Last week a delegation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle experts from the United Kingdom met with industry leaders in California to highlight the United Kingdom’s regulatory leadership.

For many people drones conjure up images of remotely piloted aircraft bristling with missiles, used for military ends. But in conflict-affected parts of Africa, versions of the technology are being used by humanitarian aid organizations like UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to plan relief responses and save lives.

The 2nd Annual Drone World Expo attracted 2,711 commercial drone professionals this week to the San Jose Convention Center.  The exhibit hall featured nearly 100 exhibiting companies showcasing the newest products and solutions with a world-class education program featuring a stellar line up of 120 end users, industry and government experts. 

The state of New York is pouring big money into making its central territory an international draw for unmanned aerial system (UAS) innovation.Govenor Andrew Cuomo announced Nov. 10 that $30 million in public funds would be applied toward the creation of a 50-mile-long research corridor to aid in the development of a UAS traffic management system and bolster the state’s standing as an innovation hub.

Boeing has said it is in talks with Indian companies to collaborate under the ‘Make in India’ initiative to manufacture Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) that could be used for surveillance by the Indian Navy.

The Indian Air Force is set to acquire its first missile-armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the US. The Indian Air Force has for years said it needs armed drones – weapon systems.

Adani Enterprises Ltd and Israel’s Elbit Systems India Ltd have formed a joint venture company, Adani-ElbitAdvanced Systems India Ltd (AEASIL), to manufactureunmanned aerial vehicles in India. While Adani group will own 51 percent stake in the JV, Israeli firm will hold the remaining stake.

The global market for drone services is valued at $127 Billion by 2020 according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. Sales of consumer and prosumer drones are soaring and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) forecasts there will be more than 1.3 million licensed drone pilots by 2020 in the U.S. alone.

Everything that flies must eventually land. Unless, say, it’s an all-electric drone that can recharge while in flight. Researchers at Imperial College London have demonstrated a way to transfer electricity wireless to a flying drone. Even better: they did so building on a concept pioneered by Nikola Tesla.

Anti-drone company, Sensofusion, is set to protect Denver International airport later this year with its AIRFENCE technology, which the company said “could have big implications for homeland security.”