- In January 2025, Pix4D and Freefly Systems announced a strategic partnership to integrate Pix4D's advanced photogrammetry software with Freefly's high-performance drones. This collaboration enhances aerial data collection and processing, streamlining workflows for industries such as construction, surveying, and agriculture. The partnership provides users with a seamless drone-to-data workflow, offering a one-year license for Pix4Dmatic, Pix4Dsurvey, Pix4Dcloud, or Pix4Dfields with select Freefly drones
- In September 2024, SAN LEANDRO introduced Trace, a pocket-sized nano drone designed for covert aerial reconnaissance and precision operations in confined spaces. The drone weighs just 153 grams, making it highly portable while maintaining advanced flight and camera capabilities. Trace features a gimbal-stabilized thermal camera, a 48MP EO camera with 24x zoom, and a proprietary Poplar radio for secure communication over a 2 km range. Its compact design allows seamless indoor and outdoor navigation, enhancing real-time surveillance for infrastructure management, law enforcement, and national security applications
- In August 2024, EndureAir, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, introduced the Sabal UAV, a tandem-rotor unmanned helicopter designed for high efficiency and superior load-carrying capability. The Sabal UAV features a variable-speed electric propulsion system, enabling optimized performance in diverse geographical terrains. With vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities, it is engineered for logistics and transportation applications, offering extended flight time and enhanced autonomy. The Sabal 10 and Sabal 20 variants provide payload capacities of 10 kg and 20 kg, respectively, making them ideal for middle-mile deliveries and surveillance operations
- In May 2024, Airbus finalized the acquisition of Aerovel, a U.S.-based unmanned aerial system (UAS) company, along with its Flexrotor module. The Flexrotor is a small tactical drone designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions at sea and over land. This acquisition strengthens Airbus’s portfolio of tactical unmanned solutions and expands its presence in the small drone market. The Flexrotor features vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities, making it ideal for expeditionary missions requiring minimal footprint
- In February 2022, Zain Saudi Arabia partnered with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) to advance drone technologies through research and development. This collaboration focuses on integrating drone systems into commercial applications, supporting local content, and fostering innovation in logistics, surveillance, and emergency response. The partnership aims to accelerate technological solutions for the private sector while enhancing Saudi Arabia’s strategic plans for drone applications
