Latest news with #dronetechnology
Globe and Mail
17 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Safe Pro Group (NASDAQ: SPAI) to Benefit from $33 Billion US Defense Bill Targeting AI and Drone Innovation
Safe Pro Group offers AI-powered computer vision software for analyzing drone imagery to identify small objects as landmines and other battlefield threats. The company's SPOTD technology has already processed over 1.66 million images, identifying more than 28,000 real-world explosive threats. Safe Pro is advancing conversations with the Department of Defense and prime contractors about deploying its tech under OBBBA funding. Integration with the U.S. Army's ATAK platform positions the company for wider adoption across military units. Reduced procurement 'red tape' and increased demand for scalable AI and drone-based solutions create a favorable environment for Safe Pro's growth. With the U.S. government committing over $33 billion to artificial intelligence and drone technology through the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act ('OBBBA'), the defense landscape is poised for a rapid evolution, and Safe Pro Group (NASDAQ: SPAI), an emerging provider of AI-powered security and threat detection solutions, expects to capitalize on this growth. Signed into law on July 4, 2025, the OBBBA allocates $13.5 billion to unmanned systems and another $16 billion toward federal AI initiatives, including defense modernization and border security. The bill marks one of the largest U.S. investments to date in next-generation battlefield technologies… Read More>> About AINewsWire AINewsWire ('AINW') is a specialized communications platform with a focus on the latest advancements in artificial intelligence ('AI'), including the technologies, trends and trailblazers driving innovation forward. It is one of 70+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, AINW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists, and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today's market, AINW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness. AINW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge. For more information, please visit Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the AINewsWire website applicable to all content provided by AINW, wherever published or re-published: AINewsWire is powered by IBN
Geek Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Geek Wire
Zillow launches SkyTour, a new drone view tool for home shoppers
(Zillow Image) Zillow is putting homebuyers in the pilot's seat with the launch of SkyTour, a feature that lets users virtually fly around properties using a 3D, drone-style interface. SkyTour uses a rendering technique called Gaussian splatting to turn drone footage into a smooth, interactive experience on Zillow's mobile app and website. SkyTour allows buyers to explore a home's exterior, from lot layout to surrounding area. It's available on select 'Showcase' listings where sellers use Zillow's premium media package. The company debuted SkyTour as part of a broader product rollout announced Tuesday. The other new features include: Offer Insights: Simulates how different bid amounts might perform using Zestimate data and local market trends. Simulates how different bid amounts might perform using Zestimate data and local market trends. BuyAbility: Gives buyers a real-time estimate of what they can afford and their likelihood of loan approval. Gives buyers a real-time estimate of what they can afford and their likelihood of loan approval. Rental cost breakdowns: Offers transparent move-in and monthly cost details on listings. Offers transparent move-in and monthly cost details on listings. Tour itineraries: Lets buyers and agents coordinate and track scheduled home visits in one place. Zillow acquired real estate marketing company VRX Media in 2022. VRX offered aerial drone photography, 3D tours, and other real estate-focused content. Zillow's new product push comes as its stock is up nearly 10% this year, despite ongoing challenges in the housing market and a legal battle with Compass over listing visibility policies.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Unusual Machines to Acquire Rotor Lab for $7M to Boost Drone Motor Production, US Manufacturing
Unusual Machines Inc. (NYSE:UMAC) is one of the best new tech stocks with huge upside potential. Recently, Unusual Machines signed a definitive agreement, which was effective June 12, to acquire Rotor Lab, which is an Australian developer and manufacturer of electric motors and propulsion systems for unmanned aerial systems/UAS. The proposed acquisition is valued at $7 million, structured primarily as an all-stock deal, and includes a $3 million earnout component. Rotor Lab is recognized for providing high-performance motors for both commercial and defense drone applications. Unusual Machines and Rotor Lab have already been collaborating for nearly a year, co-developing a family of motors including the 2207, 2807, and 3220 sizes. A high-tech robotic drone, showcasing the companys advancements in unmanned aerial systems. These motors are slated to be among the first to enter production at Unusual Machines' new US-based motor factory in Orlando, Florida, which is expected to begin operations in September this year. Following the acquisition, Rotor Lab's existing facility in Canberra, Australia, will remain operational. Unusual Machines Inc. (NYSE:UMAC) engages in the commercial drone industry While we acknowledge the potential of UMAC as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
4 days ago
- Forbes
Ukraine Fields Counter-Drone Rifle Rounds, Disrupting Russian Offensive
Screenshots from a video posted on Facebook from Brave1, a Ukraine defense innovation group. The ... More image shows a new type of rifle round that can be used to shoot down small drones. Over the past three years, drone technology has reshaped the Russia-Ukraine battlefield. In this war, both sides are deploying large numbers of increasingly advanced small drones, forcing a shift away from large formations of armored vehicles, which are easily targeted. Instead, both sides are now using smaller troop formations that are spread out to reduce vulnerability. However, as drones become more widely used, both Ukraine and Russia are now using them to target these smaller formations, who have little protection against them. In response, Ukraine is beginning to produce counter-drone rifle rounds that can be fired from standard assault rifles. These new rounds are arriving at a critical moment and are expected to play a key role in halting Russia's latest offensive. Ukraine's New Counter-Drone Rifle Rounds Brave1, a Ukrainian defense innovation initiative, posted a video on June 30 showing soldiers successfully using a new type of round to destroy a small drone. The round is a standard 5.56 mm cartridge designed for NATO rifles, including the CZ Bren and the M4, both of which are commonly used by Ukrainian forces. Although Brave1 did not disclose the technical specifications, Militarnyi, a Ukrainian military media outlet, indicated that the round is already in limited operational use and provided a description of how it functions. After being fired, the round breaks apart into approximately five fast-moving pellets. When multiple rounds are fired in rapid succession, they produce a shotgun-like spread that can effectively engage drones at ranges of up to 50 meters. Screen capture from Facebook video posted by Brave1, a Ukrainian defense innovation group, showing ... More the new counter-drone rounds. They resemble standard NATO 5.56 rounds and fit into existing magazines. The only visual difference is that the tip of the bullet is blunted. According to Brave1's post, Ukraine is ramping up production to provide each soldier with at least one magazine of these rounds. This approach allows individual soldiers to defend against drones without carrying another heavy system. Instead, when a drone is detected, they can quickly switch to the magazine containing the specialized rounds and begin engaging the target. It effectively gives each soldier the capability of a shotgun without the added burden of issuing and carrying a second weapon. Switching weapons also takes significantly more time and coordination than simply swapping magazines. The Impact Of These Rounds On The New Russian Offensive These new rounds are arriving in Ukraine at a critical time, as small drones are playing a central role in the Russian summer offensive aimed at breaking through entrenched Ukrainian defenses. The current Russian tactics rely on using small drones to locate and target these defensive positions ahead of a ground assault. While this role has traditionally been filled by artillery, drones are more economical, especially given the resource constraints currently facing Russian forces. Screen captures from video posted on social media on July 10, 2025 attributed to the Russian ... More military. A Russian FPV drone identifies a Ukrainian trench (top image). The drone subsequently flies into the trench, with the attack being recorded by another drone (bottom image). Although Ukrainian electronic warfare and air-defense systems will provide some protection, they are likely inadequate to cover the full length of the front. Russia is also deploying drones specifically designed to bypass existing Ukrainian counter-drone systems. These drones are often usable for only a few weeks before they become obsolete, but during that short window, they can be highly effective. Videos have shown that when Ukrainian soldiers identify an incoming drone, they typically try to seek cover since they know that they are unlikely to shoot down their drones with their conventional weapons. These specialized rounds are likely to be highly useful for Ukrainian forces as they hold their positions against the new Russian assault. The rounds have already been codified under NATO standards, signaling Ukraine's intent to begin large-scale production. They are expected to go directly to the front lines, giving soldiers an immediate tool to defend against Russian drones. If the drones are neutralized, Russian forces will have to revert to artillery strikes or attempt direct assaults on fortified positions. Artillery is less precise, more resource intensive, and reveals the location of the firing units, which can then be targeted by Ukrainian drones. Direct assaults without drone support are likely to result in high Russian casualties with minimal success. Broader Impact Of These Counter-Drone Rifle Rounds In the grander scheme, the fielding of these rounds has the potential to break the ongoing cat and mouse game between drone and counter-drone systems. They provide a kinetic method of defeating drones, offering an alternative to the more commonly used non-kinetic electronic warfare systems. Both Ukraine and Russia have relied heavily on electronic warfare to jam or disrupt drone operations by targeting communication and navigation signals. However, these systems are often temporary solutions. Ukrainian counter-drone capabilities tend to be effective only for a limited time before Russian forces adapt and find ways to bypass them. For example, Russia has recently deployed fiber-optic tethered drones, which are immune to electronic interference. By introducing a direct-fire solution, Ukraine is shifting the balance, as it will be far more difficult for Russia to develop small drones that can evade or survive these counter-drone rounds. A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard checking for Russian drones in the sky as a soldier in a tractor ... More digs a trench system in the Zaporizhzhia region, on January 30, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP) (Photo by ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP via Getty Images) The most likely method for Russia to protect its drones from these counter-drone rounds is to avoid detection, since armoring small drones is not realistic. The soldier must detect the drone with enough time to switch magazines, aim, and fire their weapon. This sequence of actions can be quite fast, since training builds it into every soldier's muscle memory. Success still depends on the soldier's ability to pick up the drone's acoustic and visual signatures, which are difficult to conceal. Videos released by both sides show soldiers spotting drones and running before being chased down and killed, demonstrating that these drones are often detected in time for a response. These signatures become more pronounced as drones are made to fly faster or carry heavier payloads. When the war first started, large drones like the TB2 Bayraktar were used to destroy armored vehicles. As the war has progressed and both sides have adopted new tactics and technologies, small FPV drones are now targeting small groups of dismounted troops. These new counter-drone rifle rounds have the potential to push both sides to further evolve their tactics, particularly in how they use drones. In the meantime, these rounds are likely to create significant challenges for the Russian offensive.
Wall Street Journal
4 days ago
- Wall Street Journal
A Never-Ending Supply of Drones Has Frozen the Front Lines in Ukraine
In the battle for Ukraine, the front line is increasingly at a standstill. The reason: rapid innovations in drone technology. From just a few commercial and homemade drones, which the Ukrainians used at the start of the war to locate invading Russian columns, unmanned vehicles now dominate the battlefield.
