Author

Michael Thornton

Michael Thornton is a drone industry analyst specializing in commercial UAV adoption, market trends, and regulatory strategy. He has consulted for startups and enterprises across North America and Europe, helping businesses integrate drone technology into scalable and compliant operations.

Business of Drones

March Public Safety Drone Review: NUSTL Experts to Address Counter-UAS and FIFA World Cup Security

Michael Thornton Feb 26, 2026 0

"165" data-end="246">Register here to join the live broadcast on Tuesday, March 3 at 3 p.m. EST. "248" data-end="285">March Public Safety Drone Review The next edition of the Public Safety Drone Review, a free monthly webcast…

Business of Drones

House Blocks ROTOR Act; Focus Shifts to ALERT Act and ADS-B Policy

Michael Thornton Feb 26, 2026 0

"91" data-end="184">AOPA urges action on collision avoidance and pilot privacy as Congress debates next steps The U.S. House of Representatives has failed to pass the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act, known as…

Business of Drones

Flying Lion Launches 2026 DFR Remote Pilot Training Courses

Michael Thornton Feb 25, 2026 0

"65" data-end="144">POST-Certified Program Expands Regional Access for Public Safety Agencies Flying Lion, Inc. has announced the launch of its 2026 Drone as First Responder training schedule. The company will offer two in-person…

Business of Drones

Teledyne FLIR OEM Launches Lepton XDS Dual Thermal-Visible Camera Module

Michael Thornton Feb 25, 2026 0

"77" data-end="182">Compact MSX-Enabled System Targets Rapid OEM Integration Across Embedded and Industrial Applications Teledyne FLIR OEM has introduced the Lepton® XDS, a compact dual thermal and visible camera module, at Mobile World…

Business of Drones

DJI Seeks Court Review as FCC Covered List Expansion Reshapes U.S. Drone Market

Michael Thornton Feb 25, 2026 0

Petition challenges December ruling affecting foreign-made UAS and components The U.S. drone industry continues to adjust to a significant regulatory shift following a December 2025 decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to…

Business of Drones

Rapid Mapping for a 24/7 Defense Environment: SimActive on Speed, Security, and Scalable…

Michael Thornton Feb 23, 2026 0

As defense budgets rise and geopolitical tensions reshape operational priorities, militaries are investing heavily in technologies that can turn raw data into timely, actionable intelligence. For photogrammetry company SimActive, that…

Business of Drones

SimActive Integrates Phase One iXM-FS130 for High-Resolution Aerial Mapping

Michael Thornton Feb 21, 2026 0

"0" data-end="161">Correlator3D enables sub-centimeter processing for fixed-wing survey missions SimActive has announced full support for the Phase One iXM-FS130 sensor in its Correlator3D platform. The integration allows mapping…

Business of Drones

Trojan Horse or Trade Dispute? Texas Attorney General Targets Anzu in High-Stakes Drone Lawsuit

Michael Thornton Feb 19, 2026 0

Texas AG sues Anzu, claims company sells DJI clones By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Claiming that the company is “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” the Texas attorney general has sued Anzu Robotics, for allegedly failing to disclose its…

Business of Drones

New DIU Project Targets Scalable, Containerized Drone Launch and Recovery Systems

Michael Thornton Feb 6, 2026 0

"240" data-end="340">DoD Seeks Automated Infrastructure to Support Large-Scale Autonomous Drone Operations The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), has opened a new Commercial Solutions Opening…

Business of Drones

The Companies Tapped for the Pentagon’s Drone Dominance Push

Michael Thornton Feb 6, 2026 0

"417" data-end="508">U.S. Department of War Launches Industry Competition for Drone Dominance Program Phase I The U.S. Department of War has formally announced the companies invited to participate in Phase I of its Drone Dominance…

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