And I&rsquo;m like, 'Let&rsquo;s do it.'&nbsp;You&rsquo;re making this world where you&rsquo;ve got dragons that just sort of fly around every day, so why wouldn't you want to try and recreate that? People grew up with these movies, and we need to deliver."</p>
<p>Soon, the team realized doing exactly that was not a small feat.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"He's not flying right now because we wanted to put in larger battery packs," explains Pacitti from the Hookfang workshop. "We also want the drone to have flapping wings so it seems more life-like."</p>
<p>Another challenge is one faced by companies rolling out drone delivery programs&mdash;noise.</p>
<p>"This is an industrial drone," says Pacitti. "It&rsquo;s not something you&rsquo;re going to get under the Christmas tree. So, it's loud&mdash;like a helicopter flying above&mdash;and we are trying to make it <em>not</em> so loud.</p>
<p>That's not all. For Hookfang&mdash;and other dragons&mdash;to fly continuously, the wind is an issue.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/n2nT55oEMuByWJBx7FTk8HH8uk8UecpKpL3Gurlq.png" alt="" width="637" height="271" /></p>
<p>Then, there's the shape and action of the dragon/drone. The wingspan is ten feet&mdash;five feet in each direction&mdash;and the dragon's wings, head, and neck are moving simultaneously. Programming a drone for flight, animation, and weather has been challenging.</p>
<p class="comp">&ldquo;Hookfang is the only working unit right now," Associate Engineer of Ride and Show Alec DiLiello revealed in the documentary. "The risk of flying it non-tethered and not mounted to anything is a little bit of a stressful situation, but it&rsquo;s going to be very rewarding once it all works."</p>
<p>"There&rsquo;s still a lot to do," added Pacitti.</p>
<p>But if the leaked footage is any indication of what's to be, dragons flying over the park's Isle of Berk are going to be worth the engineering hassles. After all, experiencing the impossible is one of the glorious features of great theme parks.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Witness the Isle of Berk Preview</strong></span></h5>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><iframe style="width: 676px; height: 380px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qk3G19WpHOA?si=TYi54d6t_pyLGrTy" width="676" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></span></p>

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