Last week the leading drone manufacturers announced we were leaving the Small UAV Coalition, which was a great start to our regulatory efforts but was not 100% focused on near-term commercial and consumer drone opportunities. Today we reveal what we're doing instead. From the announcement:
Leading global drone manufacturers 3DR, DJI, GoPro and Parrot today are forming the Drone Manufacturers Alliance, a coalition that will serve as the voice for drone manufacturers and our customers across civilian, governmental, recreational, commercial, nonprofit and public safety applications. We will advocate for policies that promote innovation and safety, and create a practical and responsible regulatory framework.
There are significant economic and social benefits to drone operations in the U.S., and industry must work with policymakers to ensure a safe environment for flying. The Drone Manufacturers Alliance believes a carefully balanced regulatory framework requires input from all stakeholders and must recognize the value and necessity of continued technological innovation. By highlighting innovation and emphasizing education, we intend to work with policymakers to ensure drones continue to be safely integrated into the national airspace.
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Media Contact:
Rob Haralson for the Drone Manufacturers Alliance
rharalson@franklinsquaregroup.com
(202) 251-3322
Comments
Gopro a leading drone manufacturer? LOL. They lost their leading edge a year or more ago. Cameras are good for video but that's about it.
Regards,
David R. Boulanger
It seems clearly a lobby organization, and it seems oriented around the drone manufacturers, now we'll see what kind of changes they want to push. My opinion is that their interest is to ban all kind of DIY drones, and make laws to only allow their own drones with
As a sidenote, notice the contact email of the Alliance :
Rob Haralson for the Drone Manufacturers Alliance
rharalson@franklinsquaregroup.com
franklinsquaregroup.com is a company specialized in lobbying in Washington. It can be a good move, at least that firm seems well known for hi-tech lobbying in DC :
"As tech lobbyists, they [Franklin Square Group] see themselves as the bridge between “disruptive” Silicon Valley companies and the Washington establishment. Many young, fast-moving start-ups are more concerned with getting their product out quickly than they are with the regulatory hurdles they may face later, and it is Tanielian’s and Ackil’s job to alert them to potential obstacles in Washington down the road — and offer themselves as advocates who can help them navigate what may come."
Some of their clients : Apple, Belkin, Cisco, EMC, Intuit, Google, Intel, Square and Uber
It's interesting to see Dji creating this alliance with its "competitors" 3DR and Parrot and future competitor Gopro. 3DR, Parrot and Gopro are facing a difficult time (gopro stock lost 78% last year, and already cut 7% jobs).
I'm pretty sure someone will buy some other companies.
I wonder if either Gopro will buy 3DR, or Dji will buy 3DR and/or other companies. The first scenario would make a lot of sense, as Gopro must go into the drone market and is excellent in marketing and distribution, while 3DR has a product (to be improved) and needs money. But Dji buying one or several other competitors seems quite logical too.
This was announced here http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/dji-parrot-gopro-and-3dr-leaves... (and still on the front page)
What does this actually mean for the man on the street. It seems the sUAV coalition ended with the FAA blanketing an unwanted or even warranted registration process on recreational radio control pilots. Is the agenda of this alliance more representative of that man on the street?
They hope to be
I didn't know, that GoPro was a drone manufacturer...