Define "drone" →
What exactly is a drone? Is it the $300 toy we have in the lab? Or only military grade hardware? UAV? UAS? RPAS? An excellent piece about the definitional war going on over … that thing without a pilot onboard in the sky.
Drones set for large-scale commercial take-off in Australia →
Friend of the lab Mark Corcoran reports for Australia’s ABC that regulators there have proposed a weight based system that would make it much easier to use the technology legally. For instance, devices less than 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) could fly “after completing nothing more than an online application form.”
Also worth noting: Fox Sports is using a UAV to cover Cricket in Australia.
Drone journalism off the ground in Italy →
If your Italian is a little rusty, here’s a translation.
The key bits that caught our eye: UAVs have already been used on two separate news events in Italy, including the Costa Concordia shipwreck. And it’s legal so long as the pilot is licensed.
Reuters: Drones already flying under the radar →
From the story: “Tens of thousands of domestic drones are zipping through U.S. skies, often flouting tight federal restrictions on drone use that require even the police and the military to get special permits.”
We don’t know where they came up with that number — it’s nowhere else in the story — but that seems high, unless you count all the hobbyists flying legally in that number. Not saying the flouting of the rules doesn’t happen — it does — just that “tens of thousands” might be overstating it.
Also, it’s worth pointing out: Media does not equal paparazzi. Fear of paparazzi drone abuse is legit, but people should be careful to equate all media with paparazzi.
Looking at the privacy side of drones →
Ryan Calo of the University of Washington’s School of Law lays down the privacy and legal conundrums that appear with UAVs in domestic airspace.
ACLU: 20 states now considering drone laws →
The ACLU is keeping a running tally of states considering drone laws here, including where they are in the process.
More Missouri concern about drones for journalism →
“If they want to learn about it, that’s perfectly fine,” said Guernsey, whose district includes parts of four counties in northwest Missouri. “If we are moving into an age of news agencies using drones to collect information on private citizens, I’m definitely concerned about that.”
Nebraska committee startled by drone testimony
By Ben Kreimer
Aerial drones are fun to fly. And that’s a problem in the mind of Nebraska Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus.
“They’re too much fun not to use,” said Schumacher, who proposed The Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act, a legislative bill that would prevent drones from landing in the hands of Nebraska law enforcement agencies.
The state Legislature’s Judiciary Committee warmly received the bill, LB412, at a hearing Thursday.
Schumacher presented his bill as a proactive measure to prevent Nebraska law enforcement agencies from using unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly called drones, to gather information that could be used against a person in court, except to counter the high risk of a terrorist attack.
Acknowledging the potential positive aspects of drone use, such as for search and rescue operations, Schumacher explicitly left open the possibility for agencies to request future legislatures to grant further exceptions to the bill.
FAA: Drone rules will include privacy →
“The FAA recognizes that increasing the use of [drones] raises privacy concerns,” according a letter the agency sent this week to Marc Rotenberg, president of civil rights group Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). “The agency intends to address these issues through engagement and collaboration with the public.”
Wired: Domestic drone industry prepares for big battle with regulators →
“The FAA rules are very clear about for-compensation and hire. If you’re going to operate an aircraft for compensation or hire, there’s a different set of rules that apply.” — Jim Williams of the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Everyone knows the experimental certificate process is available but not actually functional.” — Jeremy Novara, owner of Vanilla Aircraft.
