ABC News Australia has a thorough piece on the state of "drone journalism", which gives some good examples and cuts through the sort of silliness that characterized some earlier reports, such as those featuring Occupy Wall Street types flying a Parrot AR.Drone inside.
It includes an important quote from Matt Waite, who runs the Drone Journalism Lab at the University of Nebraska
Despite America's love affair with new technology, Professor Waite says the rate of take-up of drone journalism is still very slow - for one single reason.
"Here in the US the law doesn't allow it - plain and simple," he said.
"The rules right now in the US are basically this: nothing over 400 feet, nothing out of sight, nothing near people and no commercial purposes.
"If it were (just) the first three, drone journalism would have a fighting chance. The commercial restrictions are the hardest to overcome."
Sounds like Professor Waite, at least, is taking a realistic and responsible approach.
[Thanks to Gary Mortimer/sUAS News for the link]
Comments
@Robert For the SFOC it is probably best to start small and work your way up. Start with a single location and limited time, and very specific conditions (no spectators, private property where access can be controlled to reduce risk to 3rd parties, not close to airports, etc etc etc). Then once you can prove you can operate safely under these conditions, work to broaden your operating limits. Not sure how the research vs. commercial plays into it, probably won't be a big issue if you can show you will operate safely. I am guess it would be somewhat difficult to obtain blanket coverage for unspecified locations, especially without significant documented experience, and also on land where you may not be able to control access by 3rd parties. I do know one organization with blanket coverage for most of south-eastern Alberta for both commercial and government type work.
I am sure it wouldn't hurt to contact the local TC people and ask them a few questions, they might be able to tell you more.
My current test setup:
TG-9x RC radio w FrSky DJT TM module on 2.4 ghz with optional 500mw booster, has 500m range simple TM from D8R v2 receiver
Xbee 910 MHz for longer range TM over Mavlink protocol
Pilots OSD on 5.8 ghz
Optional 1.3 ghz video link for HD camera operator pan tilt view, requires Mavlink joy stick setup. or optional head tracker to RC tx.
Dual diversity ET Ground Stations using IBCrazy antenna technology
All these frequencies plays well together, but I have not tested for beyond my poor eye sight.
(from top of Pikes Peak Lol :-)
No 910mhz xbee in Canada?
Mark, anything certified by FCC should be usable here. From what I see the regulations are pretty much in sync.
China military was only interested in Airframe & Power plant, wonder whose AP they cloned?
I better get my Winnie Brave ready for trip to Alaska, I might want to fly some drones on the way... Sign me UP.
What frequency bands are available, same as US? But No 910 mhz Xbee
Douglas, notice in the process flow, that AMA members are part of the process too. You can obtain a SFOC in Canada, and come fly our friendly skies any time. ;-)
@Ellison, no, I was being serious. Wishful thinking that maybe if you talked to them and said "Yeah, it's just a 10 pound model and I'll be flying under 400feet." "Oh, low altitude ok, no problem, here you go."
@Stephen, interesting. So you had to define the sites. Do you have any idea if it could be a wider area? Does it matter that it's for research instead of commercial profit? I'm just wondering if I could get an SFOC for flights in various *remote* areas over crown land without having to continually resubmit for each new location.
The idea is just to do AP work in remote locations.
I posted the link a few message back.
Here it is again, here.
@Robert and Ellison, my lab has an SFOC for sUAS research in Edmonton. It took us about 3-4 weeks for the process. The first time we chatted with our local official to clarify some requirements and ensure we were prepared. Our current SFOC is valid for 1 year at 2 flying sites. The trick is to show to TC that you have worked to mitigate risk and prepare in the case of emergencies. You also need the insurance and any land use permissions. Overall, it is a good exercise anyways, since what is required for the SFOC should be what you are doing for safe UAS operations anyways.
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