Drone News: Insta360's New Drone, Neo 2 Spotted in FCC Filings, CEO Pushes for Airspace Credentials

Welcome back to your Weekly UAS News Update. We've got three stories for you this week. First, the Neo 2 has been spotted in FCC filings, Insta360 is jumping into the drone game with a new brand called Antigravity, and the CEO of DroneUp seems to be pushing for digital airspace authorizations. First up, it looks like DJI might have some serious new competition. Insta360, the company known for its 360-degree cameras, has launched a new drone brand called Antigravity. And their first drone sounds pretty revolutionary: it's reportedly the world's first 360-degree drone that weighs less than 249 grams and can shoot in 8K.Antigravity says its focus isn't on raw specs, but on creating an "immersive flight" experience that makes storytelling easy for everyone, from beginners to experts. The drone will reportedly include smart safety features, like payload detection to deter misuse or modifications. The full, official unveiling is scheduled for this August. We've seen other companies like GoPro and Skydio struggle to challenge DJI's dominance, so it will be interesting to see if Insta360 and Antigravity’s approach.Next up, a new DJI drone, the Neo 2, has surfaced on the FCC website, which is usually the first major step before a product can be sold in the US. The filing reveals a notable upgrade: a 1606 milliamp-hour battery, which is about a 12% increase from the original Neo. This should translate to longer flight times than the original's 18 minutes. While FCC approval is a promising sign, it doesn't guarantee the Neo 2 will be available in the US. Since last October, US Customs has been detaining some DJI shipments, citing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. DJI firmly disputes any connection to forced labor, but the issue has already prevented the official US release of other products, like the Mavic 4 Pro. So, even with the FCC's green light, the Neo 2's future in the American market remains uncertain.And finally, Tom Walker, the CEO of DroneUp, published an opinion piece for Fox News where he pointed to a recent, dangerous incident during the Texas floods. A private drone reportedly collided with a rescue helicopter, forcing the crew to land and grounding a vital asset during a life-or-death situation.Walker says this isn't an isolated problem. He cited FAA data showing that illegal drone incursions near US airports jumped by 25% in the first quarter of this year compared to 2024. He warns that our current systems for detecting and responding to these threats are, in his words, "fractured, outdated, and dangerously inadequate."So what's the solution? Walker wants a unified, real-time tracking system for all low-altitude air traffic. He's also pushing for secure digital credentials to link drones to their pilots, and for expanding the authority of local law enforcement to counter drone threats. He argues that the technology to do this already exists, but says we need to act now before one of these incidents becomes a national tragedy.I can tell you that we at Pilot Institute will oppose any sort of technology that introduces ANY cost to access the national airspace system. Access to the NAS must remain free for ANY and ALL users. We’ll be watching this closely. And on Postflight, our show where we share our opinions in the premium community, we’ll discuss the SkyRover X1 and how drones are being used to drop mosquitos in Hawaii. We’ll see you on Monday for the live and for post flight in the community! https://dronedj.com/2025/07/25/dji-neo-2-drone-fcc/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/28/insta360-antigravity-drone-360-8k/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/21/drone-ceo-warns-of-escalating-airspace-risks/