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FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

reuters.com

151–160 of 283 posts

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#151

The final rule looks to be a big win for everyone who was protesting the original proposed rule: "The final Remote ID rule eliminates the requirement that drones be connected to the internet to transmit location data; the final rule requires drones to broadcasts remote ID messages via radio frequency broadcast." This is great because RF broadcast-based Remote ID is much simpler and cost-effective to integrate into ex…

I haven't followed drone stuff closely in a while. any idea how this affects an older drone like a DJI spark that wasn't designed with these requirements in mind? is it just impossible to fly legally now?

After reading the rules, I don't see any technical standards on how the system must be implemented - so it's entirely likely that the work DJI has already done on "Drone to Phone" broadcast identification can be retrofitted onto existing platforms with a firmware update as they had hoped.

Too soon to tell for sure, but as somebody who just upgraded to a Mavic Air 2 this year from a Spark I am hopeful (DJI may not always be a shining example of a consumer friendly enterprise, see the SDK fiascos this year, but they don't want to piss off everybody who has bought a drone in the past few years either).

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#152

Even though I don't fly over people, I retrofitted a parachute onto my DJI drone just in case. It automatically deploys if the drone loses power or control. It doesn't impact flight characteristics or battery life by much. I feel like a basic safety like this would be a prudent and more effective measure for overhead flights than self-transmitting "license plates" (which I agree are at least better than the silly int…

I am always stunned that many (most/all) of these high tech gadgets lack a LOT of safety features. I would pay extra for a drone with such safeguards. just the prospect of less chances of ruining it would be enough. Similarly, eskates often have a regenerative battery charging while braking which is a great idea. but it also cannot handle charging while already full. So if you go down a slope while the board is full,…

Teslas turn off regenerative breaking if you charge too far, but the car tells you that pretty prominently: however, the car handles very differently without Regen brakes.

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#153
post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not OP but you could probably hook the parachute to constantly NOT be deployed, like a deadman's switch, so that if you lose power it just deploys automatically.

So... when you unplug the battery to replace it, you're greeted by a popping parachute?

Yes, it's just part of the process for you to disarm the parachute in that situation. Sort of like it's sensible to disarm the airbag before steering column changes in some cars at least.

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#154

Does the broadcast ID include location like ADS-B? Also, is it in the clear? If so, I see both fun and trouble ahead.

I wish drones could, at least optionally, transmit on ADS-B, with some "drone" flag. That could help pilots with ADS-B IN a lot, as long as it was clearly indicated as a drone.

With the proliferation of drones the entire ADS-B system would get overwhelmed, which is why the rules explicitly state that uSAS' are NOT allowed to transmit on ADS-B.

Not to mention ADS-B OUT is expensive as all hell, power hungry and heavy - not a good match for lightweight unmanned craft.

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure what "anti-drone tech" could mean other than RF jamming, which is already very illegal.

Birdshot?

A strong laser with automated tracker might be enough to melt something on it

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#156

This is odd: night would be the time when I would think people don't want to hear "whirrrrrrr...' of drones flying over their houses.

I've never heard a drone even close to as loud as my neighbor's motorcycle but it's legal to drive that any time. I have a small DJI Mini 2 drone and it's pretty much impossible to hear over the street noise in my neighborhood if it's more than about 50 feet up in the air.

I think a better analogy would be living near an airport like I do. Depending on the day and weather, even my small airport is quite loud and annoying. My neighbor's motorcycle is also louder than the planes, except the occasional military jet, but that noise is far less frequent than the planes. I think drone delivery will mean everyone in cities and suburbs will feel like they live near a small airport on a clear day. I too am not looking forward to the flying drone future. I think we should be working on reducing noise as much as possible, not create more in the name of slightly more convenient consumerism.

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#158
post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never heard a drone even close to as loud as my neighbor's motorcycle but it's legal to drive that any time. I have a small DJI Mini 2 drone and it's pretty much impossible to hear over the street noise in my neighborhood if it's more than about 50 feet up in the air.

Motorcycles are certainly worse than drones in terms of noise pollution! I've never had a drone audible from 2 streets over with my double glazed windows shut, but I hear motorcycles daily (and nightly).

In North America it's very common for motorcyclist to use aftermarket exhausts that are louder than stock parts, and often against local regulations.

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is already illegal to modify the exhaust to make your vehicle louder. Does't seem to bother cops though.

illegal where? that's not the case anywhere in the US that I'm aware. Most any legislation about exists is limiting modification to environmental parts like catalytic converters.

NY, probably every state.

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#160

Even though I don't fly over people, I retrofitted a parachute onto my DJI drone just in case. It automatically deploys if the drone loses power or control. It doesn't impact flight characteristics or battery life by much. I feel like a basic safety like this would be a prudent and more effective measure for overhead flights than self-transmitting "license plates" (which I agree are at least better than the silly int…

i think parachutes for drones is a great idea and i hope advocates for that to the FAA.
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