From the announcement:
The College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln established the Drone Journalism Lab in November 2011 as part of a broad digital journalism and innovation strategy. Journalism is evolving rapidly, and journalism education must evolve with it, teaching new tools and storytelling strategies while remaining true to the core principles and ethics of journalism. The lab was started by Professor Matt Waite as a way to explore how drones could be used for reporting.
In the lab, students and faculty will build drone platforms, use them in the field and research the ethical, legal and regulatory issues involved in using pilotless aircraft to do journalism.
Journalists are increasingly faced with two problems: a growing appetite for unique online video in an environment of decreased budgets; and restricted or obstructed access to stories ranging from disaster coverage to Occupy Wall Street protests. The technology behind autonomous and remotely piloted vehicles is rapidly moving from military applications to the point where private citizens can own and operate their own drone. At the same time, high definition and 3D video cameras are getting smaller, cheaper and lighter. Paired with global position devices, they make ideal additions to an airborne platform.
In short, drones are an ideal platform for journalism.
Picture of a Gatewing X100 shown because the announcement randomly chose it as an example of platforms available. Once the students find out how much it costs, they may start looking for something cheaper ;-)
(Via The Verge)
Comments
to Dale
this plane is very similar to XEN X5 here
Does anyone know any plans or planes that are similar to the Gatewing?
Good or bad, it's more reason for public sUAS access and keeps changing the discussion and who should make the rules.
Then again, imagine in 2yrs there's a TMZ UAV. Ugh.
I do not believe that the FAA will be the only driver of qualification requirements. These will be pushed by the system vendors who see them as a revenue channel and a way to keep small business out of the game for as long as possible. sUAS qualifications are however a double edged sword for the vendors if the requirements are too stringent then you will not have a AV Qube being sold to every police dept if it requires your private pilots license to operate.
No there should be no requirement for high qualifications required for sUAS sub 20kg as per the UK. The FAA need excuses to make sure there are though.
Facinating piece of future we are now witnessing.
This is a good thing - it opens up the benefits of sUAS to the wider community. There is no implicit reason that sUAS operations require high levels of qualifications - the level of qualifications and experience of the operators should be commensurate with the level of risk involved.
This was spoken about a while ago, I thought then it was a great way to make sure the FAA ensures high qualifications will be needed for sUAS. Deep joy!