The most recognizable name in drones has reportedly stepped in to help the United States in its ongoing war on terror. As The Register reports today, Shenzhen-based DJI -- makers of the ever-popular Phantom and Inspire series quadcopters -- quietly created software-based no-fly zones over large parts of Iraq and Syria where ISIS fighters have been known to strap improvised bombs to commercial drones. The NFZs were first spotted by drone threat analyst Kevin Finisterre of Department 13, who noticed the company had updated its DJI Go piloting and photography app to include a number of geofenced areas in the region. DJI already maintains a large database of NFZs to prevent hobbyists from straying into airport flight paths, military bases, historic sites, sporting arenas and other places where drones are explicitly banned. The new geofenced areas, however, only appeared in late February -- around the same time Finisterre notes that Iraqi troops backed by the US were mounting an offensive in Mosul.

Delivery robots are touted as gaining widespread popularity in the near future. Wheeled models could be suitable for urban areas, while UAVs have great potential in accessing difficult areas and carrying a variety of payloads. But first we have to overcome technical barriers, safety issues and more than a few legal aspects. We are use to thinking that a single UAV will only transport a single small box. However a mass delivery service should also focus on the possibility of charging big solids in the pursuit of service viability and success.

DJI has sent out email invitations to the media for a launch event in May. It's believed that the company will officially announce the DJI Spark, which was leaked earlier this month. DJI's upcoming launch event will take place in New York City on May 24th. The invite included the tagline "Seize The Moment," and the company is teasing a "BIG" announcement at the said event. The invitation sent to the media by DJI for its upcoming event in NYC.

Want to receive a weekly deep dive into all things auto, transportation, & logistics tech? Click here to subscribe to our auto tech newsletter. The "last mile problem" has long been a thorn in the side of logistics providers, transportation companies, and retailers alike. Compared to the main legs of bulk shipping, train, truck, or aircraft transport, the final leg (or last mile) from logistics hubs to individual homes and offices has traditionally incurred the highest cost and complexity. Last mile challenges have only grown as the proliferation of online shopping strains capacity.

British politicians who examined the details of a drone strike which killed a British man in Syria said they were disappointed by the government's lack of transparency during investigations. On August 21, 2015, the UK conducted a drone strike in Raqqa for the first time outside the traditional theatre of war, killing 21-year-old British national Reyaad Khan, a suspected fighter with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), and two other people. "We are in no doubt that Reyaad Khan posed a very serious threat to the UK," the Intelligence and Security Committee in the UK said in a report on Wednesday. "There is nevertheless a question as to how the threat is quantified and in this instance whether the actions of Khan and his associates amounted to an'armed attack' against the UK or Iraq - which is clearly a subjective assessment," the committee said. "The [government's] failure to provide what we consider to be relevant documents is profoundly disappointing," the report added.

British lawmakers say a U.K. man killed by a Royal Air Force drone strike in Syria was an Islamic State group attack planner who posed a "very serious threat" to Britain. Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee scrutinized the August 2015 strike that killed Reyaad Khan and two others. It was the first such drone strike acknowledged by the British government. Committee chairman Dominic Grieve said Wednesday that intelligence assessments left "no doubt that Reyaad Khan posed a very serious threat to the U.K." But he said lawmakers still had questions about ministers' decision-making, because some documents were withheld from the committee. Grieve said that was "profoundly disappointing."

For the strike to be justified under the UN Charter, the strike must be a necessary and proportionate response to an armed attack which is deemed imminent. However, the lawmakers said that they were unable to assess if this was the case, as they were denied a look at a key governmental submission.

DJI has released a set of goggles that lets users take flight with their $999 Mavic Pro drone. Providing a first-person-view (FPV), the googles showcase a live streamed video of what the drone's onboard cameras capture while it pilots through the air. DJI Goggles combine a pair of large ultra-high-quality screens, long-range and low-latency wireless connectivity and direct control of photo and video capture – in order to provide'drone pilots a seamless bird's eye view of the world in full HD'. DJI has released a set of goggles that lets users take flight with their Mavic Pro drone. Providing a first-person-view (FPV), the googles showcase a live streamed video of what the drone's onboard cameras capture (right) while it pilots through the air Providing a first-person-view (FPV), the googles showcase a live streamed video of what the drone's onboard cameras capture while it pilots through the air.

A pilot prepares to launch an unmanned aerial vehicle from a ground control station earlier this year. The Air Force is moving to treat psychological stress faced by remote pilots and analysts a little more like the effects of traditional warfare. A pilot prepares to launch an unmanned aerial vehicle from a ground control station earlier this year. The Air Force is moving to treat psychological stress faced by remote pilots and analysts a little more like the effects of traditional warfare. Kimi wanted to go to art school, but she didn't have the money.

The new DJI Goggles put you in the cockpit of a quadcopter, giving you a first-person, VR-like experience in the real world. The goggles have a couple of screens through which you can see whatever the drone's camera is pointing at. You can even control where the camera is pointed simply by moving your head. While we were able to take a quick test-drive of this immersive headset last summer, the company's been rather coy about sharing specifics. Now, though, DJI has revealed a more detailed set of features for its goggles, as well as information on the new Ronin 2, an image-smoothing gimbal rig for professional filmmakers.