Weekly UAS News Update: Skydio, DJI vs DoD, Michigan Lawsuit, Goggles N3

Welcome to Weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: Skydio sanctions by China, the Michigan Coalition of Drone Operators versus the University of Michigan lawsuit, more information on the DJI lawsuit, and new possibly DJI goggles. Let’s get to it.

Skydio Sanctions by China

Skydio has announced via email to their customers that they have been sanctioned by China due to selling products to Taiwan. According to CEO Adam Bry, Skydio aircraft batteries, which are produced in China, have had their supply cut off immediately. In response, Skydio is limiting new drone shipments to one battery per drone with no current option to purchase additional batteries. The company expects to have a new battery supplier in spring 2025, meaning those with an Extend on order will likely receive only one battery with their aircraft until mid-next year. We’ll keep you updated if we see more.

Michigan Coalition of Drone Operators vs. University of Michigan

The Michigan Coalition of Drone Operators is suing the University of Michigan over drone flight restrictions on campus. According to the lawsuit, state law MCL 259.305 does not allow the university to create or enforce its own drone regulations. This isn’t the first time the Coalition has sued over state-preempted laws, having won a suit against Ottawa County in 2022. The first hearing is scheduled for December 17th at 1 PM in Lansing, Michigan, so if you want to sit in, go ahead and do so.

DJI vs. DOD Lawsuit Update

Two new documents have been released in the DJI versus DOD lawsuit. These documents are declarations from Zen Wei and Zen A, both stating they are not the same persons as those named in patents filed under the Chinese National Defense Engineering Research Institute (similar to DARPA). DJI alleges that the DOD used these names as evidence to classify DJI as a Chinese military company. While these affidavits suggest possible oversights in the DOD’s research, they don’t significantly change the lawsuit’s status. We’ll keep you updated if we see additional documents pertaining to the case, and we’re sure there will be.

New DJI Goggles Leak

New DJI goggles, reportedly called the Goggles N3, have been leaked. The new design features a 54-degree field of view and 1080p screens. Initial rumors suggested a launch this week, but this didn’t materialize. Current speculation points to a possible release next week. We haven’t yet seen any announcement from DJI, but we’ll keep you updated if we do.