Comments

• Tim Wilkin February 17, 2013 at 3:40pm

  @Jean: Australia has a very long involvement in the development of drones (going back to the late 40s/early 50s of flying locally built target drones at Woomera). We have also been one of the most progressive countries with regards to regulation of drones for civil use, with CASA and industry working together through the mid 90s to produce CASR Part 101 in 1998, one of the first pieces of regulation of its kind in the world.

  That Australians are tech-savvy and quick to take on new technology is well known and with so much in the US media of late regarding drones, it's no wonder that tech-savvy people are searching Google to learn more.

  Perhaps the more interesting question is "Why are Americans NOT searching online for information regarding drones, compared to other countries", even though they have a significant military usage of drones and so much recent controversy over police usage? Perhaps it's because many Americans are: a) apathetic to the issue; or, b) ignorant of the issue; or c) already informed of the issue (via other means); or, possibly some other reason? I won't speculate which, given I'm not American, nor do I watch much (Americanised) TV in Oz.
• Karl von Muller February 17, 2013 at 3:32pm

  Well the last paragraph has made me a bit happier after reading all the article..

  CASA has begun overhauling the rules around drones and has proposed for instance that the craft be regulated by weight so that those flying small drones are exempt from regulations. CASA director John McCormick told the ABC last October that "there's no point us writing a regulation that we can't enforce, that's just bad law". 
  
  Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/privacy-fears-a...

  Hopefully the weight limit doesn't change too much, and it doesn't apply to other RC aircraft like certain US states have done.
• Karl von Muller February 17, 2013 at 3:24pm

  Leonard, its trash talking, but the general public unfortunately may listen to them. And in turn so might the government. That's my concern.

  Also another article today in The Age on the media using "drones" to "spy" on people - http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/privacy-fears-a...

  If this is what Fairfax is reporting I'm not sure I want to see the News Ltd. articles
• Developer

  leonardthall February 16, 2013 at 4:49pm

  Yeh, I tend to agree with Andrew. I think the interest is generally positive where people are interested in them for one reason or another, weather it be for private recreation or commercial use.

  There is a significant amount of interest from farmers to use them to aide in stock tracking for example. I think the hobby is also taking off in a big way here. We have the outback challenge ect that is great at getting interest at the school and university level.

  I don't think that Australians find the US drone phobia until they develop an interest in UAV's and go looking.
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  Andrew Helgeson February 16, 2013 at 3:43pm

  Easy answer there Jean-Baptiste, Australia has the highest per capita uptake of technology.

  Wide open spaces, low population density make it a great place to fly UAV's or FPV.

  Australia has always been at the forefront of inovation.
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  Jean February 16, 2013 at 3:31pm

  Leonard, I'm simply curious why Australians are doing so many UAV related searches.  I assumed that the majority of interest would come from the United States, given that (without getting into a military or political discussion) drones are a pretty hot topic there right now.  Also, forums such as this are based in the States, and I assumed that the vast majority of members lived there.
• Developer

  leonardthall February 16, 2013 at 2:37pm

  Karl, That is just trash reporting attempting to sensationalize the topic and create news.

  Jean, What is your interpretation of that data. I personally think it is good.
• Karl von Muller February 16, 2013 at 6:28am

  And Jean, I think you're interpreting the data correctly there...
  If you mouse over the question mark it confirms what you thought.

  http://www.google.com/trends/explore?hl=en#q=uav%20drone
• Karl von Muller February 16, 2013 at 6:25am

  Interesting article in the age today - http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/spying-eyes-or-...
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  Jean February 16, 2013 at 3:51am

  According to Google Trends, Australia has the largest search volume for the terms UAV or drone, exceeding even that of the United States.  Could anyone suggest why this might be the case?  Or am I misinterpreting this data?