New AI-powered fog-penetrating first responder drone debuts at CES 2026
January 8, 2026
GDU says its new UAV-P300 FPV drone represents the world’s first AI-powered optical and electronic fog-penetrating drone. It may look like a standard drone, but it offers significantly improved imaging capabilities.
GDU unveils new AI-enhanced UAV-P300 drone
One of the most important aspects of any drone is its ability to sense and see. The Chinese drone manufacturer, GDU, unveiled its new 2-kilogram UAV-P300 at CES in Las Vegas on January 7.
GDU writes the new UAV-P300 “delivers unparalleled clarity with its 50MP UHD pixels, 4K AI-powered full-colour night vision, and advanced optical de-fogging, ensuring crystal-clear imagery in any weather.”
It has 4K full-colour starlight night vision and optical de-fogging. GDU says, “Triple de-fogging technology – optical, electronic, and AI-powered – boosts visibility by 50% in rain or fog, ensuring crystal-clear, long-distance shots.”
The zoom is impressive, achieving an 11x continuous optical zoom and a 176x hybrid zoom. This allows the drone to read license plates from a distance of 300 metres. It is powered with LIDAR and AI obstacle avoidance systems.
It’s powered by the latest 640 thermal imaging module. Thermal imaging is AI-enhanced, enabling the drone to highlight heat sources and anomalies that could prove life-saving in search and rescue missions.
First responder and SAR applications
The UAV-P300 has many applications, with the company stating that it can be “effortlessly tailored to any mission, handling complex and multi-task scenarios with ease.”
GDU names smart city operations, power grid inspections, ecological protection, security, and firefighting among them. Perhaps more interesting are its potential applications for first responders and search and rescue.
There are now larger drones being used in China and elsewhere, able to airlift people to safety, including those trapped by flood waters.
While the UAV-P300 may be too small to carry any meaningful payload, a critical part of any first responder’s tasks is to gain an understanding of the situation, and the camera’s ability to peer through adverse weather conditions and light up the night sky is invaluable.
Punjab becomes the first province in the country to utilize drones for airlifting people stranded by floods. The drones have been deployed in Multan. It can carry up to 200 kg weight. pic.twitter.com/9YGA7JYd9l
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) September 10, 2025
It comes with a maximum flight time of 50 minutes and a maximum altitude of 6,500 metres.
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Other capabilities of GDU’s new drone
The small drone is also capable of operating in environments where GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System, also known as GPS) is jammed, as it utilises visual SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) fusion navigation and image recognition technology.
When we talk about hyperfocus and commitment.#drone #gdudrone #commercialdrone #uav pic.twitter.com/pWSYIMSqbZ
— GDU (@gdutechnology) July 26, 2023
Its built-in laser rangefinder works for a range of two kilometres, providing the ability to measure distances. Its IP55 rating for dust and water ensures it will be able to operate in conditions that consumer drones are expected to operate.
It seems plausible that AI-drone fog penetration could be the next step in development. Currently, drones are limited when it comes to operating in the rain and mist
In Ukraine, foggy conditions are times when ground forces take advantage of each other’s grounded drones. Meanwhile, search and rescue missions are often carried out in poor weather, as that’s when people (e.g., hikers) often require assistance.
It’s no secret that drone technology is developing at a lightning pace. Drones are becoming an evermore integral part of life, from search and rescue to war.
The UAV-P300 is just one of the new interesting drones to feature at Nevada’s CES tech show. In a previous year, a phone case that’s also a drone caught the eyes of many.
On day one of the show, it was revealed that the world’s first production-ready solid state battery would be integrated into drones for the military, and Whisper Aerospace unveilled the precursor (perhaps) to its WhisperJet – a leaf blower.
Featured Image: GDU
