I’ve been looking into drones made in the USA, especially with all the talk about buying American for security reasons. Does anyone have experience with U.S. drone companies or know which ones are worth checking out? I’m curious about consumer drones, but also commercial and military-grade options. Any recommendations?
You’ve probably heard of Skydio, right? They were one of the top American consumer drone makers, but they shut down their consumer line in 2023. Now they’re focusing on enterprise and military drones. Their stuff is really solid for public sector use.
@Parker
Yeah, I saw the news about Skydio. It’s a shame they’re no longer making consumer drones. Any other options for hobbyists?
EvansBrown14 said:
@Parker
Yeah, I saw the news about Skydio. It’s a shame they’re no longer making consumer drones. Any other options for hobbyists?
Honestly, for true consumer drones made in the U.S., there aren’t many options anymore. 3D Robotics tried, but they couldn’t compete with DJI. If you’re set on buying American, you might want to look at refurbished Skydio drones if you can find any.
EvansBrown14 said:
@Parker
Yeah, I saw the news about Skydio. It’s a shame they’re no longer making consumer drones. Any other options for hobbyists?
I think most of the American companies have moved to commercial and industrial drones. For consumer drones, it’s tough to beat the price and features of DJI. It’s kind of a monopoly at this point.
For commercial and enterprise, check out companies like AgEagle and American Robotics. AgEagle’s eBee TAC is on the Blue UAS Cleared List, so it’s a good option for government work. American Robotics is doing cool stuff with their fully autonomous Scout System that can fly beyond visual line-of-sight without a human operator.
@Darian
AgEagle’s drones are pretty user-friendly, especially the eBee line. I’ve used the eBee TAC for some mapping projects, and the software integration is smooth. Plus, it’s lightweight and easy to deploy.
@Darian
American Robotics’ autonomous drone system is impressive. It’s basically a ‘drone-in-a-box,’ which is perfect for industrial use, and they’ve got FAA approval for beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights. Makes operations way easier.
@Oli
Yeah, that BVLOS approval is a game-changer. I wonder how long it’ll be before we see more companies getting that kind of green light from the FAA.
If you’re looking for something military-grade, Teal is one of the best U.S. options. Their Golden Eagle and Teal 2 are both on the Blue UAS list. The Teal 2 even has night vision with Teledyne FLIR’s Hadron 640R sensor.
@Wesley
I’ve heard the Teal 2 is great for night ops. Do you know if it’s available for non-military use?
San said:
@Wesley
I’ve heard the Teal 2 is great for night ops. Do you know if it’s available for non-military use?
It’s primarily marketed to the military, but I believe they’ve also opened it up to government agencies and maybe some private companies. Worth reaching out to them if you’re interested.
Ty said:
Has anyone used Freefly drones? I’ve heard their Alta X is a beast for carrying heavy payloads. It’s super expensive though—like $23,000 for the kit.
Freefly is awesome if you’re doing high-end cinematography or mapping with heavy sensors. The Alta X can carry up to 35 lbs and still fly for 10 minutes. They’re expensive, but you’re paying for power and reliability.
@Baylor
Yeah, Freefly is legit. It’s not for hobbyists, though. These drones are serious tools for professionals. If you’re working in cinema or heavy payload work, they’re worth every penny.
What about delivery drones? I’ve heard Amazon is still working on their drone delivery service, but it seems like it’s moving pretty slowly.
Drew said:
What about delivery drones? I’ve heard Amazon is still working on their drone delivery service, but it seems like it’s moving pretty slowly.
Amazon’s had some setbacks, and they’ve only delivered to a handful of households so far. But if you’re looking for a solid delivery drone, check out Zipline or DroneUp. Zipline is crushing it in healthcare delivery, and DroneUp is working with Walmart for consumer deliveries.
@Darian
I’ve heard Zipline is expanding into the U.S. after starting in Africa. Are they working with hospitals here too?
EvansBrown14 said:
@Darian
I’ve heard Zipline is expanding into the U.S. after starting in Africa. Are they working with hospitals here too?
Yeah, they’ve got partnerships with hospitals in North Carolina and Utah. They’re primarily delivering medical supplies, but they’ve also teamed up with Walmart for consumer deliveries in a few states.
One thing that’s frustrating is the whole ‘Made in the USA’ thing. Even drones labeled as American-made often have parts from overseas, like sensors or batteries. It’s hard to find anything fully U.S.-made.
@Wesley
Yeah, I’ve read about that. Apparently, even some of the top American companies use parts from China or other countries. It’s a grey area for sure.