"Stephen -
I can see that Raytheon and such will want to keep a cap on commercial light UAs. But I don't think they have the ability to do it. Even if the FAA put an absolute prohibition on commercial light UAs, overseas use will drive the market…"

"Regarding issues like vehicle certification, I can imagine there might be some attempt by the FAA to do something there, but I can't imagine it would be nearly as constraining as existing aircraft certification. Even the "Light Sport" category is…"

"Stephen - If it were necessary to fly a fully certified Mode-S for ADS/B, then it's going to be heavy and probably a non-starter for small UAs.
But there are two different data configurations allowed. I'm not sure of the details, but the other…"

"One big chunk of fear, combined with at least some political power, is the manned aviation industry. I've been a pilot since the 70's, advanced ratings and such, so I know a bit about it.
This has probably been what has kept the US behind those…"

"Oh, about the mention of a patent above. I don't want to look like a hypocrite for bashing patents, and then talking about filing one. The goal wouldn't be to stop others from doing it, so much as to prevent someone else from suing me. I would much…"

"Agriculture is surely one of the first really big industrial sectors for UAs. Film is high dollar, but probably not as large (in numbers of vehicles) as AG, merely because the world has so MANY acres of farm land, and you have to work them year…"

"Crude has a good point on security.
Yes, anything that can be used as a weapon, will be used as a weapon.
If you can use a microprocessor in a missile warhead, they will be used. If you can spy on the actions of someone with a computer virus, it…"

"I can come up with ideas like Robin Williams throwing out laugh lines on Johnny Carson. The problem is patent law.
I detest patents with a passion. I have a few in my name, but I've also been in a company sued over a patent (we won, after $3million…"

"I agree Mortimer that this will be too big to regulate. The CB analogy is a good one. For those not alive then, amateur radio had been heavily licensed, but the genie got out of the bottle in the early 70's with CB. Suddenly there were millions of…"

"There are too many commercial uses for this technology, and too many people using it outside the US for there to be serious restrictions placed on it. The Powers That Be in the US will want to participate. To not be left behind.

This wave might not…"