This week’s news round up features a look into a new manufacturing facility that will bolster the UAS industry, how a state university is giving back to their community with training opportunities, and an inside look at the drones that capture the action of the Winter Olympics.

Echodyne Opens New Manufacturing Facility in Washington State

The radar platform company Echodyne announced plans to open a new manufacturing facility in the state of Washington . One of the driving factors behind the decision to open this facility comes from the expanding need for high-resolution radars for drone operations. The company noted that counter-UAS and BVLOS operations for first responders are among the customers who have increasing demand for high-resolution radar surveillance of air domains.

The new facility will span 86,350 square feet, which will produce and distribute over 30,000 radar products every year. Echodyne states that this new facility is a major step in their path to staying ahead of the United States accelerating demand for technology that enhances the safety of the American public.

Farmers to Receive Spray Drone Training from Kansas State University

Recognizing that agriculture is an important industry in the state, Kansas State University Salina will offer two opportunities for hands-on training to farmers who are already using drones to aid their work. Specifically designed for those who already hold a Remote Pilot Certificate, the course will educate on drone maintenance, setup, pre-flight inspections, and spraying operations. The goal is to educate local farmers on precision agriculture and aerial spraying operations.

Just as important as the agriculture operations, one of the courses will focus on regulations and applications. This will give attendees the tools and knowledge to carry out compliant missions and ensure safety.

Drones Capture Action at Winter Olympics

Drones have been an incredible tool for capturing sporting events for years now, so it’s no surprise that they have made a big appearance at the winter Olympics of 2026. This year, First Person View (FPV) drones are getting up close and personal with skiers to capture what it looks like from the athlete’s point of view.

These drones are operated by highly skilled pilots who maintain a safe distance from the athlete, all while keeping up with the speed of the person and avoiding any collisions. There is a second person who is solely responsible for operating the camera on the drone. The drones are specially designed to be efficient in terms of aerodynamics and battery life. The propellers live on the underside of the drone, and the batteries are designed to last to cover the runs of two athletes before they are quickly swapped out.